Are the Los Angeles Chargers the AFC’s most improved team?
A season-ending four-game winning streak couldn’t prevent a second consecutive losing season. But there appears to be hope for the Los Angeles Chargers.
When you drop nine of your first 12 contests and your most recent loss is a 45-0 home setback, the writing is on the way when it comes to a change at the top. And although the Los Angeles Chargers won their final four contests in 2020, including three straight over their AFC West rivals (although the Kansas City Chiefs rested a slew of starters in Week 17), Anthony Lynn would be out as head coach after four seasons.
Despite the finish, the Chargers were a mere 7-9 by season’s end and a third-place team in the AFC West. Since that 12-4 mark and playoff appearance in 2018, the club is a combined 12-20. And that’s why former Rams’ defensive coordinator Brandon Staley is now at the helm of the Bolts. That team led the NFL in fewest total yards and fewest points allowed this past season during his one season on the job.
His arrival bodes well for the side of the ball that really ailed Los Angeles a year ago as the team failed to protect double-digit leads on a regular basis. A notable number saw these Chargers outscored a combined 129-76 in the fourth quarter and overtime in 2020.
Staley hopes to get more from the Chargers’ pass rush in 2021. Three-time Pro Bowler Joey Bosa led the team with 7.5 QB traps but missed four games. The team finished with only 27 sacks but allowed 29 scores through the air and a total of 46 offensive touchdowns. The Bolts were 23rd in the league in points allowed. Second-round pick Asante Samuel Jr. (Florida State) should bolster the secondary.
But the onus this offseason via general manager Tom Telesco is finding more support for 2020 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert. He was thrust into the starting role in Week 2 and held down that spot the rest of the season, setting a rookie record for touchdown passes (31).
The Kansas City Chiefs weren’t the only AFC West team to revamp their offensive front this offseason as Telesco used the 13th overall pick on Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater. He used free agency to add center Corey Linsley (Packers), as well as guards Matt Feiler (Steelers) and Oday Aboushi (Lions). All are expected to be new starters along right tackle Bryan Bulaga (via Ourlads).
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The AFC was loaded a year ago and 10 wins wasn’t good enough to secure a playoff berth. Are Staley and the Chargers capable of four more wins this upcoming year? Are they in play for their first division title since 2009? If the Bolts can pick up where they left off in 2020 and learn to win some of those games that got away from them a year ago, they are very capable of throwing a scare into the rest of the conference.