NFL Power Rankings: LA Chargers jump up in several power rankings

The LA Chargers rank higher on several power rankings after a Week 1 win.

The LA Chargers opened their 2020 season with a win, although it was not the prettiest. The team was bailed out from going to overtime because of a missed chip shot from Reggie Bullock but hey, a win is a win.

That win did enough to move the LA Chargers up in the several NFL power rankings. Every week, we break down where the Bolts ranks on several different power rankings to get a consensus feel of how the league views them on a weekly basis.

So just how do the LA Chargers stack up after Week 1? Let’s ask the pundits.

Dan Hanzus, NFL.com: 20th (Up two spots)

“Tyrod Taylor was unspectacular but steady (this is pretty much the Tyrod Taylor experience in totality) and the defense forced two big turnovers, a welcome change from last year, when Los Angeles was too often on the wrong side of the takeaway battle. Melvin Ingram’s fourth quarter interception on a Joe Burrow shovel pass was a thing of beauty.”

This really was the story of the game for the LA Chargers. Tyrod Taylor was not fantastic, but he did not turn the ball over in critical spots (although, you could argue that having four three-and-outs accomplishes almost the same thing).

The Chargers won the turnover battle and that is what won them the game (aside from the missed field goal). That is a feeling that Charger fans may not be familiar with.

Bleacher Report staff: 21st (Up five spots)

“It’s how the Chargers can compete: run the ball, keep the third-down distance manageable, limit mistakes and play defense.

But it also isn’t always going to work. Playing Patrick Mahomes is a tad different than taking on a rookie quarterback making his first start.”

The Chargers jumped five spots on the Bleacher Report power rankings and I agree completely with what was said about the team. The Chargers adopted a game-manager offense in Week 1, which will work against some teams, but some teams it just won’t.

I said going into the year and I still feel the same way: this feels like a season in which the Chargers beat who they are “supposed” to beat and lose to the teams that they are “supposed” to lose to.

ESPN staff: 22nd (Up two spots)

“Kelley, a fourth-round pick out of UCLA, rushed for 60 yards on only 12 carries — one of which went for 26 yards — and scored the Chargers’ only touchdown […] Anthony Lynn admitted that his team probably would not have won the game if not for Kelley, which is in no way a stretch.”

Joshua Kelley was FANTASTIC for the LA Chargers in Week 1. In fact, Kelley accomplished something that no Charger has accomplished since LaDainian Tomlinson. Yeah, his Week 1 performance was that big of a deal.

Justin Jackson’s quad injury is more serious than expected, with the team bringing in several veteran running backs to work out. Expect Kelley to continue to have a big role in the offense as the RB2.

Randy Gurzi, NFL Spin Zone: 17th (Up nine spots)

“Taylor didn’t wow anyone with his 16-of-30 passing for 208 yards but he just did what he had to do in order to get the win. He was a game manager who kept the offense moving and they took a 16-13 lead late in the fourth quarter. From there, they needed a little luck as Burrow got Cincy down to the three but an offensive pass interference and a missed field goal secured the win.”

The LA Chargers gained nine spots in the NFL power rankings over at our FanSided sister site, NFL Spin Zone. Gurzi even ranked the Chargers four spots higher than Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts, who dropped their Week 1 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

LA Chargers consensus power ranking: 20th

The Chargers averaged the 20th ranking on the weekly power rankings that we will be diving into. It will be interesting to see how much the Chargers change in the power rankings after Week 2, as they are heading into a likely loss against the Chiefs.

Where would you rank the Chargers on the NFL’s totem pole? Let us know in the comments down below!