Bolts From The Blue
The Chargers fell victim to a trap game against the Giants and wound up with their first loss of the season in Week Four. Seven days later, they came out just as flat and uninspired to lose 27-10 against the Commanders at home. Injuries are mounting and what was once a bright future is now a dismal one with little to look forward to.
A second consecutive loss has also dropped the Bolts across the media’s power rankings. How far exactly? Let’s go ahead and find out.
Yahoo Sports – #13
“Omarion Hampton has an ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve. That’s a massive blow for a Chargers offense that already was short-handed due to injuries. The season started with such promise, and it feels like it might slip away fast.” – Frank Schwab
Sporting News – #13
“The Chargers were knocked down hard the past two weeks with sloppy offensive play in losses to lesser NFC East foes, the Giants and Commanders. Justin Herbert is back to being inconsistent, a worry for Jim Harbaugh.” – Vinnie Iyer
The Athletic – #14
“Los Angeles has delivered back-to-back duds after starting 3-0. The brief MVP hype around Justin Herbert has cooled, especially after he managed just 166 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception against a mediocre Commanders defense.” – Josh Kendall
ESPN – #15
“After an inconsistent first two seasons, Johnston is becoming the player the Chargers expected when they selected him in the first round of the 2023 draft. He leads the Chargers in receiving yards (377) and receiving touchdowns (four). Johnston was roughly the 38th wide receiver taken in ESPN fantasy drafts. But he is eighth among receivers in fantasy points (86.4) this season, the most among Chargers pass catchers.” – Kris Rhim
CBS Sports – #15
“This team has lost two straight to go from having a Super Bowl look to a team floundering. The injuries on the offensive line are hurting them in a big way.” – Pete Prisco
Sports Illustrated – #15
“Omarion Hampton going to injured reserve this early in the season is a big body blow to the Chargers, especially given the all-around promise he offered this offense as a capable check-down option. Justin Herbert is the fourth-most pressured quarterback in the NFL at the moment, a prospect that may not improve if Jim Harbaugh can’t conjure up another few capable backs.” – Conor Orr
USA Today – #20
“QB Justin Herbert’s four INTs already exceed last season’s total (3). Guess that’s bound to happen when a team built to protect him and run the ball is suddenly without its top two offensive tackles and top two running backs for the foreseeable future.” – Nate Davis
