Chargers bold prediction: Mitch Trubisky completes 55 percent of his passes
This might look like I’m predicting Trubisky to complete over 55 percent of his passes, but it’s actually the opposite. Trubisky has been nothing short of awful this season, but a game against the Washington Redskins and garbage time against the Saints have disguised his numbers to make him look like an average quarterback.
He isn’t. His best quality may be his running ability, something which he has yet to display this season. When you say that about a quarterback, it usually means he’s not a good thrower. Trubisky is young, and he can eventually develop into a good quarterback. He was the second overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft for a reason. That is looking less likely by the day.
The Chargers’ defense has not done a good job of taking advantage of sub-par quarterbacks this season. For some reason, the Chargers have faced an unusual amount of backup quarterbacks this year, and starters who were supposed to face the Chargers have been benched or injured as if they were cursed. Trubisky himself was injured earlier this season but managed to come back in time to face the Chargers.
This time, the Chargers defense will make a stand, and Trubisky’s inaccuracy will be on full display as the Chargers’ tight coverage forces errant throws from Trubisky, who will be kept to under 55 percent completion percentage.
Chargers bold prediction: Austin Ekeler out-touches Melvin Gordon
With Gordon’s holdout, it was Ekeler’s backfield, and he captivated Chargers fans and fantasy football players with his electric play style and huge production. Since Gordon returned from his holdout, the coaching staff has given him the bulk of the carries to very little success on the ground.
The rust should be coming off now, and this could be Gordon’s game to get back to his usual self against a Bears defense that has been run over for two games in a row by Oakland Raiders rookie Josh Jacobs and former-Raider Latavius Murray.
However, Gordon is just coming from an awful game against Tennessee where he fumbled the game away, and possibly the season, at the 1-yard line. This coaching staff has proven to be very stubborn, and there’s no indication Anthony Lynn and company will move on from Gordon as their lead back. After all, that was predicted here a month ago.
But this article is called “bold predictions” for a reason. When the game is over, Ekeler will have the edge in touches over Gordon.