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Week 2 is in the books, and week 3 begins in just a few hours. Let’s take a look around the world wide web to see how other media outlets are grading the Chargers, and just what we might be able to learn with a national lens.
It is also worth noting that 1/7 of the NFL is currently in a very uncomfortable quarterback situation, so expect a lot of change between week 2 and week 3.
ESPN
Week 2 ranking: 7
Pleasant surprise: Running back Austin Ekeler has done a nice job filling the void left by Melvin Gordon’s absence due to his contract dispute. Ekeler leads the league in total touchdowns with four, and his 287 yards from scrimmage is second in the NFL. However, Ekeler did have a costly fumble at the goal line in the 13-10 road loss to the Detroit Lions this past Sunday. Although Ekeler has performed well, he has never had more than 106 carries during a full season. At 5-foot-8 and 200 pounds, durability is a concern for the cat-quick running back. -- Eric D. Williams
NFL.com
1. New England Patriots
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Los Angeles Rams
4. Dallas Cowboys
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Seattle Seahawks
7. Green Bay Packers
8. Philadelphia Eagles
11. Los Angeles Chargers
Previous rank: No. 12
A terrible loss for the Chargers. Two touchdowns called back by penalty, a goal-line fumble by Austin Ekeler, and Ty Long misses field-goal tries from 41 and 39 in an eventual 13-10 defeat to the Lions. Philip Rivers’ pained expression on the sideline after the second Long miss said it all. Sand is running through the hour glass for the 37-year-old quarterback -- he doesn’t have time for these special teams-related shenanigans anymore. Still, Rivers could have been better in this one. He took a bad delay-of-game penalty on the Chargers’ last drive, then forced a ball into double coverage on third-and-19 that was intercepted in the end zone, with Los Angeles down just three and in field goal range (purportedly). It was an overly difficult throw, but perhaps Rivers wasn’t going to put the game back in Long’s hands. The Chargers have to regroup after losing a game you probably win nine out of 10 times. Those sting the most.
USA Today
1. New England Patriots
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Dallas Cowboys
4. Green Bay Packers
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Los Angeles Rams
7. Minnesota Vikings
10. Buffalo Bills
11. Los Angeles Chargers
Last week: 6
Veteran LB Thomas Davis has been a nice pickup, taking early league lead for tackles. If only he could handle kicking duties in a pinch.
CBS Sports
1. New England Patriots
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Los Angeles Rams
5. Dallas Cowboys
6. Baltimore Ravens
7. Seattle Seahawks
8. Los Angeles Chargers
Last week: 5
The offense can’t afford fumbles like Austin Ekeler had against the Lions on the goal line. Do they miss Melvin Gordon?
9. New Orleans Saints
10. Buffalo Bills
Monday Morning QB
1. New England Patriots
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Los Angeles Rams
4. Dallas Cowboys
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Green Bay Packers
7. Philadelphia Eagles
8. Seattle Seahawks
9. Los Angeles Chargers
Previous rank: 8
You use a punter to do your placekicking and miss two field goals in a 13-10 loss. An alternate plan might have been advisable.
10. Minnesota Vikings
Bleacher Report
1. New England Patriots
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Los Angeles Rams
4. Dallas Cowboys
5. Green Bay Packers
6. Baltimore Ravens
7. Seattle Seahawks
8. Philadelphia Eagles
10. New Orleans Saints
...
12. Los Angeles Chargers
Last Week: 8
Sunday’s loss to the Lions in Detroit was a very Chargers game. This is a franchise in the Philip Rivers era that has excelled in an area no one wants to excel in—losing games the team is supposed to win.
Pro Football Focus
1. New England Patriots
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Los Angeles Rams
4. New Orleans Saints
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Dallas Cowboys
7. Los Angeles Chargers
Last Week: 6th
In typical Chargers fashion, they lost a game they should have won last week in Detroit. They outgained the Lions 6.8 yards per play to 5.8 but missed two field goals. Philip Rivers also threw a fatal interception while in range to tie. The Chargers PFF ELO moves up in accordance with a narrow victory according to the the internal grades.
8. Philadelphia Eagles
9. Green Bay Packers
Week 2 Results
Well, I think we’re all even more confused now than before. The general consensus, if there can be one gleaned at all, is that the Chargers lost a very winnable game. Surprisingly, they aren’t docking the team too badly for this. They still recognize that LA can and should be a very formidable team, but they are just attracted to stupid losses like flies are to stink.
For the record, though, the Chargers have had much worse losses and at much worse times to much worse teams. That’s our positive outlook for the week!
- Average Ranking: 9.7
- Most Common Ranking: 11.0
- Average Drop From Prior Week: 2.2 spots (they actually jumped in one!)
- Number of books in the Library of Congress: 24,600,488 books.
- Wait, seriously?: Yes, and 168,291,624 total items in the LOC collection.
-Jason “That’s Literally a Lot” Michaels