The Chargers and Broncos will square off for the first time this season on Sunday afternoon in Week 3.

Kickoff is at 1:05 p.m. (PT) at SoFi Stadium and will be the Chargers first true home game in 2025.

The Chargers-Broncos betting line shows the Bolts are slight favorites on Sunday.

Here are five final thoughts ahead of Week 3.

1. Aiming for 3-0

When the Chargers schedule came out in May, it's a safe bet that everyone circled the Bolts first three games of the season — all against AFC West opponents.

Yet as the Chargers prepare to close out this early stretch of division games, the Bolts find themselves sitting at 2-0 and alone in first place.

It's early. Very early.

But does this start mean anything significant in the Chargers locker room?

"It should because it's hard to win games," Tony Jefferson said. "It's hard to go 2-0 and it's really hard to go 3-0.

"To start off with three division opponents in a row and have the chance to go 3-0, we really want to get this division game," Jefferson added. "There's a lot on our plate but we're prepared."

Justin Herbert added that while the Chargers are staying in the moment, they will gladly take any AFC West win they can get.

"I think it's always important to be in the conversation," Herbert said. "We truly take it week by week … but to be in the conversation and to be competing for a spot like [first place], that's our goal.

"We understand it's a really long season and do our part to never look too far ahead," Herbert added.

The Broncos come to town at 1-1 and are coming off a last-second loss to the Colts.

Nobody within the Chargers is worried about Denver being extra motivated given how they lost in Week 2. Instead, everyone expects a typical division slugfest, the same type of games the Bolts have thrived in so far this season.

Entering Week 3, first place is already on the line between these two division rivals.

A Chargers win would mean the team's first 3-0 start since 2002. And it would mean the Bolts would be the third team since the league expanded to 32 teams in 2002 to open their season with a 3-0 record that includes a sweep of all three of their divisional foes.

A 3-0 start is the goal by the time Sunday evening rolls around.

"We couldn't have asked for a better start," Keenan Allen said. "Two division games, two wins."

He later added: "But it's two games … it doesn't mean anything yet."

Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh added: "Just win the next game. That's the most important thing."

2. All eyes on the trenches

Sunday's matchup features plenty of intriguing matchups, both 1-on-1 and within various units.

The battle between the Chargers offensive line and the Broncos defensive front is at the top of our list to watch.

The Bolts were up to the task Monday night against a stout Raiders front as they posted a solid 78.2 pass-blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus.

Right tackle Trey Pipkins led the way with an 84.0 PFF pass-blocking grade, the second-highest mark of his career.

"I felt good but as a team I felt like we've protected well," Pipkins said. "I had a lot of help, a lot of chips so that makes it easier."

He later added: "We are playing well but hopefully it only gets better from here and we get more chemistry."

Herbert said of Pipkins: "We're really lucky to have him … I thought he did an incredible job."

Entering Week 3, the Chargers have allowed a league-low nine pressures and are tied for fifth with the best team pass-block grade at 70.9.

But the Bolts know as well as anyone the problems that the Broncos present.

Denver led the NFL in sacks (63) a season ago and feature an array of pass rushers who can all get to the quarterbacks.

Edge rusher Nik Bonitto currently has 15 pressures, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, a stat that leads all defensive players.

And while Bonitto is likely to be matched up against Joe Alt on the left side, Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman is viewing Sunday's game as more of a unit-versus-unit battle.

"Their front five, these guys are set your hair on fire-type players," Roman said. "These guys get after it, I think all five guys have to be on it.

"They run a lot of games and stunts up front as well, so it's not so much 1-on-1 situation, it becomes a 5-on-5 situation," Roman added. "They put a lot of pressure on the offense so we got to be on it."

Pipkins and Harbaugh echoed Roman's comments.

"They move around a lot and it's tough to get your hands on them," Pipkins said. "And obviously they're good on the back end, too. Just an all-around good defense."

Harbaugh added: "Their defense is a challenge-oriented defense."

Sign us up for this early-season battle in the trenches. It will be a key factor in determining who wins in Week 3.

3. Stepping up in Mack's absence

The Chargers will be without Khalil Mack for at least four games after the veteran edge rusher was placed on Injured Reserve earlier this week with an elbow injury.

There's no denying that the Chargers will miss Mack's production and leadership on the field and in the locker room.

"K-Mack is a competitor so he's going to try and get back as fast as he can and come here and compete with us," Bud Dupree said.

In the meantime, Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter is excited to see how that room evolves without the future Hall of Famer, although it's worth noting that Mack has been in meetings and will be coaching guys up on the sideline.

"It's a tough loss because Khalil is so valuable, so important," Minter said. "I think we have tried to preach the depth that we have, our confidence in a lot of players in the room and then when something happens to somebody, it's an opportunity for somebody else. I feel great about that room."

