Here is hoping our OL is better in LA than it showed in pre-season.
For us to have a running game that is more than simply a diversion, we need to open up some running lanes. Ajayi is excellent at yards after contact, but if that contact begins in the backfield most plays, we're in trouble. Similarly, if we don't slow down Bosa and Ingram, we will not have enough time to expose their secondary.
For me, it all comes down to our OL. I'm expecting Tunsil and Pouncey to be the good players they showed last year, not the people we saw (or didn't see) in the pre-season. I'm hoping we get the good version of James. I'm hoping that with those 3 guys we can mask Steen and Bushrod enough to get by. Our tackles are our strength, so we sort of match up well vs. the Chargers. Their MLB is a thumper, but Ajayi does well at slipping/minimizing those types of players as long as they don't have the speed to hit him in the backfield. Our WR's/TE's have the edge over their secondary ... if we have time to throw.
This game could go either way. Typically, early season games are defensive affairs. But, IMHO, this has the chance to be a real shootout. For us on defense it will come down to stopping the run (or not) and taking our chances to get off the field on the 3rd and mid to long. If we can't convert those, it's going to be a long day. On offense, if our OL can play a decent game and hold up, we will have the opportunities to score a lot of points.
I think them not having tape on our Cutler offense is going to be a real advantage. At least in the first half, we should be able to run some things and catch them out of position. But, in the second half, we're going to have to earn the win.