Los Angeles Chargers: Significance of having Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater together is huge

Travis Wakeman

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Los Angeles Chargers: Significance of having Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater together is huge image

The Los Angeles Chargers were able to get a huge divisional win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday in a game that was never as close as the final score indicated. One of the big reasons for that win was the fact that both Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater were in the starting lineup.

Alt and Slater both missed the team's Week 4 game against the Kansas City Chiefs which was their second loss in a row. But the bye week came at a great time and the Chargers were able to get Alt recovered from a sprained MCL and Slater back from a pectoral injury in time for the Week 6 game. 

Both players were in line to miss much more time and it looked like the Chargers would be without at least one of their starting tackles against the Broncos. Instead, both of them not only suited up but were quite effective in the game. 

The health of both of these players is huge as Alt and Slater are two of the more important players on this roster the way it is constructed. Against Denver, Justin Herbert was able to get the passing game going much more than he has been able to this season (Pat Surtain's absence probably had something to do with that) and that is something for the team to be encouraged about as it can be one of the best rushing teams in the league. 

J.K. Dobbins had been kept in check the last couple of games but got back close to the 100-yard mark with the offensive line at full strength. 

Having a healthy Alt and Slater made a world of difference against Denver. 

Joe Alt, Rashawn Slater will play key roles in how far this team goes

Would the Chargers have been able to beat the Broncos without Slater and Alt? Possibly, but the game would have looked much different. Oftentimes, offensive line play is overlooked because the statistics don't show up in the box score, but having these two players back was the biggest factor in this game. 

The Chargers used the No. 5 overall pick in this year's draft on Alt for this very reason... games that look just like this one. It is a tried and true formula of Jim Harbaugh which might be working quicker than most thought it would this season. 

With these two tackles at 100 percent, the Chargers will be a tough out for anyone. 

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Travis Wakeman

Travis Wakeman Photo

Travis Wakeman has been covering the NFL since 2012 when he started with Bleacher Report. After reporting about the Broncos there until 2016, he joined the FanSided network as a site expert covering the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers while simultaneously covering the Broncos at Broncos Wire when that site launched. He then took over the Broncos site at FanSided in March 2020 and covered the team there until spring of 2024. A lifelong Broncos fan and fan of the game, Travis is filled with sometimes useless NFL knowledge, but it always serves him well in any trivia contest. You can follow him on Twitter/X @traviswakeman10.