The best time for your worst loss of the season is the game before a short week.

The Bolts had no time to sulk this week after the Buccaneers dismantled the Chargers 40-17 on Sunday. While there are always lessons to be learned in a loss, there are some games that an athlete would rather just put behind them and forget, at least temporarily, and the schedule-Gods answered that prayer for the Chargers this week.

The Denver Broncos are visiting the Chargers after enjoying the other side of a blowout victory against the Colts, besting them 31-13. They are playing on a short week as well, and have the disadvantage of having squeeze travel in this short turnaround.

The last time these teams met, the Chargers defense completely bottled the Broncos offense up, holding them scoreless until the fourth quarter when falling into a “prevent” defense allowed Denver to rack up 17 junk-time points. Looking at the final score of 23-16 would suggest an evenly fought match, but the tape told a very different story.

Since then, Bo Nix has become a more efficient and capable passer. At the time of that game, he had only gone over 220 passing yards once. Since then, he has managed to go over 270 yards four times. While he still has a long way to go in his development, he has started pairing some downfield success with the playmaking abilities his legs provide. The Chargers defense needs to put up a similarly dominant performance by staying disciplined in their pass rush, containing Nix in the pocket, and not letting him scramble and extend.

The Chargers offense needs to rise above the challenges it’s interior offensive line and receivers have presented it with. Hayden Hurst is returning tonight which may inject some talent onto the field, it’s hard to see him as an upgrade to Stone Smartt, who has actually be a reliable target the last couple weeks. All eyes will be on Greg Roman to see if he leans into the running game again after straying from it despite his receivers’ struggles, or if one of these receivers can step up and take some pressure off Ladd McConkey.

Here are the inactives for tonight’s game:

It’s a punch to the gut to see Elijah Molden and Cam Hart out. The secondary was getting alarmingly thin before losing Hart, who has been a breakout sensation this season. His ability to physically lock down “X” receivers has been a key ingredient to this team’s defensive success, and compliments fellow rookie Tarheeb Still’s playmaking ability in the slot… his impact can’t be replaced by simply shifting Tarheeb to the outside.

Elijah Molden’s absence will also be felt, as the Chargers are also without Alohi Gilman.

After a rough, rough few weeks, the Bolts would put themselves in an excellent position with a “Dub” before their mini-bye. They would be in position to potentially clinch their playoff spot with some outside help, but most importantly, can wash the taste out of that brutal Week 15 loss and focus on resetting and getting healthy down the stretch.