Bolt Beat Week 4 Staff Picks: Can Chargers get their first win vs. Eagles?

The Los Angeles Chargers simply can’t afford to go to 0-4. As a result, expect them to fight and claw against the Philadelphia Eagles (2-1) on Sunday to prevent that from happening.

It has been a disappointing start to the season for the Chargers, to say the least. Still, many of the writers here at Bolt Beat are reluctant to completely jump off the team’s bandwagon, as you’ll see below in our most recent roundtable.

The Eagles come into Los Angeles with a young roster, but it’s a team that should be full of confidence after knocking off the hated rival New York Giants last week. The week prior to that, they gave the Kansas City Chiefs, arguably the best team in the NFL right now, all they wanted.

So what do our writers think about the Chargers’ chances in this game? Check out our latest staff picks. The numbers in parenthesis are that writer’s win-loss record in picking games this season.

Mike Murray (1-2): “The fan in me wants to say the Chargers will pull out a narrow victory on Koo’s last second field goal. Chargers 23 – Eagles 20

The football analyst in me says, the Eagles offense will be too much for the soft center of the Chargers’ defense. Expect the Bolts to find a way to lose another game. Chargers 21 – Eagles 23.”

Alexander Insdorf (1-2): “It’s a touch matchup to call for me, as it usually is. The Eagles seem like they have all the momentum in the world after their magical win on a 61-yard field goal. The Chargers seemingly are yet again, and probably for the next few weeks, in must-win territory. For me, this game comes down to the defenses. I think the Eagles’ secondary is fairly weak at the moment from what I’ve watched, and that’s what I think gives the Chargers the best shot to win. Philadelphia is also dealing with a number of injuries at the moment-Fletcher Cox on the D-Line, Ronald Darby and Jaylen Watkins in the secondary, and former beloved Chargers runner Darren Sproles. Also, dating back to last season, the Eagles have lost 8 of their last 9 games on the road. It feels hard to say this for the Chargers, but they are due for a win. They’ve lost every game by one score, minus a garbage time Kareem Hunt TD. I don’t think there’s any way in the world Philip Rivers has as bad of a game as last week with the Eagles’ banged up secondary and defense. It’s a tight one but I’ve got, Eagles 23, Chargers 27”.

Tyler Schoon (1-2): “The Eagles have quite a few injuries, and appear to be lacking in areas the Chargers can exploit. I don’t expect our defense to hold as strong as last week (disregarding the box score there), but I also don’t expect three egregious turnovers from Rivers again either. It could be a close one, but I’m taking the healthier team at home. Chargers 20, Eagles 17”.

Anthony Totri (1-2): “Chargers 28 – Eagles 20”.

Scott Iger (0-3): “Well, at this point I am 0-3 on my picks, and I have picked the Chargers to win each time thus far. Therefore, I am forced this time to unfortunately pick against the Bolts, especially in this matchup with a good 2-1 Philadelphia team. Maybe my picking of the Chargers to lose will make them win, or at least one can hope, right? Eagles win 21-14.”

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Kade Dohmen (0-3): “The Eagles are for real this year, or will be soon. Like I’ve said, Chargers have the talent to get the win, I just don’t like what I saw out of the offense last week. The defense can probably manage to stop the Eagles offense, at least enough for Rivers to (hopefully) exploit the weak Eagles pass D. If I start the season 0-4 in my predictions, I’ll start learning from my mistakes. Chargers win 24-20.”

Matt Pagels (1-2): The Eagles are coming off a huge win after their rookie kicker hit a game-winning 61-yarder, while the Chargers fell to 0-3. Is the season already over for the Bolts? Who knows. But I have a feeling they get their first win against a banged up Eagles defense. Give me the Chargers.”

Travis Wakeman (2-1): “I haven’t been afraid to pick against the Chargers this year, which is probably the reason why I’m the only guy here with a winning record in picks. As bad as they’ve looked, I’m tempted to do it again here. That said, this is a home game and I know guys like Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, Melvin Ingram, Joey Bosa and Melvin Gordon have enough heart to make sure this team doesn’t go 0-4. They have to win this game, and they’ll find a way to do just that. Chargers 27, Eagles 23”.

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