Now that’s more like it.
Following Monday night’s embarrassing loss on Monday Night Football to the Arizona Cardinals, in a game that saw the LA Chargers not even find the endzone the entire game, Sunday’s win was so refreshing. And it was also a sign of what this team can be.
After one of the worst starts that a team could have with a bad snap on a punt leading to a safety just barely five minutes into the game, it seemed like the stink of Monday night had followed this team from Glendale. But the Bolts’ talented defense weathered the storm, kept the team afloat and allowed the offense to take a 9-5 lead at halftime.
Then the team came alive. rookie wide receiver, Ladd McConkey caught two touchdown passes in the second half, Justin Herbert’s protection improved, the defense locked in and only gave up a field goal and even Jalen Reagor had an amazing catch. All this led to a dominant 26-8 victory for the Bolts under the lights of SoFi. And it proves that this team can compete in this year’s AFC.
Chargers prove they are a true playoff contender with a dominant win over Saints
Despite the need for a true wide receiver, the fact is that this offense has scored at least 20 points in four of their 7seven games this season. They’ve dominated the Raiders, the Panthers and now the Saints. This team can win.
They have a generationally gifted quarterback in Justin Herbert who, when he is given some protection, proves that he is elite in this league and can hang with anyone. Even if he must be the team’s leading rusher.
The hype on Ladd McConkey is very real, this dude can play. In him, the team might just have a guy who could be an elite slot receiver in the next few seasons. The running game is still a work in progress, but when they’re on, they’re on and they can take over a game. They have one of the game’s smartest coaching staff who can make the right adjustments at halftime to help lead the team to victory, as they did on Sunday.
And if defense wins championships, then the Bolts are headed for some big things this year. This defense allows an average of just 13 points a game. This defense held Patrick Mahomes, perhaps the best quarterback that they will see, to just 17 points. Jesse Minter’s unit has now proven that they’re more than just theoretically talented, they are simply dominant. This team can win.
And then there is the schedule. The next three games are against the two-win Browns, who are on their backup quarterback, the 1-win Titans who look like one of the worst teams in the league and the three-win Bengals who are simply a mess. And then it will be time for the Harbaugh-Bowl on Monday Night Football against a Ravens team that suddenly looks beatable. It is very possible that the Bolts will be 7-3 when they face the Ravens and the team that showed up today will own Baltimore.
After that, things get tough with the Chiefs, Falcons and Buccaneers on their schedule, but the team finishes with the Broncos, the pathetic Patriots, and the Raiders to round out the year. In this year’s AFC, a 10-7 or 11-6 record, all very doable for this team, should be good enough to get into the AFC playoffs.
And then? Well, anything can happen.
Sunday’s dominant win proves that this team is dangerous, and they can beat anyone. Should the Bolts get into the playoffs, they can really do some damage. The LA Chargers made a statement on Sunday, one that everyone in the NFL should hear.