Chargers Power Rankings After 2022 Super Bowl

[Bolt-O]

The last Power Rankings for the 2021-2022 Season. Fix the Defense!

These are the individual rankers that published today:

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Vinnie Iyer - Sporting News 11

https://ng-sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-power-rankings-2022-chiefs-bengals-bills/ipu1v0wt5pjkcqd26jicijio

There's no question Herbert can sling with the young playoff Big Three in the AFC. Now he needs his team to keep finding more explosive offensive facets and back that up with respectable run defense not to waste them.

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Matt Johnson - Sportsnaut 10

https://sportsnaut.com/nfl-power-rankings-all-32-teams-updated-weekly/

Justin Herbert can take this team extremely far. The only thing that dragged the Los Angeles Chargers down, keeping them out of the playoffs, is a horrific run defense. Brandon Staley will make improvements in that aspect a top offseason priority. Paired with a third-year leap from Herbert, we're extremely high on the Chargers.

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Russell S. Baxter - Fansided 15

https://fansided.com/2022/02/14/nfl-power-rankings-rams-super-bowl-56/6/

The Bolts won their last four games in 2020 and came into 2021 with high expectations. But it was an up-and-down year for the team once again. The defense was poor vs. the run and made life easier for opposing quarterbacks as well.

The Chargers were a so-so 5-4 at home but 2020 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert did pick up where he left off. Relentless Joey Bosa was another bright spot for first-time NFL head coach Brandon Staley.


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Pete Prisco - CBS Sports 13

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/powerrankings/

In Justin Herbert, they have a great piece to build around. The run defense has to be a priority in terms of team building this offseason.

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Dan Hanzus - NFL.com 11

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-super-bowl-2021-nfl-season

The Chargers deserve credit for hitting huge on Justin Herbert and quickly building up one of the league's more dangerous attacks. The path to the playoffs rests on the team's ability to fix a broken defense. Los Angeles was a bottom-five group in points and third-down conversions allowed while surrendering the most rushing yards per game (138.9) by a Chargers team in more than 30 years. Few teams in the league have more current available projected cap space than the Bolts -- spending on the right players could spark a leap to true contender status.

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[Bolt-O]

And the consensus rankers:

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ESPN Nation Consensus 11

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33248624/early-nfl-power-rankings-2022-1-32-poll-where-super-bowl-teams-rams-bengals-land

Offseason in three or fewer words: Fix the defense

It was apparent throughout the 2021 season that the Chargers' offense was not the problem. However, the defense finished last in third-down conversions allowed (49.5%), was tied for 29th in points allowed (27.0) and 26th in expected points added (minus-80.49). It allowed 138.9 yards per game on the ground, third worst in the league and the most it has allowed since 2003. Toward the end of the season the Chargers were better -- in three prime-time games they held opponents to just 63 rushing yards per game -- but something needs to be done this offseason in order for this team to make the playoffs in 2022. -- Shelley Smith

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MMQB SI.COM Consensus T-13

https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/02/15/nfl-power-rankings-poll-super-bowl-lvi-rams

Don't let all the great playoff games make you forget about the Chargers-Raiders almost tie in Week 18 when you're ranking the games of the year. The Chargers came about as close as you can to making the playoffs without getting in.

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Bleacher Report Consensus 9

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2953359-post-super-bowl-lvi-nfl-power-rankings-entering-2022-offseason

On one hand, there's cause for significant optimism in Los Angeles. In Brandon Staley's first year as the team's head coach, Justin Herbert led the AFC with 5,014 passing yards. Whether it's edge-rusher Joey Bosa or safety Derwin James, the Chargers have some building blocks on defense.

The Chargers won nine games - the franchise's first winning record since 2018. But thanks to three losses over the last four weeks of the season (including an overtime loss to the rival Raiders in Week 18), the Bolts came up short of the postseason.

Herbert told CBS Sports' Jeff Kerr that the late swoon left he and his teammates with plenty of work to do in the offseason.

"I think there's plenty of things we can go back and look at and say, 'You know what, I could have done this better or I could have done that better.' There's a lot of room for improvement in the offseason. Shane Day (Chargers quarterbacks coach), Joe Lombardi (Chargers offensive coordinator) and I, we're going to spend a lot of time together talking about the offense, talking about footwork, drops, throws, all those things. When next year does come, we'll be ready to go."

"The Chargers have shown the potential to be a Super Bowl contender, including wins over Kansas City and Cincinnati during the regular season," Davenport said. "But the Bolts need to find a way to be more consistent, and with players like wideout Mike Williams and linebacker Kyzir White slated for free agency, there are some tough personnel decisions looming."

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[Cdn Bolt]

Telesco has had 9 years to put together at least a competitive D and we finished dead last in ypr allowed after struggling in the same area a year before. This team is going backwards. This year they will likely dabble in FA and hope they hit on a few draft picks again and expect a different result.

His idea of accountability in his YE garbage presser is to talk about this year being " Year one" and being unconcerned w the past. He may not be concerned but the fans watching his sub .500 teams for 9 years are.

He then talks about " personnel , scheme, fit". Despite trying to throw the coaches and players under the bus he is still resp in part or full for all 3. He hired the coaches ( scheme) and brought in the players ( fit) after all .

