2018 Week 5 Charger Power Rankings

[Bolt-O]

Summary:


Blurbs follow:

ranks2018.jpg

ARGH: 11 (0.538)

[Bolt-O]

Frank Schwab, Yahoo Sports 10 (LW 11)

The Chargers are a tough team to gauge because their losses were to the two best teams in football so far (Chiefs, Rams) but the wins are against three of the worst teams (Bills, 49ers, Raiders). It does set up a surprisingly fascinating game at Cleveland.
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Walter Football 18 (LW 18)

The Chargers stink. I don't know why the public suddenly thinks they are good because they beat the Raiders by 16 points. That 26-10 score wasn't even indicative how that game was going, as the margin was just 10-3 before a Martavis Bryant fumble turned into a Chargers touchdown. Later, Derek Carr threw an interception on first-and-goal at the 1-yard line. If you negate the Chargers' touchdown off the Bryant fumble and give Carr the score on first-and-goal at the 1-yard line, that's a 19-17 result.

San Angeles is 3-2, but its three victories have been against the Bills, the Jimmy Garoppolo-less 49ers and the Raiders. Those three teams have a combined record of 4-11. The Chargers can't play defense well without Joey Bosa, and I'm not convinced their offensive line is very good.

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Elliot Harrison, NFL.com 10 (LW 14)

Lost in all of Sunday's action -- from Baker's heroics to Crosby's agony to Nuk's spin cycle -- was the brilliant play of one Philip Rivers. All the veteran quarterback did was complete 22 of his 27 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns, with zero interceptions. That is Exhibit A of efficient (and doggone effective) quarterbacking. The Chargers averaged 12.4 yards per play on Rivers throws. Not completions -- throws. While his final numbers didn't approach some of the video-game performances we've seen from Patrick Mahomes and even Ryan Fitzpatrick this season, the Chargers didn't require such an effort in a contest they controlled throughout. Also awesome: Melvin Ingram getting a goal-line carry. Not exactly Dontari Poe-ish, but still fun
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Pete Prisco, CBS Sports 11 (LW 17)

At 3-2, the Chargers are coming off a nice victory over the Raiders. Their trip to play the Browns won't be easy.

[Bolt-O]

Rebecca Toback, SB Nation 12 (LW 20)Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk/NBC 9 (LW 15)Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News 11 (LW 17)

The Chargers are quietly getting it done offensively every week with Philip Rivers, Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler. Their defense turned in a needed performance against Oakland, and hopefully game-changer Joey Bosa will be back soon.
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Matt Verderame, Fansided.com 11 (LW 14 )

The Chargers rolled the Raiders, and now go to Cleveland.
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USA Today 5 (LW 6)

Puzzling. Their losses are to perfect Rams and Chiefs. Yet three wins over teams with 4-11 aggregate ledger have hardly been impressive.
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ESPN 14 (LW 16)

Rest-of-season SOS ranking: 20th. The Chargers' toughest remaining game will be in Week 13 at the Steelers, where FPI gives Los Angeles a 35 percent chance to win. Last time these teams met in Pittsburgh was in 2012 when the Chargers led by as many as 24 points in their 34-24 win. That remains the Steelers' largest deficit at any point in a home game in the past 10 seasons.

[Bolt-O]

MMQB 10 (LW 14)Reddit u/NFLPowerRankers 12 (LW 17)

Missing a field goal and an extra point is objectively better than missing a field goal and two extra points, so hey, progress. The Chargers did what was needed: Got the expected win over the Raiders, and now get to escape the Pit of Misery StubHub Center for an extended road trip. First stop, Cleveland.


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Bleacher Report Consensus 10 (LW 16)

[Bolt-O]

Wednesday blurbs, see OP for summary:

Rotoworld 11 (LW 14)Pro Football Focus Elo 10 (LW 11)Teddy Covers - Covers.com 11 (LW 11)

The Chargers were missing three starting offensive linemen last week, including both tackles, but Philip Rivers was hit on only two of his 28 dropbacks.

[King Bolt]

Damn Bolt-O. Lotta good stuff in here. Thanks.

[Bolt-O]

You are welcome, bro.