Welcome to FanSided’s 2022 NFL preview! It’s time to look into our crystal soccer and take a glimpse on the Los Angeles Chargers season prediction.
The Los Angeles Chargers are getting into one of the anticipated seasons of all time after the entrance workplace made an announcement this offseason. With an elite quarterback in Justin Herbert on his rookie deal, Tom Telesco and co. determined to go all-in and add extra expertise to the roster than he ever has earlier than.
That makes the 2022 season a particularly compelling one for the Bolts as they’re going to battle it out in a really powerful AFC West and a fair more durable AFC.
With the 2022 season simply across the nook and anticipation at an all-time excessive for the crew, let’s dive into all the things it’s essential know concerning the Chargers.
Los Angeles Chargers 2021 season in overview
- 9-8 file
- third place within the AFC West
- Didn’t qualify for playoffs
The Chargers had the division of their hand final season and a horrible protection stored the crew from in the end dethroning the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs as AFC West Champions. If the Chargers win the coin flip in opposition to Kansas Metropolis in Week 15 and don’t meltdown afterwards in opposition to Houston and Las Vegas then they’d have been AFC West Champions.
Much more irritating is the truth that the crew missed the playoffs after the epic Week 18 showdown in opposition to the Raiders. Justin Herbert lit the world on fireplace that evening but it surely was the Bolts’ bottom-five protection that misplaced them the sport.
Los Angeles Chargers NFL Draft class 2022
- Rd 1: Zion Johnson, G, Boston Faculty
- Rd 3: JT Woods, S, Baylor
- Rd 4: Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M
- Rd 5: Otito Ogbonnia, DT, UCLA
- Rd 6: Jamaree Salyer, G, Georgia
- Rd 6: Ja’Sir Taylor, CB, Wake Forest
- Rd 7: Deane Leonard, CB, Mississippi
- Rd 7: Zander Horvath, FB, Purdue
The Chargers continued their dedication to the offensive line within the 2022 NFL Draft by deciding on arguably the most effective inside offensive lineman within the class in Zion Johnson. Johnson impressed throughout coaching camp to this point and appears prepared to come back into the league and be a mean proper guard at worst for the Bolts.
The remainder of the draft class was about constructing depth in key areas. Brandon Staley favored athleticism within the secondary as he took three very athletic defensive backs in Woods, Taylor and Leonard. All three guys venture to be cowl corners because the Chargers are hoping to get their palms on them and mould them into full professionals.
Isaiah Spiller is the favourite for the RB2 job and offers key depth behind Austin Ekeler whereas Otito Ogbonnia provides to the newfound defensive position rotation that’s constructed to cease the run. Jamaree Salyer is a extremely promising inside offensive lineman that’s at the moment only for depth and Zander Horvath must be the favourite to beat out Gabe Nabers for beginning fullback.
Followers mustn’t count on this class to mild the world on fireplace immediately. In 2022, followers ought to count on these rookies to supply high quality depth whereas blossoming in the direction of greater roles sooner or later.
Previewing Chargers offense for 2022 season
- Key offseason additions
- Gerald Everett, TE
- Zion Johnson, OG
- DeAndre Carter, WR
- Isaiah Spiller, RB
- Largest X-Issue: Austin Ekeler, RB
- Squeakiest Wheel: Proper deal with
The Chargers had a top-five offense within the league final season and followers ought to count on extra of the identical this 12 months. Whereas the crew didn’t add any big names, the offense undoubtedly nonetheless received higher with a greater tight finish, extra offensive line assist and extra weapons in Carter and Spiller.
Proper deal with nonetheless will not be nice for the Chargers with Trey Pipkins and Storm Norton being the 2 choices, however with a lot expertise round them, the Bolts can most likely get by.
Justin Herbert is a reputable MVP candidate and so long as his weapons proceed to play at a excessive degree then the Chargers must be nice. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams make up the most effective receiving duos within the league whereas Josh Palmer is due for an enormous breakout in 2022.
Regardless of having such a outstanding passing sport, Austin Ekeler is the most important x-factor for the Bolts. The depth behind him will not be very promising and Ekeler performed an enormous function on this offense final season, discovering the endzone 20 instances. If one thing occurs to him the Chargers are in hassle.
H2: Previewing Chargers protection for 2022 season
- Key offseason additions
- J.C. Jackson, CB
- Khalil Mack, LB
- Sebastian Joseph-Day, DT
- Austin Johnson, NT
- Bryce Callahan, CB
- Kyle Van Noy, LB
- Largest X-Issue: Secondary depth
- Squeakiest Wheel: Linebacker
The Linebacker place is by far the most important gap on the Chargers protection this season by that’s by design. Brandon Staley’s protection merely doesn’t worth linebackers and the crew was not going to exit and spend huge on one. As a substitute, they’re hoping that Kenneth Murray can flip it round.
