Not that long ago, the Los Angeles Chargers were being discussed on a short list of Super Bowl contenders. Their 3-0 start to the season included wins over each team in their division, and Justin Herbert seemed to be rolling.
Losers of three of their last four games, the Chargers are reeling and the injuries are piling up. The team took one on the chin on Sunday in a loss to a solid Indianapolis Colts team, and it’s starting to seem like the season could get away from Jim Harbaugh and his squad.
The Chargers have a short week this week with a home game against the Minnesota Vikings, but they are going to have to get some players healthy and start winning games to keep pace with the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos.
In his weekly power rankings, Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News once had the Chargers knocking on the door of the top five this season. They have fallen to No. 14 this week, down three spots from last week.
“The Chargers have lost their way with their running game and injuries along the offensive line, getting suddenly too pass-happy with Justin Herbert out of necessity. But the defense giving up chunk runs and passes should be more concerning to Jesse Minter and Jim Harbaugh”, wrote Iyer.
The Chargers getting pass-happy has a lot to do with the fact that Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton have been out injured, forcing Harbaugh’s offense, which he desires to be a run-first monster, to change things up. However, Iyer’s point about the plays the defense is giving up is valid. The holes Jonathan Taylor found for the Colts in the running game in Week 7 were far too big and easy to run through.
The Chargers have some major issues and though they are likely still a playoff-caliber team, this season seemed destined for so much more than just backing into the postseason tournament.
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