Chargers: Predicting AFC West standings, final records in 2023

2. LA Chargers, 11-6

The LA Chargers went 10-7 last season and the team had a chance to go 11-6 if they would have won a meaningless game against the Denver Broncos in Week 18. Some Chargers fans have the team taking a slight step back in 2023 but we actually think the Bolts will be around the same, if not slightly better.

Sure, there are issues on this team that still exist as we head into the 2023 season and the Bolts do have a tough schedule. But they also made a huge improvement at offensive coordinator and were able to win 10 games in a tough schedule last season with a litany of injuries.

Anything can happen in 2023 and Chargers fans shouldn't take anything for granted but it seems very unlikely that the team will deal with the same level of bad injury luck that it dealt with in 2022. There will still be injuries but at some point, there has to be regression towards the mean.

For that reason, 11 feels like a comfortable number to predict the Chargers to win. This includes splitting a game with the Kansas City Chiefs and finishing with a 4-2 record in the AFC West. Sure, there is a chance for some surprise losses on this schedule but there is also the same chance for some surprise wins.

The Chargers will be a wild-card team (perhaps the No. 5 seed again) and will have a chance to avenge last season's blown 27-0 lead.