Seven things to watch when the Seahawks host the Los Angeles Chargers

Here’s our preview of the Seahawks’ 1:05 p.m. game at CenturyLink Field against the Los Angeles Chargers.

THE SETUP

Like last week’s game against Detroit, this is a matchup of two teams on the rise — Seattle has won four of its last five and the Chargers five of their last six. Neither, though, has beaten a team that currently has a winning record, Seattle’s four wins coming against teams that are 9-20 and the Chargers’ five wins coming against teams that are 9-28-1. So for each, a win would not only help their playoff positioning (both teams are in tough sledding to win their divisions, Seattle 3.5 back of the Rams and the Chargers 1.5 back of the Chiefs) but also give some added credibility to their recent success. This is also the first regular season visit by the Chargers to Seattle since 2010, a 27-20 Seahawks win in what was the third game of the Pete Carroll era.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Chargers QB Philip Rivers against the Seahawks’ pass rush.

Safety Bradley McDougald.

One huge reason Seattle’s defense has so far not dropped off the way many expected it might after the loss of so many big-name vets has been the play of McDougald filling in for Kam Chancellor at strong safety, while also used in a variety of other ways. Pro Football Focus noted that with K.J. Wright back at weakside linebacker against Detroit, McDougald played far less in the box or on the line than he had been – just 18 snaps compared to an average of 33 in the first six games. That means McDougald is back to pretty much just being a safety, assuming he can make it through the game. McDougald missed a few snaps last week due to a stinger and was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game with a knee injury, though he is expected to play. Whether it’s McDougald or backup Delano Hill (or Shalom Luani), that’ll be a big role against the Chargers, not only having to cover the intermediate routes that the Chargers like to run so well but also helping to keep running back Melvin Gordon — averaging 5.1 yards per carry and also with 30 receptions — in check.

COACHING DECISION TO WATCH

Will the Seahawks stick with the run if they fall behind?

Seattle’s new-found commitment to the running game has been made easier by the fact that the Seahawks have almost never been behind in their last five games. Even including their 33-31 loss to the Rams, in which Seattle was ahead or tied for most of it, the Seahawks have trailed for just 14 minutes and 53 seconds in their last five games — which encompasses 300 minutes of playing time. Much was made of Seattle’s 42-17 run-pass ratio last week. And no doubt the Seahawks want to run it as often as they can. But it also helped being ahead — the Seahawks ran it on 23 of 28 plays in the second half during which time they always had at least a 14-point lead, the classic Carroll formula. But that commitment could be challenged this week if the Chargers are able to move the ball and score some points and turn the game into a track meet, ala the Rams game. It will be interesting to see how the Seahawks react offensively the first time they fall behind by any margin, be it Sunday or in the future.

THE X-FACTOR

Receiver Doug Baldwin.

Can a team’s number one receiver really be an X-factor, a phrase that usually implies someone unexpected stepping forward? He can be in this case. As Russell Wilson noted this week, the Seahawks have thrived of late without getting a really significant contribution from Baldwin, who missed two games earlier this year with a knee injury. Baldwin had just two catches last week for 26 yards (though it’s worth noting he usually seem to draw one of Detroit’s top two cornerbacks to defend him, leaving the struggling Teez Tabor to defend David Moore, who feasted with four receptions for 97 yards). “The great thing is we haven’t really even gotten him quite fully going yet,’’ Wilson said. “When we get him going, I’m excited about that part of it, too. I always go back to 2015 when Doug and I got into a hot streak so I always say ‘why not?’ That might happen soon.”

WILD CARD PLAYER WHO COULD SURPRISE

Defensive end Dion Jordan.

As noted above, the Seahawks are going to need a consistent pass rush against Rivers. And they’ll need it from more than just Frank Clark. Maybe this can be Jordan’s true breakout game as he appears back to full health after struggling with injuries earlier this year — Jordan played 27 snaps against Detroit and earned the top grade of any Seattle defensive lineman from Pro Football Focus and ranked fourth among all edge defenders with three hurries and one QB hit on 22 pass rush snaps.

KEY STAT

7.74, 5.00.

Those are the yards per play averages for the Chargers — which ranks first in the NFL — and the Seahawks, which ranks 28^th, numbers that could prove pivotal Sunday. The Seahawks talk often of staying on schedule on offense, which means doing enough on first and second downs to have manageable third downs. Seattle has overcome its relative lack of success on first down plays to be the best team in the NFL the last three games in converting third down at 59.46 percent. The Chargers, oddly, are near the bottom in third-down conversion percentage at 37.18 for the season, 23^rd in the NFL (Seattle is 15^th at 40.91). So maybe first-down success is overrated. But the hunch here is Seattle would have a tough time overcoming being outgained by three yards on every first-down play all game.

THE FINAL WORD