Chargers Daily Links: ESPN predicts 6-10 final record for Bolts

With each new, heart-crushing defeat over the past few weeks, the hope Chargers fans have been holding on to for a turnaround this season has all but been diminished. They’re 2-6 at the halfway point and end the season with three-straight games against the AFC West, whom they’re 0-9 against since the start of the 2019 season.

In an ESPN post predicting final records for every team, among other lingering questions, Chargers beat writer Shelley Smith believes the Chargers will end the year 6-10, which is only a single win better than their dismal 5-11 mark in ‘19.

“The close losses and blown leads are proof Los Angeles hasn’t acquired the killer instinct — but maybe next season things will turn around for the Chargers, who are 3-15 in one-score games over the past two seasons.”

Finishing 6-10 this year means the Bolts must win half of their final eight games. With three divisional matchups and games against the Dolphins, Jets, Bills, Patriots, and Falcons, the Chargers have their work cut out for them. At this point, it’s not even safe to assume they’ll win at least one of their AFC West matchups. If that’s the case, they have to win all but one of their other games, and the only one I’d consider a “gimme” is the Jets.

It’s going to be a rough finish for the Bolts, but that’s unfortunately a situation they put themselves in with their lack of finishing to begin the 2020 season.

And now for today’s links.

Chargers News:

Chargers-Dolphins Gme Preview (Chargers.com)

Steven Haglund hands out midseason awards for the Bolts (Bolt Beat)

Gavino Borquez wonders if it’s time to move on from Anthony Lynn (Chargers Wire)

Jason Reed re-drafts the 2020 NFL Draft halfway through the 2020 season (Bolt Beat)

NFL News:

The NFL has agreed to a contingency plan to expand the playoffs to 16 teams should any meaningful games get canceled due to the coronavirus (ESPN)

Jamey Eisenberg discusses Week 9 waiver wire pickups (CBS Sports)

Josh Edwards ranks the NFL’s top-10 rookies after Week 9 (CBS Sports)

Jeremy Fowler and a collection of NFL execs look back at the offseason and discuss the best and worst moves from 2020 (ESPN)

The NFL has agreed to reward franchises for signing and developing minority front office staff members (Bleacher Report)

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook is making an unlikely run at the league’s MVP (Pro Football Talk)