KC Chiefs: What we learned about each team in AFC West after week 3
WHAT DID WE LEARN ABOUT THE CHARGERS?
It’s still early in the season, but the Chargers aren’t looking as good as they did last year. Then again, this is a franchise that has been known for getting off to slow starts and then heating up as the season progresses.
For now, however, the Bolts aren’t looking too electric and this game was very Charger-like, as they fell to the Houston Texans by a score of 27-20.
Philip Rivers threw the ball a lot on Sunday, going 31 of 46 for 318 yards and two touchdowns. The problem was that he was sacked five times and one of those resulted in him fumbling the ball and the Texans recovering said fumble.
The run game was held to under 100 yards, but Keenan Allen stepped up to the plate on offense. The former first round pick had 13 grabs for 183 yards and two touchdowns and was targeted 17 times by Rivers.
LA’s run defense has been much improved since that week one debacle where the Colts ran all over them, holding the Texans to under 100 yards rushing on the day. They kept DeAndre Hopkins in check, limiting him to just six catches for 67 yards, but allowed Kenny Stills to have 89 yards receiving and let Jordan Akins find the end zone twice.
The Chargers have undoubtedly been one of the most disappointing teams to this point in the season, but they’re not dead in the water yet. The AFC West might belong to the Chiefs, but the Chargers are definitely still talented enough to sneak into the playoffs as a Wild Card.
Los Angeles will surely rebound in week four, as they play the hapless Miami Dolphins on Sunday in Hard Rock Stadium in Miami in the early window of games. That should result in them moving to 2-2 on the year.