Chargers Daily Links: Bolts drop one spot in ESPN’s latest power rankings

After their second-straight loss of the young season, the Chargers aren’t exactly where they thought they’d be after the first three weeks of the season. When you looked at their first trio of contests — Bengals, Chiefs, Panthers — many assumed their record would likely have been 2-1. But sadly, their 1-2 and are essentially a shanked field goal away from being 0-3.

But if you look at it with a glass half-full point of view, they’re a 58-yard field goal and a bad lateral away from being 3-0. So it’s up to us to decide how we want to view this team going forward. After all, the Chargers also started 1-2 in 2018 before finishing 12-4 and making the playoffs.

What are the chances of something similar happening this year? The schedule gets much easier following the weeks four and five, so maybe they hit their stride when the time is right? Time will tell.

At any rate, here’s what ESPN beat reporter Shelley Smith had to say about the Bolts falling just a single spot (No. 18 to No. 19) in their Week 4 power rankings:

The Chargers are struggling with turnovers — both in causing and not committing them — again. Last year, they had 14 takeaways (worst in the league) and 31 giveaways (fourth worst in the league) to result in an NFL-worst minus-17 turnover differential. After forcing two turnovers in a season-opening victory, the Chargers haven’t had a takeaway in the past two games. They’ve committed five turnovers, including four to Carolina this past Sunday.

Here’s the deal, Herbert’s interceptions wouldn’t look nearly as bad - and they already aren’t the worst thing - if the defense could find a way to take the ball away, as well. The team’s only interception has come from a huge play by defensive end Melvin Ingram in Week 1. It’s about time the elite players in this secondary start proving us right.

Now for today’s links.

Chargers News:

Gavino Borquez discusses how the Carolina trenches got the better of the Chargers (Chargers Wire)

Daniel Jeremiah breaks down the film of Justin Herbert’s second start (Chargers.com)

Gavino Borquez highlights the flourishing connection between Justin Herbert and Keenan Allen (Chargers Wire)

Jason Reed lists the most-disappointing players from Sunday’s game (Bolt Beat)

NFL News:

Ian O’Connor says there isn’t a rivalry yet between Lamar and Mahomes (ESPN)

John Breech gives each NFL team a letter grade from their Week 4 performance (CBS Sports)

Lamar Jackson calls the Chiefs their “kyptonite” (Bleacher Report)

Mike McCarthy claims DT Trystan Hill did not mean to twist Chris Carson’s knee (Pro Football Talk)

The Patriots are opening as rare 7-point underdogs against the Chiefs (CBS Sports)

NFL Nation published their Week 4 power rankings (ESPN)