4 nightmare scenarios for the Chargers in 2023
By Jason Reed
The LA Chargers have some of the worst luck in the entire NFL. There have been so many seasons where the Chargers had high expectations and ultimately fell short because of nightmare scenarios. Some of those were self-inflected, while others were simply bad luck.
Expectations are not as high for the Bolts in 2023 after the team had extremely lofty hopes the past two years and that might be a good thing. While no one is expecting this team to bad, it might be better for the Chargers that they aren't being penciled in to win the AFC West over the Kansas City Chiefs.
If the Chargers are going to have a successful year then they need to avoid (or limit) these nightmare scenarios. In 2023 specifically, there are certain nightmare scenarios that would throw the season off the rails.
Note: We are not including any type of injury, as that would obviously be detrimental to the Chargers. That goes without saying.
1. Chargers running game continues to be supbar
Despite putting up great numbers in terms of touchdowns last year, Austin Ekeler has regressed as a between-the-tackles runner and the Chargers' running game has taken a hit because of it. There is not a super reliable depth option behind Ekeler and if his struggles continue there is a world in which the running game is once again bad.
In today's NFL that might not seem so bad as the passing game dictates how high a team's ceiling can be. But the best teams in the league can still run the football and protect a lead. That is a big reason why the Bolts blew a 27-0 lead in the first place.
The Chargers do not need 2006 LaDainian Tomlinson and they don't even need a run game like Derrick Henry. Los Angeles simply needs to be able to protect a lead and make life easier on second and third downs.