There's an element of the unknown heading into Week 1 with every roster looking different than a year ago.
What's not unknown for the Chargers is who will be under center for the Chiefs in Patrick Mahomes and the challenge he presents for the defense heading into Friday's season opener.
"Going against [No.] 15 on the other side, he's going to extend plays," cornerback Tarheeb Still said on Tuesday. "We've got to do our job."
The Bolts know Mahomes very well as a division rival, and will get their first test against him in 2025 from the jump.
Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter got his first experience going up against the Chiefs quarterback last season and held their offense to a combined 36 points across the two matchups.
But what has made him as dangerous as they come throughout his time in the NFL, and what Minter saw at times last season, has been what he's able to do when he extends the play and begins to scramble.
The defensive playcaller said on Tuesday when facing Mahomes, there's a balance his unit must find when trying to limit him and not let him create explosive plays out of the pocket.
"We certainly know what he's capable of in the sense of how you need to try to rush him, how you need to try to keep him from trying to make those Patrick Mahomes-esque plays," Minter said. "While at the same time cutting it loose and playing fast, not playing too timid or hesitant because we're scare of him getting out.
"I think it's a fine line," he added. "I think our guys are well prepared for the challenge."