Tag: 2021 Chargers season

4 most winnable games on Chargers’ schedule in 2021

What matchups should be gimmes for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021?

The Chargers know who they will be playing this upcoming season.

On paper, the team has a fairly tough schedule. However, there are opponents on the dock that should be gimmes.

Here’s a look at the games that are the most winnable for Los Angeles, in no particular order.

Week 9 at Philadelphia Eagles

While quarterback Jalen Hurts showed promise in his rookie season, this is officially the first full year as the man calling the shots, and growing pains are to be expected. The rest of the offense, which now has play-making wide receiver DeVonta Smith, is still relatively young – and defensive guru Brandon Staley is capable of exploiting it. On the other side of the ball, there are still some holes, especially in the secondary.

Week 13 at Cincinnati Bengals

This is the first time that two of the top quarterbacks from the 2020 draft class will meet up. After Joe Burrow went down with a season-ending, it was smooth sailing for Justin Herbert to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Burrow will have his former teammate from LSU, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. However, Cincinnati’s inability to put an offensive line with surefire talent might hold Burrow back as he returns to the football field.

Week 14 vs. New York Giants

The Giants have done a fine job of building their defense into what could be one of the top units. However, the team still has some things that could hold them back from being decent, with those being the question marks surrounding quarterback Daniel Jones and the poor offensive line. Even if the skill players are an improvement from last season, it doesn’t help when Jones is running for his life.

Week 16 at Houston Texans

The Texans are likely entering this season in rebuild mode, considering there’s a good chance that quarterback Deshaun Watson misses most of, if not, all of 2021. In addition, Houston no longer has wide receiver Will Fuller and defensive end J.J. Watt.

Chargers WR Tyron Johnson primed for breakout season in 2021

The former undrafted free agent could be in for a larger role next season.

Coming into the 2020 season, there was the question of who would be the receivers that would establish themselves as reliable pass-catching options behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

One of those players was Tyron Johnson.

Johnson flashed in spurts throughout the season, but showed his true potential when injuries to Allen and Williams led to extended playing time.

In 12 games, Johnson amassed 20 receptions for 398 yards (19.9 yards per reception) and three touchdowns.

Looking ahead to the 2021 season, Johnson is primed for a breakout season. It just so happens that Pro Football Focus tabbed him as Los Angeles’ breakout candidate when jotting down one from each team.

Almost as strange as Justin Herbert continuing to drop bombs in the face of the blitz or under pressure every week as a rookie was how many of them were landing in the hands of Tyron Johnson, an undrafted rookie from 2019 out of Oklahoma State. Johnson didn’t play in his first season but saw 265 snaps of action this year on which he caught 20 passes for 398 yards. Throwing the ball Johnson’s way yielded a 156.7 passer rating, just a hair shy of a perfect mark. He graded well in every facet of play, and he needs to see the field significantly more in 2021.

The offensive scheme remains to been since the coaching staff is not set in stone.

But regardless, Johnson has the opportunity to become one of quarterback Justin Herbert’s top target because of how well he does in the intermediate and deep parts of the field, where Herbert is rock-solid throwing to.

Jalen Guyton is another player who could break out. Despite dealing with some drops, Guyton has established himself as a deep threat due to his blazing speed. This past season, he had 28 catches for 511 yards and three scores.