When football fans think of the Los Angeles Chargers, the train of thought is usually the same for everybody. Here we have a team that’s good, very good, but that always manages to come up a bit short when it comes to cementing their status as one of the premier football teams in the NFL.
Remember Leslie O’Neal and Junior Seau’s Chargers team in 1994? They shocked Vegas NFL Odds makers by making it to Super Bowl XXIX, even with their team being touted as a who’s who of rookies and free agency newcomers. They would go on to lose said championship game against Steve Young and Jerry Rice’s 49ers team, but still, what matters is that they made it to the game.
And how about their 2006 season, in which they finished with a staggering 14-2 record led by Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Antonio Gates? They took all NFL line experts by surprise becoming the best team in the league, with Tomlinson having one of the best seasons for any running back. Sadly, the Chargers would be stopped in their tracks in the divisional round of the playoffs by a Patriots team led by Tom Brady.
Ever since then, with a few other playoff appearances under their belts, the former San Diego and now Los Angeles Chargers have been through all of the different stages of triumph and peril in the league. But now, with Justin Herbert as their franchise QB, one of the best rosters in the AFC, and NFL odds all buying into the hype the team is bringing to the table, are the Chargers ready to win a Super Bowl?
If Rivers Couldn’t Do It, Herbert Can
No hate for Philip Rivers whatsoever to begin with. If there was ever a QB that deserved a chance to win a Super Bowl in our modern era of football, it’s the former Charger’s bonafide legend. But now, with Rivers gone and Herbert being the franchise’s go-to man when it comes to ball passing and leading the offense, the panorama has never looked better for the Bolts to make a run for the Lombardi trophy.
Since taking over the starting QB job for the Chargers Herbert has put in the work and has shown fans and experts all around that he can hang with the big boys and lead this team into higher grounds. Here we’re talking about a player who was only beaten by Brady last season for most passing yards. Add to that, only two other QBs in the league passed for more touchdowns than him as well, Brady and Super Bowl LVI champion Matthew Stafford.
I might not be a top-notch NFL expert, I’m just another fan of the sport like everybody else who dabbles in writing about professional football and does good from time to time. Still though, believe me when I say that whatever “it” factor elite QBs need to stand out and lead their teams to the promised land, Justin Herbert has it. If you’re not sold check out his prior stats and keep an eye on what he does this season.
The Defense Needed Help and Got Help
If you look at the Bolts’ offense, it’s easy to argue that with Herbert leading the charge and players like Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, and Austin Ekeler all backing him up, this team should have no problem putting points up on the boards. Their offensive line with Corey Linsley and Rashawn Slater is also as good as it comes for LA. So what’s the Achilles heel for LA that could stop them from making it to the Super Bowl? Their defense.
Los Angeles’ defense last year was not good, and that’s putting it lightly. It’s baffling how a team that can score so many points on offense could get scored on so easily on defense. And it’s not like they don’t have the players to make due. There’s Joey Bosa, Derwin James, Nasir Adderley, and other capable defenders to get the job done, yet still, the main factor holding back the team has been their defensive line. But now, it seems as if the Chargers have finally caught a break, and after some top-notch signings on the defensive side of the ball, it seems as if this Bolts defense is ready to charge on against all opposing offenses.
By acquiring OLB Khalil Mack through a trade with the Bears and signing free agent CB J.C. Jackson in the offseason, LA’s defense automatically took a bump up in quality in a significant way. Pairing up Bosa with Mack and having the secondary taken care of by James, Adderley, Jackson and Asante Samuel Jr gives the Chargers an immense boost where it matters most, on defense. Remember, offense wins games, and defense wins championships. With the mix happening between the Bolts’ offense and their defense, this could be a Super Bowl-winning team in no time.
So Will They Win the Super Bowl?
If that question could be answered solemnly based on talent and roster then yes, the Chargers will win the Super Bowl, and not just one, but many. But, bringing the hype down for a second, we have to look at the realistic scope of the situation here.
The Chargers are slated in what can easily be deemed as the toughest division in all of professional football, the AFC West. With the Chiefs, Broncos, and Raiders all looking like deserving candidates to win the division and make a strong run in the playoffs, there’s no true telling as to what the chances of the Chargers winning the Super Bowl could look like. With that said though, as of right now, the Chargers do look like the best team in the division and the 2nd best team, at least from a roster perspective in the AFC.
Can they win the Super Bowl? Will they win the Super Bowl? The answer to the first question is yes. The answer to the second question will show itself depending on how good Justin Herbert is again this year and how the defense stands up to all the challenges coming their way.
