Predicting every game of the Chargers' 2023 season following the preseason
By Jason Reed
Week 6: Cowboys at Chargers
There are going to be a lot of storylines heading into this game as Kellen Moore takes on his former team. As long as the Chargers are healthy, the team should be able to outlast Moore's former team. Moore is essentially piloting a more talented version of the Cowboys' offense, which could lead to big things.
Dallas has the better defense but there is real potential that by Week 6, the Chargers are respected a lot more as a defense. After a bye week with an extra day of rest on a Monday, the Chargers squeak by in overtime.
Prediction: Chargers 29, Cowboys 26 (4-1)
Week 7: Chargers at Chiefs
The game will be close, as it always seems to be between these two teams. However, yet again, Patrick Mahomes will get too much time and drive his team down for the game-winning field goal.
Prediction: Chiefs 29, Chargers 28 (4-2)
Week 8: Bears at Chargers
In any other year, this feels like the perfect trap game where the Chargers let their guard down and lose to an inferior team. Chicago has an incredible athlete at quarterback in Justin Fields and he absolutely could lead a run-heavy attack to shock the Chargers.
However, because it is on primetime and primetime Justin Herbert is a very real thing, the Chargers will avoid the upset with one of the highest-scoring games of the year to outlast Fields and the Bears.
Prediction: Chargers 41, Bears 34 (5-2)
Week 9: Chargers at Jets
This is a really tough game to predict as the New York Jets could be one of the best teams in the league but could also be one of the biggest disappointments. By the time Week 9 rolls around, NFL fans will likely know what the true identity of this team is.
Home field will ultimately be the deciding factor of this primetime game. If this game was played in Los Angeles the outcome would be different. Aaron Rodgers doesn't light the world on fire but the defense wins the game.
Prediction: Jets 21, Chargers 19 (5-3)