Bold predictions for Chargers Week 8 game against the Bears

The Los Angeles Chargers travel to Chicago for their second away game in a row. The season hasn’t gone anywhere near expectation after another heartbreaking loss.

Not many people would have thought the Chargers would be 2-5 after the first seven weeks of the season. The “easy” stretch is done, and if the Chargers want to get into the AFC playoff race, they will need to start winning against tough opponents.

The Bears aren’t really scary on offense, but their defense can stop anyone in its tracks, let alone a Chargers offense that has struggled of late.

Last week’s bold predictions fared exactly like the Chargers the last three weeks, 0-3:

• Keenan Allen gets back on track: Wrong
• Joey Bosa doubles his sack tally: Wrong
• The defense gets Tannehill benched: Wrong

Two of them came somewhat close. Allen only had four receptions for 61 yards, but he had 11 targets. He even saw six targets of 20+ yards, but failed to come down with a catch on any of those six targets, according to Pro Football Focus (requires subscription). It was the first time in Allen’s career that he saw more than three 20+ yard targets.

Bosa was the bright spot last Sunday, as he delivered a brilliant performance, but only managed two sacks, and not three. A third sack could have come on a play where he rushed the passer from the middle standing up instead of the edge.

On that play, an argument can be made that he was held, but the referees missed it. It was a crucial play too, as it was a 3rd-and-7 with around three minutes on the clock.

Ryan Tannehill made his first start in a while, and he had a very efficient showing. He didn’t throw downfield at all, but his throws were darts and he routinely hit tight windows. The Chargers’ defense is not all to blame, but it wasn’t at its best on Sunday and permitted Tannehill to show off during his comeback to the field.

Up next are the bold predictions for the Week 8 game against the Bears.