The Los Angeles Chargers appear to have great promise this season.
They feature one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and a leading MVP candidate in Justin Herbert, several talented and capable players at the skill positions and a massively upgraded defense that, at least on paper, looks outstanding.
But they play in one of the toughest divisions of all time, and a couple of minor slip-ups could result in them missing the playoffs yet again simply due to the insane strength and depth of the AFC.
However, a growing number of people feel the Chargers have a good shot at reaching the Super Bowl or even winning it.
In fact, sportscasting legend Dan Patrick is picking them to go all the way this year.
“My pick for the Super Bowl…the Green Bay Packers and the LA Chargers of Anaheim…I have the Chargers winning,” said Patrick on The Dan Patrick Show.
The Bolts taking the world championship has become a distinct possibility.
Los Angeles Has Plenty Of Weapons On Offense
Herbert is a monster, and he is also a gunslinger who seems to be a bit in the mold of Dan Fouts and John Hadl, two Chargers QBs from yesteryear who helped evolve pro football from “three yards and a cloud of dust” into the fast-moving, up-tempo, pass-happy game it is today.
The University of Oregon product put up 5,014 passing yards and 38 touchdowns last season, ranking second and third, respectively, in those categories while earning his first Pro Bowl nod.
Herbert enjoys the benefit of Keenan Allen, who has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last five seasons, to throw to ball to.
Allen may not be a speed demon, but he is a rock-solid option on offense who has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark five times in his nine-year career and four times in the last five seasons.
Helping to share the load at wide receiver is Mike Williams, who at 6-foot-4 has become a nice target in red zone situations.
He had his best year yet in 2021, recording 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns.
Austin Ekeler has given the Chargers one of the game’s best running backs who is productive not only on the ground but also as a receiving option.
Ekeler will now have a proven mate in the backfield with the addition of Sony Michel, who won a Super Bowl last season with the Los Angeles Rams and another one in 2018 as a member of the New England Patriots.
Defense Is The Key
Last season, Los Angeles had plenty of problems on the defensive side of the football, but those problems may now be a thing of the past.
Khalil Mack will now be helping Joey Bosa anchor the team’s pass rush attack, while it also brought in Austin Johnson and Sebastian Joseph-Day to improve a weak rushing defense.
In the secondary, J.C. Jackson, who made the Pro Bowl and led the NFL in passes defended last year, will shadow the opposing team’s best wide receiver.
With the Packers losing Davante Adams and the Kansas City Chiefs trading away Tyreek Hill, this could very well the year the Chargers finally get a championship parade.
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