Saturday, November 4, 2023

Los Angeles Chargers Week 9 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 9 roundup for the Los Angeles Chargers in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 15

The Chargers made Justin Herbert the highest-paid player in franchise history in the offseason after three seasons that established Herbert as one of the best in the NFL at the position. But his play this season has fluctuated between spectacular and dreadful. After a fractured left middle finger in Week 4, Herbert had one of the worst three-game stretches of his career, with missed throws and career lows in yards and completions. Herbert returned to form in Week 8, a blowout win over the Bears in which he completed his first 15 passes and finished with no interceptions for the first time since Week 3. -- Kris Rhim

NFL.com -- Rank: 18

Justin Herbert and Brandon Staley suggested after defeating the Bears that this was exactly the kind of win the Chargers needed, and I absolutely agree -- from a confidence standpoint. Sometimes you need to open it up on the highway; Herbert and the passing game certainly did that Sunday night, even if the run game still lags behind. But let's keep the big picture in mind here. The Chargers are still swimming upstream at 3-4 (and 1-3 in the conference), and I am not convinced that taking down Chicago and a Division-II rookie QB making his second NFL start was the get-right event that immediately veers the season back on course. The Bolts face mostly tough defenses from here on out (if you believe the Broncos are fixed) and will need their own defense to tighten several screws.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 14

That Chargers team we saw against the Bears is the one we expect to see with all that talent. But consistency is always an issue with that team.

USA Today -- Rank: 14

The juice has returned to the offense, largely thanks to the life that's returned to Austin Ekeler's legs. Sunday night, he became the first running back in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to amass 30 TD receptions with one team.

The Athletic -- Rank: 15

Something scary (for others): Joey Bosa could be getting there.

The veteran defensive lineman hasn't looked like himself in a while, but he had a season-high five pressures against the Bears, and his pressure percentage (23.5) was his second-highest of the season. Bosa has four sacks this year and only 6 1/2 in the last two seasons, but if he can get back to his 2020 form (10 1/2 sacks), it'll be a boost for a Chargers defense that needs some help.

FOX -- Rank: 14

The highest compliment I can pay the Chargers is that there's not much to say about a 30-13 win against the Bears. This team typically finds a way to make everything look difficult, but not this time. It's a small step, but it feels like something worth celebrating if you're familiar with their history.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 14

Austin Ekeler looked healthy for the first time since he suffered an ankle injury early this season. He had 123 total yards. He can add an element to the Chargers' offense that has been missing.

PFT -- Rank: 21

They finally got everything clicking. Can they keep it going?

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