KC Chiefs: What we learned about the AFC West after Week 17
What did we learn about the Los Angeles Chargers?
The Chargers had about as positive of a season as a team with a losing record can have. We’ll dive more into Justin Herbert and the jackpot they looked to have hit in the positive section, but the Chargers are also heading into the offseason with one of the best situations for an incoming head coach to step into, making them a very attractive destination.
Los Angeles entered the 2020 season with a new starting quarterback for the first time since 2005 and he ended up starting just one game. Tyrod Taylor had to miss Week 2 due to a punctured lung and that resulted in Herbert getting to make his first-ever NFL start that week. I’m sure five years from now when a graphic is shown with all of the Chargers’ quarterbacks since 2005, we’ll laugh at randomly seeing Taylor’s name there.
Looking at the Chargers’ schedule, they could have ended anywhere from what they did at 7-9 to 14-2. LA lost close games in some odd fashions and it cost them what could have been a pretty special season. Seven of their nine losses were one-possession games and they ended on a four-game winning streak.
Something positive that we learned about the Chargers is that they struck gold with Herbert, who they selected No. 6 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Herbert ended the season throwing for 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while rushing for 234 yards and five touchdowns. The kid was certainly something special for the Bolts and he’ll provide a true threat to the Chiefs in the division next season.
Something negative that we learned about the Chargers is that they looked to be the same old team when it came to crunch time late in games. As I mentioned above, they lost seven of their nine games by one-possession. Now it’s worth noting that Anthony Lynn was a big reason as to why those games were lost and he’s no longer the coach in LA, so that might not haunt them in 2021 and beyond.
Next up: The Chargers finished at 7-9 and now enter the offseason searching for a new coach. They’ll be an attractive landing spot with Herbert as their quarterback. They hold the No. 13 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.