Los Angeles Chargers are becoming a trendy playoff pick
By Travis Wakeman
The Los Angeles Chargers are going to qualify for the playoffs in 2018. It seems that many analysts and experts are beginning to take that stance.
One of the latest, Pete Prisco of CBS Sports, predicted every game for every team in the 2018 season. He made these picks over six weeks before the season even starts which by the way, is perfectly fine.
Here’s how he see things playing out for the Bolts:
Week 1: Chargers 24, Chiefs 21
Week 2: Chargers 23, Bills 20
Week 3: Rams 27, Chargers 24
Week 4: Chargers 29, 49ers 18
Week 5: Chargers 24, Raiders 21
Week 6: Chargers 27, Browns 17
Week 7: Chargers 26, Titans 9
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: Chargers 25, Seahawks 23
Week 10: Raiders 23, Chargers 17
Week 11: Chargers 19, Broncos 15
Week 12: Chargers 29, Cardinals 10
Week 13: Steelers 31, Chargers 29
Week 14: Chargers 32, Bengals 23
Week 15: Chiefs 27, Chargers 17
Week 16: Chargers 29, Ravens 20
Week 17: Broncos 20, Chargers 18
Prisco clearly respects the Chargers this year. He’s got the team getting off to a 7-1 start before finishing 11-5. By the way, I have the Chargers finishing the season with the same record. In fact, Prisco and I see things in an awfully similar light, picking the same Chargers wins and losses almost across the board.
The only difference is my picks show the Cleveland Browns dealing the Chargers a loss in Week 6 whereas he has the team losing to the Oakland Raiders in Week 10.
More from Bolt Beat
- LA Chargers: 3 early takeaways from 2021 minicamp thus far
- LA Chargers: Drue Tranquill takes a jab at Gus Bradley’s defense
- LA Chargers second-year players: Nothing to lose and a lot to gain
- LA Chargers: Why running back could be a big issue for the Bolts
- LA Chargers: Chris Rumph’s upside is Melvin Ingram-like, but better
After winning the AFC West, the Chargers then put up 29 points in a 6-point win over the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round, according to Prisco. The season comes to an end the following week, against a team that has sent some good Chargers teams home in recent years, the New England Patriots. Prisco has the Pats winning 27-26 in the divisional round.
Though fans would be disappointed with that loss, it would be just the sixth time the Chargers have reached the divisional round since going to the Super Bowl in 1994. It would have to be considered a hugely successful season for the team.
For the record, Prisco thinks the Green Bay Packers will meet the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Super Bowl, which happens to be the same prediction Tony Romo recently made.
Predictions and forecasting is fun, but the NFL features plenty of variables. Still, when was the last time the Chargers were getting this much love on a national scale?