LA Chargers schedule: Way-too-early 2021 game predictions
By Jason Reed
LA Chargers schedule prediction, Weeks 16-18:
Week 16 at Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are not a good football team. I would be shocked if Deshaun Watson is playing this game and even if he is it isn’t like they were very good last year. The Bolts will likely see Tyrod Taylor in this one, who won’t make many mistakes to lead to 20 points scored while Justin Herbert balls out and attacks a poor defense.
This is part of a really easy finish to the season for the Chargers that will (hopefully) catapult them into the NFL Playoffs.
34-20, LA Chargers
Week 17 vs. Denver Broncos
The Broncos beat the Chargers once in this prediction, but not again. The Bolts are at home this time and it is the defense that wins the ballgame. Teddy B can’t get anything going and the Chargers frustratingly start slow, but come back with a strong second half to win.
20-10, LA Chargers
Week 18 at Las Vegas Raiders
Just like the first game, this is a really close and entertaining game that comes down to the final possession. The Chargers will be battling for a playoff spot while the Raiders will likely just be trying to play spoiler.
I know they had a stretch where they looked really good last year and I am higher on Derek Carr than most but I just cannot get behind Jon Gruden. It was a bad hire then and it is still a bad hire.
Chargers win via a game-winning drive from Justin Herbert, becoming the signature moment of his career thus far as it clinches a playoff berth.
29-24, LA Chargers
LA Chargers’ final record prediction: 11-6
I like to think I am modest with my predictions. Last year I had the Chargers going 8-8 when a lot of people had them winning 10 games and the team wound up going 7-9. The absolute ceiling for this team would be a 12-5 season, while I think the absolute floor is 9-8 if they lose some of the close games I predicted.
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Realistically, I think we are looking at a 10/11-win team. My predictions have the Chargers scoring 25.3 points per game while allowing 21.2 points per game. Those numbers would have ranked 15th and seventh last year, respectively.