A new journey — and era — of Chargers football is upon us.

The Bolts open the 2024 season Sunday at home against the Raiders, with kickoff slated for 1:05 p.m. (PT).

Week 1, of course, will mark the first game under Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh.

The Chargers are three-point favorites and the over/under for Sunday is 40.5 points.

Here are five final thoughts ahead of Week 1:

1. Welcome to Week 1

For all of the anticipation and excitement that comes with the first game of the season, there's another thought that's lurking, too.

The unknown. Nobody really knows how Week 1 will play out, especially with these two teams who overhauled their front offices and coaching staffs this offseason.

Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter referred to Week 1 as a "training camp game," meaning you have to trust your instincts and just play.

Harbaugh offered his own perfect analogy of Week 1.

"We're jumping out of a plane and let's hope the parachute opens," Harbaugh said. "Hopefully we all packed it in there good and it opens for us.

"I can't say enough about all people in the organization that make sure that parachute is packed right," Harbaugh added.

And while we may not know what to expect Sunday in terms of scheme or game plan, the Chargers made it clear this week that they can't wait to open against one of their biggest rivals.

Harbaugh played against the Raiders as the Bolts starting QB and later coached for the Raiders. He understands Raider Week and what this rivalry is all about.

"There's an appropriate air around the facility and the building with the team, the meetings," Harbaugh said.

The lopsided result the last time these two teams played only adds fuel to the rivalry.

Derwin James, Jr. offered his reaction when he found out the Raiders were up in Week 1.

"Let's [blanking] go," James said, offering a colorful term that can't be used on this website.

"You can't embarrass me like that," James later added about the Week 15 game in Las Vegas.

Even Justin Herbert, who didn't play in the game, wants a better outcome this time around.

"Can't let that happen again," Herbert said. "The guys in that locker room, they feel the same way. We don't even have to talk about it."

Welcome to Week 1, where there are thrills and unknowns abound.

The journey starts here.

"It's Week 1 and we're always excited for that," Herbert said. "Anytime you get a chance to go out and play football … it's a great opportunity for us.

"We put in a lot of work this offseason and that's what makes it so exciting," Herbert added. "Finally, we get to strap it up and get to go play."

2. What does the run game look like?

If you haven't heard, the Chargers want to run the ball this season.

Sunday offers our first chance to see exactly what that looks like.

"We kind of know what it's going to look like — inside information — but we're all excited about it. It's going to be good," Pipkins said.

Roman has orchestrated dynamic rushing offenses in his career, most recently in Baltimore when the Ravens ranked first in cumulative EPA per rush from 2019-2022 at 0.116.

Gus Edwards, a free-agent addition who was with Roman in Baltimore, shared some insight into what Roman might unveil Sunday.

"A lot of different types of runs. He likes to mix it in there," Edwards said. "Football is football: runs, gaps, power is power. But he kind of likes to make a little bit of changes. He makes our jobs a lot easier."

The Bolts added Edwards and J.K. Dobbins to their backfield this offseason to be a strong 1-2 punch. If the duo stays healthy, the could make up one of the league's top tandems.

And Roman isn't worried about the duo sharing carries.

"We don't overthink that. They're both going to play," Roman added. "Whoever has got the hot hand, as I tell them, we're going to go with the hot hand. It's really nothing scientific."

The Chargers ultimately hope that the run game takes some pressure off Herbert and allows him to be even more efficient through the air.

"Justin is amazing, but add a run game to help him, it's going to be even better. We're going to compliment each other," Dobbins said. "If the run game isn't working, we'll blow the top off them with the pass but if the pass game isn't working, we'll run that thing. It's going to be great."

3. Matchup to watch: Alt vs. Crosby

Roman offered a blunt assessment of what lies in store for Joe Alt on Sunday.

"Welcome to the NFL," Roman said with a smile.

Perhaps nobody on the Bolts will have a tougher task in Week 1 than Alt, who will square off against Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.

Since entering the league in 2019, Crosby ranks first in the NFL in tackles for loss (88), fifth in sacks (52.0) and fourth in total tackles among defensive lineman (319).

"There can't be a bigger test right out of the gate," Harbaugh said. "Joe's preparing for it. I can't wait to watch him compete, starting out against a premier edge player in this game."

