The Los Angeles Chargers’ season has been disappointing. Each of their five losses has been by one touchdown or less. The Chargers had a chance to win the game against the Tennessee Titans in the closing second of the game, yet failed to score a touchdown and win the game.
The future of the team is uncertain as running back Melvin Gordon is back with LA. The Chargers have lost three straight games and currently sit at 2-5. With all the talent they have, you wouldn’t know they are one of the league’s least successful teams without looking at their record.
LA Chargers Future and Melvin Gordon’s Holdout
Gordon was one of two running backs who held out in the NFL off-season. Gordon returned Week 4 when the Chargers took on the Miami Dolphins. LA had him suit up in case of an emergency, and they did not need him to play. They won the game.
Earlier in the off-season, Gordon did ask for a trade but was not moved. Their running game was doing well before he ended his holdout. They defeated Miami to go 2-2. Since his return, they have now fallen to 2-5. Before Gordon came back, the Chargers were ranked 13th in rushing through four weeks of football. They are ranked in the bottom ten of rushing yards per game.
The Chargers Are Losing to Themselves
The Chargers record doesn’t speak for how good of a team they are, or at least, it doesn’t speak for all the talent they have individually. Once they start to fire on all cyldiners they can be dangerous. It may be difficult to see, but they should be 5-2, not 2-5 right now and that’s without Gordon. They should have defeated the Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, and Houston Texans, yet the reason they didn’t is because of offensive turnovers they caused themselves.
Injuries affecting Chargers Future
The Chargers offense isn’t a concern or a problem. Well at least it wasn’t, but it could be now. The main concern is their defense lost one of their best players for the season in Derwin James. It seems like once that happened the season was over. Even so against the Titans, the Chargers suffered more injuries on both sides of the ball. Guard Forrest Lamp was carted off the field due to ankle injury, according to an article by sports illustrated. Additionally, according to that same article cornerback Casey Hayward left the same game with an undisclosed injury.
When your defense is depleted and can’t get off the field; it is difficult to win games. This means the offense is on the bench and there are no points. Quarterback Phillip Rivers can only do so much. Also, Rivers is one of the most prolific passers in the league. This season he has thrown 11 touchdowns, six interceptions, and over 2000 yards. They are third in the league in passing yards despite their record. Rivers is on pace to throw for 5000 yards.
The Road Ahead
The Chargers’ next two games are against the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears who have two good defenses. However, the Bears’ team as a unit has been disappointing this season and the Packers defense has been a surprise. The good news is LA can win games against their division opponents if they play as a unit. It is as if the playoffs are a lost cause for the Bolts now, though they are still mathematically able to make the playoffs and win their division. The negative to that is they would have to win 10 straight.
What’s Next?
What’s next the Los Angeles Chargers at this point in 2019? They should take each game one game at a time. If they can take care of what they can control, then they shouldn’t worry about anything else. With that being said, who knows what can happen. It seems as if the Chargers year after year make runs late in the season.
The reason this season is so disappointing thus far is the fact they made the playoffs last year. They are one of two teams who, in my opinion, are having disappointing seasons. The other team is the Atlanta Falcons.
Halfway through the season, the Chargers are 2-5 and the playoffs are far away. However, the AFC wildcard race is still wide open. As stated before, they need to worry about this season, not next season, one game at a time and who knows what can happen. They could make a playoff run.
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