Hello StormCloud, The NFL Football Season is finally back upon us and Stacey & Kyle is back with another Live Stream Recording that just went Live 45 minutes ago today. Stacey & Kyle did a Preview of this weekends home opener of the Raiders vs Chargers at Sofi Stadium. Stacey also did a brief write-up of his thoughts celebrating 47 years as a Charger fan, and how he views the official beginning of the Jim Harbaugh Era in Los Angeles as the Head Coach.

The Los Angeles Chargers’ home opener is against the Las Vegas Raiders. It is well documented that these two teams have a long history of rivalry and mutual dislike, making every matchup an intense battle. When the Chargers and Raiders meet between the white lines, it’s always a spectacle. As the season progresses, particularly by Week 12 when teams are fighting for playoff spots, each game becomes more critical. At that point, every matchup feels like a must-win if you’re trying to make it into the postseason tournament.

The Chargers’ history includes some notable successes. In 1963, they won the AFL Championship and reached the AFL playoffs five times, making it to the championship game four times before joining the NFL. Since then, however, the Chargers have only made 15 trips to the playoffs, with four appearances in the AFC Championship game and just one Super Bowl, which ended in disappointment. That was the past, but now, the Chargers appear ready to turn the page and start the 2024 season with a fresh attitude and a renewed approach. Their goal is to consistently field a competitive team, with the ultimate hope of bringing a championship to Los Angeles.

The process of change began late last season when the Chargers parted ways with head coach Brandon Staley and his staff. They entered the offseason with a series of bold moves, starting at the top in the executive offices and extending down to the players on the field. One of the most significant changes was bringing in Jim Harbaugh, one of the brightest football minds with a track record of success at both the collegiate and professional levels. The next major move was hiring former Baltimore Ravens executive Joe Hortiz as the new general manager. Together, Harbaugh and Hortiz have developed a plan and strategy to win at the highest level.

Harbaugh and Hortiz share a common football philosophy: build toughness and physicality in the trenches, and create a power-running team. In just one offseason, they rebuilt the roster from top to bottom, signing low-risk, high-reward players who can compete now while also laying the foundation for the future. All of this was done despite salary cap concerns that initially seemed to limit their flexibility. The Chargers have strong individual pieces on defense and more than capable players on offense, including Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. If those two can stay healthy, the team will be able to implement their game plan effectively, starting with a power running game that imposes its will on opponents. However, it all begins with Sunday’s home opener against the Raiders.

The Chargers have been haunted by the past, often finding new ways to lose games. The most recent example was the gut-wrenching playoff loss to the Jaguars, where the Chargers blew a 27-0 lead, collapsing in the second half. Losses like these have scarred the fan base, leaving them hesitant to believe in a brighter future, even with the hiring of proven winners like Harbaugh and Hortiz. While there is hope, many fans need to see tangible proof that this is truly a new era for Chargers football.

That brings us to Sunday’s game at SoFi Stadium against the Raiders. Although the Harbaugh-Hortiz era looks and feels different, the fans need to witness it on the field. For the psyche of Chargers fans, this game feels like a must-win. There are 17 games in the season, and the team has ample time to prove that they are different, with a new attitude and a readiness to win consistently. But even though it’s just Week 1, the pressure to start strong is undeniable. 

A loss in the opener would send Chargers fans into panic mode, reigniting fears that nothing has changed. They would begin to wonder, “Here we go again—we’re still the Chargers.” On the other hand, a convincing win could do wonders for the psychological mindset of the fan base. It would allow them to begin forgetting the ghosts of the past and see this as the start of a new era in Chargers football.

For me, despite it being just the first week, this game is a must-win. Yes, there are 16 games left after Week 1, but given everything this team has endured—every upset, every disappointment, every heartache, and every missed opportunity—this game represents the chance to finally put the “Chargering” narrative to rest. With Harbaugh and Hortiz leading the way, a big victory over the Las Vegas Raiders would signal the real beginning of a new season, and perhaps, a new chapter for the Chargers.