After finishing with a 12-4 record and earning a trip to the playoffs during the 2018 season, the Chargers followed that up with a dud of a season in 2019, going 5-11 and finishing last in the division.
Many analysts pegged Los Angeles to go to the Super Bowl this time around last year, but they clearly failed to live up to all of the hype that they received.
The talent was there, but the woeful campaign was a result of injuries to key players, a coaching change midway through the season and failing to finish games as a handful of those 11 losses were within a touchdown.
Heading into the new decade, the Bolts have the majority of the roster intact, but they received some more reinforcements with offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga, guard Trai Turner, cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and defensive tackle Linval Joseph via free agency and some through the draft.
The biggest difference is at the quarterback position where Philip Rivers will no longer be the one under center after 14 seasons as the starter. The show will now be ran by Tyrod Taylor and first-round selection Justin Herbert.
With the pieces that the Chargers have, NFL Media’s Bucky Brooks believes that they’re good enough to turn it around after a dreadful outcome last season.
“We can talk about that defense being lights out with [Joey] Bosa, [Melvin] Ingram, Derwin James and Kenneth Murray, but let’s look at the obvious,” Brooks said. “Justin Herbert. I know Tyrod Taylor is slated to start, but let’s say Justin Herbert gets the opportunity to run this offense.
The weapons that he has on the outside with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Hunter Henry. But what about Josh Kelley? Joshua Kelley playing the role as the running back. Look, get your t-shirts ready. I think it’s going to happen in L.A. The Chargers with their draft picks can get it done.”
Not mentioned by Brooks, who should be a huge contributor on the offensive side of the ball, is running back Austin Ekeler. Ekeler made a significant impact as a runner and a pass-catcher, which is why he earned a four-year contract extension earlier this offseason.
Even though Rivers won’t be calling the shots anymore, I believe Los Angeles is still capable of getting the job done with Taylor or Herbert, especially with the new offense that they’re going to run, which should be similar to the Ravens of last season, and given the amount of talent they have from top to bottom.
The most vital key to any kind of success for them is health of the players. Like last year, if they can’t stay injury-free it’ll be hard to have a bounce-back season. If they do, the Chargers are capable of making some serious noise during the regular season and into the playoffs.
Another key to success will be dethroning the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, who are 27-3 against AFC West teams since 2015 and have claimed four straight division titles.