Chargers rank in the top 10 in NFL.com’s Week 1 power rankings
By Matt Pagels
The 2018 regular season is set to kick off. Where do the Los Angeles Chargers rank heading into Week 1?
Are you ready?
Because the Chargers are about to make some noise! This Anthony Lynn-led Chargers team is extremely talented.
And NFL.com believes in them. Fo real. Analyst Elliot Harrison put the Bolts at No. 10 overall in his Week 1 Power Rankings. Here’s what Harrison had to say:
“Solid power-up into the top 10 for the Chargers, who are the favorites to win their division. Don’t see any AFC West teams leapfrogging Anthony Lynn’s group, although losing Jason Verrett (torn Achilles) and Hunter Henry (torn ACL) hurt, and depth is an issue. This just in: When your starters play well and you lose 36-7 in the preseason, it’s clear you’ve got some cracks and splinters on your bench. Derwin James sure excited a few of the fellas, huh? The Chargers are a playoff team.”
There are only three other AFC teams above the Chargers: The New England Patriots (No. 5), Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 6) and Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 7). The NFC has six teams (Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Rams, New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers) in the top 10.
The Chargers have been hyped up since the start of the offseason. They did what they needed to do in free agency and appeared to come away with another solid draft. Not only that, but their division doesn’t look as strong as it once was.
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Can they stay healthy? Can they close out games? Can they beat their divisional opponents?
Those are the three main questions that need to be answered. The Chargers are always losing players to injury. They already lost tight end Hunter Henry (torn ACL) and cornerback (Jason Verrett). However, every man on the 53-man roster practiced this week, with defensive end Joey Bosa (foot) and defensive tackle Justin Jones (ankle) being the only two listed on the injury report, per ESPN’s Eric Williams. That’s a good sign.
And the team really needs to stop shooting itself in the foot toward the end of the game. Of their seven losses last season, five were one-score games.
Which two games did they lose by more than one score, you ask? Both were against the the Kansas City Chiefs. You know, those same Chiefs who have been AFC West champs the last two years and made the playoffs four of the last five years. The Chargers have lost eight straight against the Chiefs dating back to 2014, as well. Not good.
Ironically, the Chargers start their season off at home against the Chiefs. It’s time for this team to make a statement early.