Chargers News: How Win Over Jets Impacts LA In Latest Power Rankings

The Bolts are .500 again!

Your Los Angeles Chargers just won their second straight game on Monday, cooling down what had been a red-hot New York Jets club heading into the matchup with a 27-6 massacre.

How does the national NFL writer landscape view the still-underperforming club's ascent to a 4-4 record on the year, with a tough game against the Detroit Lions on deck this week?

Generally, LA is hovering around the mid-tier pretty much everywhere. 

Let's dive in, shall we?

Eric Edholm of NFL.com has elevated the Bolts two spots, from No. 18 to No. 16, and commends the team's ability to close out an inferior New York club admittedly missing its best player:

"Forget for a moment that the Chargers roundly struggled to move the ball against a good Jets defense, having even more trouble than they experienced against the Cowboys. But when the special teams can deliver a punt-return TD and two field goals, and the defense can keep the opponent out of the end zone all game, well, all is forgiven for now. The Bolts at least were opportunistic offensively, turning three turnovers into 10 points and taking advantage of some short fields. But other than that, this puppy was all on a defense that has taken its share of beatings this season. This time, the unit delivered the punishment across the board. Even on a night when Justin Herbert couldn’t get much going, Los Angeles controlled the game from start to finish."

A panelist of ESPN scribes similarly improved LA's standing on their latest power rankings, moving them up one spot. Kris Rhim of ESPN unpacked the performance.

Nearly every player on the Chargers has fluctuated from bad to good this year, but Allen, in his 11th season, has been one of the team's most consistent players. He is on pace for 1,530 yards this season, which would be the most in his career. He currently has 62 receptions, 720 yards and 4 touchdowns. In a win over the Vikings, Allen threw a 49-yard touchdown pass and caught 18 passes for 215 yards. Coach Brandon Staley said Allen plays the position 'as an art form.' 'He has some stuff that's intangible,' Staley said, 'that's hard to find.'

Josh Kendall of The Athletic actually dropped the Chargers a spot, from 15th to 16th, explaining the decision thusly:

"The Chargers hired Brandon Staley because he was a defensive innovator, but in his third year, Los Angeles is 27th in the league in defensive EPA per snap (minus-2). And that’s even after playing the Jets on Monday night. A better defense to go along with quarterback Justin Herbert might have given the Chargers something this year. Instead, they’re in the middle of the pack. On a positive note, defensive end Joey Bosa seems to be rounding into form. He had 2 1/2 sacks Monday night. On the offensive side, Keenan Allen crossed 10,000 receiving yards for his career."

Nate Davis of USA Today, meanwhile, is (marginally) more in on LA, and thus gave Staley his flowers after the team's healing defense submitted a far stronger night against the Jets. He bumped the Chargers up a spot this week, from No. 14 to No. 13. We'll let him unpack his thinking.

"We give Brandon Staley a lot of flak for his underwhelming defense. Well, Monday night it posted eight sacks, three takeaways and didn't allow a touchdown … though, does the performance really count when it comes against the Jets?"

Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport also appraises the Chargers' defense, while expressing his disappointment in, by far, Justin Herbert's worst game of the year. He, too, upgrades LA up one spot, to No. 13.

"The Chargers were lights-out defensively against the Jets," he said. "New York averaged just 3.6 yards per carry. Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu all recorded multiple sacks. The Jets converted three third downs in 17 attempts and managed just 3.6 yards per pass. Yes, their past two wins have come against bad offenses, but the Chargers defense has done its job."

"With that said," Davenport continued, "seeing Justin Herbert and the offense have this much trouble moving the ball is a little worrisome. Yes, the Jets are an excellent defensive football team, but between Herbert's injured finger and the loss of both Mike Williams and Joshua Palmer it's fair to wonder if the problems are piling up to the point that it's, you know, a problem.""

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports also bemoaned Los Angeles' offensive problems Monday, dropping the team a spot to 15th.

"That might not have been a season-saving victory over the Jets, but they had to have it. The offense still isn't close to being good right now."

Can Los Angeles actually buck expectations and beat the Lions Sunday? And will they finally break into someone's top 10 if they do?

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