Four ways the Chargers can improve through remainder of season

Chargers: Finding Keenan Allen

The Chargers have a lot of playmakers on offense, but perhaps none as dangerous as Keenan Allen. Allen started the season on fire, with 29 receptions for 404 yards and three touchdowns. After that, he disappeared from the gridiron.

He hasn’t caught a touchdown or reached 70 receiving yards since, and the offense has suffered for it. And it hasn’t been Allen’s fault, as he keeps getting open game after game. It has been very perplexing to watch the Chargers not targeting their best player on offense, and sometimes it seems they just move away from him on purpose.

The offense is getting better every week. Hunter Henry is back, Mike Williams is making plays, Gordon had his first 100-yard game, and Gordon and Austin Ekeler have reached a balance of playing time and touches that helps both get in rhythm.

It can be tough to take away from those players, but getting Allen back in the mix can help this offense become one of the best in the league.

Chargers: Penalties on special teams

It feels like every time the Chargers return a kick, there’s a yellow penalty flag flying. It has hampered the Chargers’ field position all season. In fact, after ten weeks of football, the Chargers are third in the league in special teams penalties with 13.

Only the Kansas City Chiefs and the Arizona Cardinals have more, with 14 and 18 respectively. That’s troublesome, as the Chargers have sometimes struggled to move the ball, and their predictability with runs on first and second downs have forced quick three-and-outs. When those punts come from inside the 20, it gifts the opponent great field position. That’s a recipe for losing games, and more discipline on kick and punt returns can go a long way in improving the Chargers’ chances of winning close games.