Friday, September 15, 2023

Los Angeles Chargers Week 2 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 2 roundup for the Los Angeles Chargers in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 10

Best debut performance: OC Kellen Moore
Week 1 stats: Moore's run offense totaled 234 yards on 5.9 yards per carry

Moore kick-started the rushing offense in his first game with Los Angeles. Austin Ekeler benefitted from the new scheme, netting 55 more rush yards than expected, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. RB Joshua Kelley, who had a career-high 91 rushing yards, appreciated Moore's willingness to stick with what was working on the ground. "Once you get in that rhythm you get a feel for the defense, how everything's going, so he's calling it, man. I love it," Kelley said. If opposing defenses have to commit an extra man to the box going forward, it can make the Justin Herbert-led passing game even more dangerous. -- Daniel Greenspan

NFL.com -- Rank: 12

On a day when the offense was terrific, the defense turned in a mostly abysmal performance -- the kind that makes me question the Chargers. The Bolts' D, which is littered with talent, has continuity with nine returning starters. But the unit was picked apart by the Dolphins, one chunk play at a time, to the tune of 466 passing yards, the most ever allowed by any team with Brandon Staley as its head coach or coordinator, per NFL Research. Yes, Staley's defense looks worse than it did a year ago, even if one game is admittedly too small a sample size for grand pronouncements. The Chargers must find a way to avoid squandering Justin Herbert's prime, and right now that starts on D.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 15

The defense was gutted in the loss to the Dolphins, especially the pass defense. Where was the pass rush? That unit has to get better.

USA Today -- Rank: 13

Felt like the last team to have the ball would win ... except the Bolts had it with the chance to prevail and folded in their 36-34 setback to Miami. But give new OC Kellen Moore points for cutting against his reputation by running 53% of the time, while we have to dock HC Brandon Staley for again fielding a D that's less than the sum of its parts.

The Athletic -- Rank: 18

A year ago, Los Angeles held Miami to 219 yards, and Chargers coach Brandon Staley was hailed as the Dolphins Stopper. On Sunday, Miami had 536 yards of offense, including 466 through the air. Now Mike McDaniel is going to be hailed as the Staley Stopper because this was the beginning of the end of that head coaching tenure.

FOX -- Rank: 11

On one hand, it feels harsh to penalize the Chargers for dropping a Week 1 thriller to a playoff contender. On the other hand, at some point doesn't it feel like the Chargers never find a way to win these? How is it possible to run for 234 yards, finish +2 in turnover differential and still lose the game? The latest example of Peak Chargers behavior.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 14

Brandon Staley got the Chargers job because he was a supposed defensive genius. His defense gave up 536 yards to the Dolphins in a disappointing Week 1 loss. It couldn't get enough stops in the playoffs last season to hold a 27-0 lead against the Jaguars. Staley is entering a make-or-break season and it's not off to a great start.

PFT -- Rank: 16

"Hey, I have an idea. Let's put only one guy on Tyreek Hill."

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