[foreigner]

Telesco has had 9 years to put together at least a competitive D and we finished dead last in ypr allowed after struggling in the same area a year before. This team is going backwards. This year they will likely dabble in FA and hope they hit on a few draft picks again and expect a different result.

His idea of accountability in his YE garbage presser is to talk about this year being " Year one" and being unconcerned w the past. He may no be concerned but the fans watching his sub .500 teams for 9 years are.

He then talks about " personnel , scheme, fit". Despite trying to throw the coaches and players under the bus he is still resp in part of full for all 3. He hired the coaches ( scheme) and brought in the players ( fit) after all .

Obviously... I agree.... F**k Telesco!

[Maniaque 6]

It's very frustrating when your team is #10 or 12 and not makes the PO when the league allocates 14 teams to PO.

[Classic]

Telesco has had 9 years to put together at least a competitive D and we finished dead last in ypr allowed after struggling in the same area a year before. This team is going backwards. This year they will likely dabble in FA and hope they hit on a few draft picks again and expect a different result.

His idea of accountability in his YE garbage presser is to talk about this year being " Year one" and being unconcerned w the past. He may no be concerned but the fans watching his sub .500 teams for 9 years are.

He then talks about " personnel , scheme, fit". Despite trying to throw the coaches and players under the bus he is still resp in part of full for all 3. He hired the coaches ( scheme) and brought in the players ( fit) after all .

Dude is avg and totally fine with that. Sad thing is so is Dean and John his bosses.

[ChargersPowderBlue]

Telesco has had 9 years to put together at least a competitive D and we finished dead last in ypr allowed after struggling in the same area a year before. This team is going backwards. This year they will likely dabble in FA and hope they hit on a few draft picks again and expect a different result.

His idea of accountability in his YE garbage presser is to talk about this year being " Year one" and being unconcerned w the past. He may not be concerned but the fans watching his sub .500 teams for 9 years are.

He then talks about " personnel , scheme, fit". Despite trying to throw the coaches and players under the bus he is still resp in part or full for all 3. He hired the coaches ( scheme) and brought in the players ( fit) after all .

For a long time fans keep buying into the idea that this was a really talented team, but that belief is slowly tearing apart. Which is why the organization has settled on mediocrity. The coaches have a hand in the talent being brought in and how the team does too. In no way am I excusing Telesco. Lets face it; the two coaches before BS, Mccoy and Lynn, didn't know what they were doing. Staley seems to know what he's doing, although he isn't without his own faults. Staley had to work with some of Lynn's players. Lets see how he does when some of the players from the previous coaching regime go, and Staley gets to bring in more of the players he wants to work for what he envisions.

[gzubeck]

For a long time fans keep buying into the idea that this was a really talented team, but that belief is slowly tearing apart. Which is why the organization has settled on mediocrity. The coaches have a hand in the talent being brought in and how the team does too. In no way am I excusing Telesco. Lets face it; the two coaches before BS, Mccoy and Lynn, didn't know what they were doing. Staley seems to know what he's doing, although he isn't without his own faults. Staley had to work with some of Lynn's players. Lets see how he does when some of the players from the previous coaching regime go, and Staley gets to bring in more of the players he wants to work for what he envisions.

Telesco mostly fixed the offense other than an expensive Bulaga. He rolled the dice hoping Staley could do something with the young players on Defense. It didn't click and it showed badly. We can fix some more things this season and hopefully don't go into the season with a bunch of question marks.

[foreigner]

Staley will fix this team not TT... and again people will give him credit....

[Velo]

Staley will fix this team not TT... and again people will give him credit....

So far Staley is no different than Norv, McCoy or Lynn. This franchise has hired a long list of head coaches on the cheap who've started out with some promise but ultimately failed. It remains to be seen if Staley is going to be any different. I hope he is.

[AK47]

So far Staley is no different than Norv, McCoy or Lynn. This franchise has hired a long list of head coaches on the cheap who've started out with some promise but ultimately failed. It remains to be seen if Staley is going to be any different. I hope he is.

2 things going for Staley: We actually win close games now and we score points in 4th quarters. These are good indications that your HC is detailed oriented to the very least.

Next steps to take: A) Dominate bad teams and B) string multiple wins together.

If we improve on those 2 next steps we're a 10+ win team every year.

A) Dominating bad teams merely requires a stout defense. Our offense can go in cruise control and let the defense get you the win. OR just offensively dominate them.

B) Multiple wins in the NFL requires good depth. Your star players can't be expected to ball out each and every single game. Depth players need to supplement and make splash contributions too.

[Velo]

2 things going for Staley: We actually win close games now and we score points in 4th quarters. These are good indications that your HC is detailed oriented to the very least.

Next steps to take: A) Dominate bad teams and B) string multiple wins together.

If we improve on those 2 next steps we're a 10+ win team every year.

A) Dominating bad teams merely requires a stout defense. Our offense can go in cruise control and let the defense get you the win. OR just offensively dominate them.

B) Multiple wins in the NFL requires good depth. Your star players can't be expected to ball out each and every single game. Depth players need to supplement and make splash contributions too.

Anthony Lynn's Chargers were 4-1 in games decided by 3 pts or fewer in 2018. Remember those 4th Q pts the Chargers scored against the Steelers and Chiefs? I don't see scoring pts in the 4th Q as exclusive to Staley. At the end of the day, it's about results. And Staley's results are no more impressive than Norv, McCoy or Lynn.