Six regular-season games have gone by for the Chargers, and the team is in good standing with a 4-2 record.
With a lot of football yet to play, many fans have a few questions on their mind with Los Angeles coming off its bye week.
Can the run defense be fixed?
The Chargers not being able to slow the run has been repetitive since the start of the season. Los Angeles was able to mask it with its offense and ability to limit the pass. But the team found out against the Ravens that it was only a matter of time until it came back to hurt them.
L.A. is allowing 162.5 yards per game and 5.6 yards per rush, which both rank dead-last in the NFL.
Starting along the defensive line, the Chargers do not have the talent to consistently hold their own at the point of attack, which is why ball carriers have had so many holes to run through. Furthermore, the second and third levels are to blame, considering there have been missed tackles far too often.
Justin Jones is expected to return from the injured reserve, which should help since he was the team’s best interior defender in this department. Of course, a trade or signing could be beneficial. Nonetheless, the main contributors Linval Joseph, Jerry Tillery, and Christian Covington, need to be better.
Can the offense be more efficient on early downs?
The offense this season has been successful on third and fourth downs. However, the issue is that the unit has been in those situations far too often. The reasoning for that is because of the lack of production on first and second downs.
For the most part, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi has either called run plays or short, efficient throws to keep the offense in front of the chains. But then, quarterback Justin Herbert is forced to do what he does best by pushing the ball down the field on third and fourth downs.
I’m not suggesting that Lombardi should predicate the offense entirely around just that, but it may be time to allow Herbert to let it loose in those situations more so than none.
“I can’t wait to see him start letting it loose,” Joe Lombardi said back in June when the Chargers were installing their offense for the first time.
It's time to let Justin Herbert do just that (on early downs).
— Gavino Borquez (@GavinoBorquez) October 25, 2021
Can the Chargers capture the division title?
The last time the Chargers won the AFC West was back in 2009. After a change in general manager, a few head coaches, and an assortment of roster moves since then, Los Angeles is the most primed it’s been to seize the division.
It’s still early in the season, but the Chiefs, who won the division the past five seasons, appear to be going backward, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes having the worst stint of his career. They currently sit at 3-4.
The Raiders lead the pack at 5-2. Since former head coach Jon Gruden re-signed, Las Vegas has won its past two games. While the wins came against opponents under .500, the change could have marked a much-needed turning point.
Nonetheless, coming off the bye week, Los Angeles possesses the sixth-easiest remaining schedule. Pair that with having the entire past week to make the necessary changes and key players set to be at full health, and the team has the recipe to make a run and win the division.
A playoff spot is good, but winning the AFC West is the goal.