With the 2017 NFL schedule out of the bag, we are now *that *much closer to the 2017 season.
While it's easy to look at the schedule and plot the primetime games, divisional matchups and when the bye falls, we thought we'd tip you off to some little known facts about the Los Angeles Chargers' 2017 Schedule.
Total Mileage: From start to finish, stadium to stadium, the Chargers will lock in 30,936 miles. Their longest trip stadium-wise is to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts (2,990 miles) while the shortest is from StubHub Center to O.co Coliseum (380 miles).
Back on MNF: The Bolts open up their season at Denver in the second game on Monday Night Football. If this spot feels familiar, it is. The Chargers played on MNF to open the season three straight years from 2012-14.
Turkey Day History: The Chargers have played four Thanksgiving games, the last being in 1969. This almost 50-year drought is the longest in the NFL. It's so long that the Bolts played all their Thanksgiving games in the AFL before the NFL merger occurred.
Opponent Connections: The Chargers will face a few former players in D.J. Fluker (New York Giants), Mike Tolbert (Buffalo Bills) and Craig Watts (New York Jets). In addition, some current Chargers will have reunions with their former teams: Russell Okung (Denver Broncos), Kenjon Barner (Philadelphia Eagles), Geremy Davis (New York Jets) and Travis Benjamin (Cleveland Browns).
Lynn Reunion: Head Coach Anthony Lynn has ties to six of the team's 13 opponents: Denver, Buffalo, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Dallas and the New York Jets. The season opener has added significance as he won two Super Bowls with the Broncos as a player, in addition to coaching there from 2000-2002.
Three-Straight Home Games: Weeks 2-4 are dominated by home matchups against the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles respectively. The last time the Bolts had three-straight home games was in December of 2010.
To Be the Best, You Have to Beat the Best: Five of L.A.'s first eight games are against 2016 playoff teams: Miami, Kansas City, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders and the New England Patriots. This means they statistically have the hardest first half of the season based on their opponents' 2016 records. The game against the defending Super Bowl Champions comes right before the Bolts' bye.
A White Christmas for the Bolts?: For the third-straight season, the Chargers play on Christmas Eve. This year's will be a cold one as they travel east to take on the New York Jets at 10:00am P.T.
