2. Daiyan Henley vs. Christian McCaffrey
There will be a number of elite offensive players the Chargers will be matched up against in 2026 — and Christian McCaffrey ranks near the top of the list.
The 29-year-old was a workhorse in his ninth NFL season, logging a career-high 413 touches in the regular season. He finished with 1,202 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
But perhaps the biggest part of his game where he was lethal last season was catching the ball, as he tallied 102 receptions for 924 receiving yards, the most he’s had since 2019.
That’s where Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley comes in this play for this pivotal face off.
Of course, the Chargers defense as a whole will have to prepare for what McCaffrey provides in the run game. But Henley will be a key factor in coverage, primarily because of the athleticism and coverage skills he possesses.
Out of McCaffrey’s 924 receiving yards during the regular season last year, 455 of them came against a linebacker in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus, which was by far his most against any position.
And 299 of those yards came after the catch, as six of his seven receiving touchdowns also came when being defended by a linebacker.
Henley, meanwhile, allowed a 67.4 passer rating when targeted while defending a running back, good for second-best among all linebackers who were targeted at least 10 times last season.
He was also just one of six linebackers to record an interception while in coverage on a running back and did not a allow a touchdown against one.
It will take a group effort from the Chargers defense, especially with 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan at the controls and trying to find certain matchups, but Henley could be a big-time factor in that battle.
3. Justin Herbert vs. The Champs
Perhaps no heavyweight battle on the Bolts schedule will be more intriguing than Herbert, the Chargers franchise quarterback, leading the offense against the defending Super Bowl Champions.
The Seahawks are coming off a championship while boasting one of the top defenses in recent memory with Head Coach Mike Macdonald, who was Harbaugh’s former defensive coordinator at Michigan.
Seattle finished last season near the top of the list of a number of categories, including the NFL’s No. 1 scoring and third-down defense. They led the league in defensive DVOA, as that figure also ranked in the top 10 all-time since 1978.
On the other hand, Herbert is coming off another impressive season where he earned his second Pro Bowl accolade, throwing for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns with a 66.4 percent completion rate.
He also made his mark with his legs by rushing for a career-high 498 yards and two scores as he navigated injuries along the offensive front.
The Seahawks defense is one of the toughest units on the schedule, and an interesting matchup to see what Herbert and McDaniel can do against one of the league’s best defenses.