Already a starter, Tuli Tuipulotu will become the Bolts top edge rusher going forward. And while he hasn't recorded a sack yet, Tuipulotu has posted 10 quarterback pressures in two games, which is tied for the fifth-most among all defensive players.

Dupree said he expects Tuipulotu to step up in a big way in the coming weeks.

"Any time you're a young guy, a guy that's going to be the future of this team, it's a great opportunity for him to go out and shine and continue to get the praise he deserves," Dupree said.

Dupree, meanwhile, is in line to make his 100th career start on Sunday. The 2015 draft pick has 59.0 career sacks.

"It's dope, man," Dupree said. "Any time you get an accomplishment, it's crazy. Having the amount of sacks, too, just keep going. Any time I get an accomplishment, it's always a blessing."

Minter also said he expects Caleb Murphy and rookie fourth-round pick Kyle Kennard to each take on a larger role in Mack's absence.

The Bolts will need to be on point without No. 52 against a Denver offensive line that currently leads the NFL in PFF pas-blocking grade at 80.4.

"When we have the type of room and the type of guys happen in the game, how would Khalil want us to play and how would he want our mindset to be," Minter said. "He would not want us to worry one ounce about him and play the game we know we can play it. We'll really try to honor him by how we play while he's out."

4. Jefferson ready to start again

Tony Jefferson turned back the clock on Monday night.

With Elijah Molden out with a hamstring injury, Jefferson made his first NFL start since 2019, which ironically enough came against the Chargers when he was with the Ravens.

The 33-year-old was a dynamic player, too, racking up five total tackles to go along with an interception and two passes defensed, part of an effort where the Bolts defenses deflected away 15 passes from Raiders quarterback Geno Smith.

"Anytime you can get a turnover, I'm happy help the team out," Jefferson said. "Everybody was just plastering and forcing Geno to have to make a tough throw."

Molden once again won't play in Week 3 as he was ruled out on the Chargers-Broncos Injury Report.

Jefferson has stayed ready in recent weeks even though he didn't make the Chargers initial 53-man roster despite a strong training camp and preseason.

The veteran said this week that a full belief in himself kept him confident that he'd eventually get a chance to play.

"I was just taking it week by week and any opportunity I got, I was just going to try and go out there and be me," Jefferson said. "I felt like I had a pretty good offseason plus a good preseason, so getting cut and put on practice squad never really steered what I thought of myself or what I thought of the body of work that I put in.

"I just stayed confident in that and that's usually what happens, it just works itself out," Jefferson added.

The Chargers defense didn't miss a beat Monday night, and Minter expects the same Sunday when the Broncos are in town.

"Elijah is such a commander back there, you don't lose any of that when Tony is all of a sudden in there," Minter said. "It's unbelievable to have a guy like that and he went out there and played Tony Jefferson football."

Harbaugh added: "He's always in the right place ... he studies, smart, is experienced. Willing to do anything and everything. A great leader. A long list of things I like about Tony Jefferson. A real football player."

5. Clutch kickoff coverage

Looking for an underrated area to watch in Week 3?

Keep an eye on the Chargers kickoff coverage unit, which was stellar in Week 2 against the Raiders.

The Bolts smothered up the Raiders on four kickoff returns, stopping Las Vegas at the 24, 22 and 28-yard line on tackles. And a drawn holding call put the Raiders at their own 20.

Add it up and that meant an average drive start of the 23.5-yard line, well below the touchback mark of the 35.

"That's four first downs saved by not allowing them to get to the 25 [on average]. That stood out greatly," Harbaugh said. "Guys just playing hard, playing physical. The hustle, constant hustle, hustle at all times.

"That's what I continue to like about our team," Harbaugh added. "They go into these games with positive intentions and hustle at all times."

Marlowe Wax made the first tackle in kickoff coverage before he teamed up with Murphy on the second tackle. Both players spoke this week about the instant impact they can have on the game in this area.

"It was definitely a big focus for us coming into the last game. Against the Chiefs, we felt like we could have done better," Wax said. "It was just a big focus for us as a unit to go out there and get them inside the 25 or the 30.

"I give all props to Coach Fick [Special Teams Coordinator Ryan Ficken]. He just emphasizes how important special teams is and this is how the NFL is, it's a changing game. It's a big focus," Wax later continued.

"You go out there and your kickoff coverage is good, you tackle inside the 25, it puts the offense that's coming onto the field a little more weary and defenses get a little hyped up when they see us make plays like that," Wax added.

Murphy said: "The guys in the special teams room, it's a matter of want-to with those types of things. I think everybody in there wants it because it helps the team win."

Denver currently ranks 13th in kickoff return average at 25.5 yards per attempt. Given how well the Chargers defense has played to start the season, pinning Denver deep in their own territory could help swing the momentum the Chargers way in what should be another tight AFC West battle on Sunday.

"The standard just rises every week, we're trying to do better every single week," Wax said. "Just keep putting things on film."