2019 Week 0 Power Rankings

[Bolt-O]

Will post a summary in this post. Not that many, and will probably cut back for this year. The statistical ratings don't mean anything until games are played. Blurbs follow



Rating values:

[Bolt-O]

Frank Schwab ( Yahoo Sports)

7. Los Angeles Chargers (LW: 6)

Are the Chargers cursed? Why do bad things always affect them? The Derwin James injury really affects their ceiling. I thought he had a long-shot chance to be NFL defensive player of the year. That's a major blow, among others.


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Walter Football

11.

San Angeles Chargers (12-4)

- Previously: 12.

The Chargers endured a poor offseason entering the 2019 NFL Draft. They lost a few talented players - namely Darius Philon, Corey Liuget and Tyrell Williams - yet didn't really gain anything prior to the draft outside of a backup quarterback and an aging linebeacker. Imagine how upset their fans would be right now if they had fans!

Now, they won't have Derwin James for most of the year, while their left tackle Russell Okung is dealing with blood clots. The Chargers, who won many close games last year, don't seem like they'll be as fortunate in 2019.

Read more: http://walterfootball.com/nflpowerrankings.php#ixzz5yU7jWNWF

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Dan Hanzus - NFL.com

10 (Previous rank: No. 11)

First, the good news: Andrew Luck's retirement bumps the Chargers into the top 10 of the Power Rankings. Congrats, guys! Now the bad news: In the third preseason game, a.k.a. The One That Most Resembles Actual Football, the Chargers' run defense was not up to the task in allowing 185 ground yards to the Seahawks. This is the part where I'll remind Chargers fans not to panic: Gus Bradley's defense was without a host of key starters, including Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Brandon Mebane, Thomas Davis and the injured Derwin James. Still, Rashaad Penny and C.J. Prosise (not exactly this millennium's answer to Bo Jackson and Marcus Allen) both chewed up Los Angeles on touchdown drives. Unrelated but also troubling: The Chargers' home field, formerly the StubHub Center, was renamed Dignity Health Sports Park this offseason. If The Black Hole is at the top of the Intimidating Stadium Name Power Rankings, you can guess what's last.

[Bolt-O]

Pete Prisco - CBS Sports

4 -

The loss of Derwin James on defense hurts, but they have enough talent to get around that during the regular season. Is this the year they finally get to the Super Bowl with Philip Rivers?

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USA Today

2 -

Their 12-4 record in 2018 tied for AFC's best. Add full campaigns from DE Joey Bosa, TE Hunter Henry and a compelling set of rookies, and it might finally be Philly Riv's year. And though RB Melvin Gordon's business posture looms as problematic, it seems likely to be addressed. If not, a holdout should be survivable -- Bolts were 4-0 without him last season.

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MMQB SI.com

10 -

The Chargers are in a tough spot--among the league's best teams but not even the best in the division.

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Bleacher Report Consensus

11 -

The Los Angeles Chargers have had a very Chargers offseason--in that it's been one disaster after another.

First, it was Melvin Gordon's holdout--which continues to drag on. Not only is no resolution in sight for the impasse, but Chargers general manager Tom Telesco told reporters he has tabled negotiations until after the season.

Then, star safety Derwin James suffered a foot injury severe enough that the second-year pro (and linchpin of the Chargers secondary) will open the season on injured reserve. The earliest he can return is Week 9.

But wait, there's more!

Per Chris Bumbaca of USA Today, left tackle Russell Okung will miss at least the first six weeks of the 2019 season as he recovers from a pulmonary embolism.

Not that long ago the Chargers had the look of a legitimate Super Bowl contender--a team more than capable of challenging the Chiefs in the AFC West.

But the losses are starting to pile up before the season has even started--and at some point L.A. is going to reach the breaking point.

Maybe the Chargers should consider an exorcism. Just saying.

[like54ninjas]

Walter has a bad case of Bolt envy.

[Bolt-O]

Mike Florio - Pro Football Talk

10. Chargers (No. 11): Last year's impressive showing keeps them high on the list as the season starts. Now, they'll have to try to stay there.

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AP Pro32 - 9th

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Teddy Covers - Covers.com

8th (last 23rd)