Harbaugh later added: "You really got to be on your details, your technique to have success or get a stalemate. That's success against a guy like Maxx Crosby. He's a tremendous football player."

Alt said he's put in plenty of mental preparation thus far.

"I've definitely watched him on film," Alt said. "That's always how I do things, I'm a big preparation guy so I like to prepare by watching film and getting a feel for the guys I'm going up against.

"Looking forward to the game and the opportunity for my first start," Alt added. "It will be a great time."

Alt added he's picked the brains of tackle Rashawn Slater and guard Trey Pipkins III (a former tackle), both of whom have gone up against Crosby.

"I've relied on both the tackles," Alt said. "Trey this year and Rashawn last year and being able to hear what they've done and experienced going up against them. Relied on them heavily."

Pipkins added: "We've all been helping him out and giving him little stuff we've learned."

Granted, it's unlikely the Chargers will ask Alt to block Crosby 1-on-1 for every single play Sunday. Looks for tight ends and running backs to chip in against Crosby, too.

Alt said this week he's focused on enjoying his first NFL game.

"I'm very excited. Excited to fulfill my dream," Alt said. "It's been my dream since I was a little kid and being able to go out there and play for the first time as an NFL player is really exciting. Looking forward to my first experience."

Roman added: I don't think he's going to blink … or be too wide-eyed at anything. He's the kind of guy where, if something happens, he'll come back, talk through it, reason it out and figure out a solution. Those are the guys that generally continue to ascend."

4. Mack ready for Year 11

Khalil Mack was asked Thursday how he's feeling ahead of his 11th NFL season.

"I'm in a great spot," Mack said. "I was rolling today, hitting on everything. Everything is clicking right now."

That's probably not what the Raiders want to hear. The last time Las Vegas came to SoFi Stadium, Mack set a Bolts single-game record with 6.0 sacks as he completely took the game over.

As Mack enters Year 11 of a Hall-of-Fame career, the 33-year-old with 101.5 career sacks said that he's as driven as ever.

"I'm motivated by everything," Mack said. "I hear what people are talking about with this and that. I let it all build up and I get ready for games like this."

Mack later added: "I'm picking up more stuff this week. I'm trying to listen in and tune in to see what everyone is saying. I like to hear all of their opinions and try to use them."

Mack will look to continue a string of epic performances against the Raiders, the team that drafted him fifth overall in 2014.

In two games at SoFi Stadium against Las Vegas, Mack has tallied 9.0 sacks, eight tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits and three forced fumbles.

"That book is always open for me," Mack said. "But Week 1 against the Raiders is always fun."

5. Sizing up the Raiders offense

Las Vegas will start veteran Gardner MInshew II at quarterback in Week 1.

"I've always been a big fan. He's a starting NFL quarterback," Harbaugh said. "He presents a lot of problems and plays with great ability and knowledge of the system. Confident. He's a winner. Got a lot of respect for him."

And while Minshew is in his first season with Las Vegas, so is Raiders Offensive Coordinator Luke Getsy, who was with the Bears the past two seasons.

How will the Chargers prepare against some new faces on the opposing sideline?

"Watch a lot of different tape, try to get a feel for maybe conceptually what they're trying to do, just like I'm sure they're doing on us," Minter said. "At the end of the day, it's going to come down to playing good defense.

"Tackling, taking on blocks, getting the ball off of them and trusting your training," Minter added. "You can't go into these games and guess, you have to go into these games and play football."

Harbaugh said: "You look at where they were their previous place. And you also look at where the current roster is and get some ideas on how they're going to implement those guys."

The Chargers defense thrived for the better part of training camp, whether it was a dominating August 4 joint practice against the Rams or in sessions against the Bolts own offense.

But now comes a real test against another opponent.

"Just excited. It's a long time coming," Minter said. "Been here since early part of February, started with the players in April. It's a long process to get to this point so you definitely get excited when the games start to count.

"As we like to say, every day matters, 17 of them count," Minter added. "This is the first one where it will change our win-loss record, it'll go on that. Just excited to see these guys go out there and play and hopefully see our preparation pay off."