The LA Chargers, ironically, could still finish the 2020 season with a winning record.
The 2020 season has been a really tough one for the LA Chargers. The Bolts have dropped several heartbreaking games and their record this season could be much different. If Michael Badgley makes the game-winning field goal in New Orleans and they don’t lose on the last play to Denver and Las Vegas then the Bolts would be 5-4.
There are more “what-ifs” that we could play this season but this exact same Chargers team, with as bad as the playcalling and defense have been, could easily be a winning team.
Some Charger fans are already looking towards the 2021 NFL Draft. Others are holding out hope that this team can at least finish the season on a positive note. And ironically enough, there is still a possibility that the team finishes with a winning record — if they win out.
If the @Chargers win out and go 9-7 this season, I will _________. #BoltUp #BoltFam
— Chargers Brawl™️ (@ChargersBrawl) November 18, 2020
For the record, I do not expect this to happen. I think this is a poorly coached team and poorly coached teams lose games. At this point, I think a 5-11 record is probably the most likely outcome.
However, what if Anthony Lynn and his coaching staff turn it around? What if the team gets healthy at the perfect time? Could they actually win out?
You can make the case for it. And as low as my expectations are, you do not have to make an insane case for any of these games. They all are doable.
How the LA Chargers could win out:
Week 11 vs. New York Jets:
I wrote an article detailing why it would not be totally shocking if the New York Jets beat the Chargers with how this season is going. However, at the end of the day, they are still the Jets and as 8.5-point favorites, it is not far-fetched in the slightest to say that it the Chargers should win this game.
Week 12 at Buffalo Bills:
This is probably the toughest remaining game on the schedule for the Chargers (we will explain Week 17 later) and the Bolts have to play their best game of the year.
Justin Herbert absolutely can duel with Josh Allen and the hope for the Chargers has to be that Allen has an off-game that is turnover plagued, something that he still is capable of doing. The Bills have not beaten the Chargers since 2008.
Week 13 vs. New England Patriots:
This game really worries me because the run defense has been bad and Bill Belichick will absolutely pick apart Gus Bradley’s never-changing defensive scheme.
However, we have seen how bad the Patriots are when Cam Newton is not playing well and it is not absurd to think that he could play really badly with the front line that the Chargers possess, as long as it is healthy for this game. Ironically, the Chargers’ best bet of winning this game is the opposing quarterback blowing it.
Week 14 vs. Atlanta Falcons:
The Atlanta Falcons are not a great team, either. Here are two teams that constantly find new ways to lose games every single week. It is not far-fetched in the slightest to say now, if the Chargers win three in a row, that they will be favored against Atlanta.
They just have to execute.
Week 15 at Las Vegas Raiders:
Another tough game as the Raiders will be in the thick of a playoff race themselves but the Chargers came one Mike Williams/Donald Parham bobble away from beating Vegas in their first matchup.
Bosa has to be healthy to help stop the Raiders from running all over the Chargers. The Chargers were one play away from beating them last time. They absolutely can beat them.
Week 16 vs. Denver Broncos:
The Denver Broncos are not a good football team and if the Chargers somehow lose to them twice in one season then the entire coaching staff deserves to fired. Even if the team finishes 8-8.
They were throttling Denver and then allowed one of the three worst offenses in the league to score 28 points in the second half. That should not happen again and if it does then they probably will only have 3-4 wins at this point anyway.
Week 17 at Kansas City Chiefs:
This is the toughest game and with how the coaching has been this season I cannot sit here and pretend to outline a path to victory for the Chargers that is surefire. The Bolts, even though they played them well in the first game, have a very slim chance of beating a full-strength Chiefs team, sorry to say.
However, the hope is that by Week 17 the Chiefs have their position in the playoffs secured and do not need to win this game, thus resting their starters and opening the door for the Chargers to win.
It is highly, highly, highly improbable, because it is the LA Chargers and they will screw something up, but it is not inconceivable — which means they will be 8-7 heading into Week 17 and will lose on a blocked extra point in a tied game that will be returned by the Chiefs for the win.