The remainder of the protection ought to take an entire 180 from final season, although. The Chargers fastened maybe the most important downside on protection as they’ve rebuild a stout defensive position that ought to be capable to cease the run.
If they’ll correctly defend the run whereas additionally having the elite pass-rushing duo of Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa then the Chargers are in for lots of success. To actually maximize the crew’s defensive potential, Staley wants all of his cornerbacks to step up this season.
Everyone knows that J.C. Jackson goes to be nice but when the Chargers are actually going to succeed they want the likes of Michael Davis, Asante Samuel Jr, Bryce Callahan and the rookies to step up and supply high quality snaps.
Los Angeles Chargers teaching workers overview
- Head Coach: Brandon Staley
- Off. Coordinator: Joe Lombardi
- Def. Coordinator: Renaldo Hill Jr.
The Chargers are working again largely the identical teaching workers as final season with the one notable change being Ryan Ficken because the particular groups coordinator. Issues will proceed to function the identical with Brandon Staley working a well-oiled machine that likes to go for it on fourth down.
There may be hypothesis that Sean Payton might come to LA because the Chargers are one of many few groups he’s reportedly thinking about. There may be a particularly small likelihood that occurs because the crew has dedicated so many sources to Brandon Staley. Plus, the Chargers will doubtless be good in 2022, which takes firing Staley off the desk.
The Chargers must be a dumpster fireplace and proprietor Dean Spanos must make the overreaction of firing each Staley and Telesco to rent Payton. It doubtless received’t occur, however by no means say by no means within the NFL.
Los Angeles Chargers Awards Watch
With the Chargers having a lot expertise and doubtlessly being the most effective groups within the league, there naturally will likely be some award-watching.
Justin Herbert, MVP
Justin Herbert is the most effective choose for MVP subsequent season if you need worth. Herbert is already taking part in at an MVP degree and simply has not had the crew success to again it up. Voters love narratives they usually love giving the award out to new gamers. If Herbert simply does what he did final 12 months and the Chargers win 12 video games then it’s a wrap.
Brandon Staley, Coach of the 12 months
The identical will be mentioned for Brandon Staley. If the Chargers are pretty much as good as they’re projected to be on paper then Staley is of course going to be within the dialog for Coach of the 12 months.
Joey Bosa, Defensive Participant of the 12 months
It nonetheless looks like Joey Bosa has not peaked as an NFL participant regardless of being an elite participant for six seasons now. The craziest factor about Bosa is that he’s nonetheless solely 27 years previous and is lastly getting into a season wherein he has assist up entrance.
That is probably the most proficient group of teammates that Bosa has had and groups can now not double and triple crew him. That might end in a large season for Bosa.
Largest sport on Los Angeles Chargers schedule
It’s exhausting to pinpoint one sport earlier than the season begins as so many alternative issues can occur to each crew. Because it stands proper now, although, Week 18 at Denver initiatives to have big implications. Each groups will likely be within the playoff hunt in some capability definitely, so we might see a repeat of Week 18 from final season with a unique opponent.
Los Angeles Chargers season prediction: Finest case situation
All the pieces clicks for the Chargers within the best-case situation and they’re the highest seed within the AFC, making a run in the direction of profitable the Tremendous Bowl. Each crew makes that the top aim each season however not each crew can legitimately make that sort of run. The Chargers have the expertise the place they may make that sort of run.
Los Angeles Chargers season prediction: Worst case situation
Outdoors of key accidents, which might clearly be the worst-case situation, a sensible worst-case situation for the Chargers in 2022 is one thing much like the 2021 season. They’re just too proficient and have too good of a quarterback to put up a nasty file with out there being a laundry checklist of accidents.
As a substitute, the worst-case situation for a wholesome Chargers this season is a 12 months wherein the crew hovers round .500 and in the end misses the playoffs due to a number of key errors in huge video games.
Los Angeles Chargers season prediction for 2022
- 13-4 file
- 1st place in AFC West
- Playoff Prediction: Lose within the AFC Championship Recreation
I do know that the Chargers are the preseason favorites yearly however as somebody who has lined the crew for a lot of of these years I can attest that this 12 months is really totally different. Los Angeles has the expertise to make a deep run they usually have the quarterback to prepared the ground.
The Bolts have a very easy first-half schedule that ought to end in a red-hot begin. With the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs having the toughest schedule within the league by far (based on Warren Sharp’s power of schedule), the Chargers can capitalize and squeak out a tricky AFC West.
Playoff expertise does matter and within the AFC Championship Recreation the Chargers will sq. off in opposition to a Buffalo Payments crew that has been knocking on the Tremendous Bowl door for a number of years now. The Bolts in the end received’t make the Tremendous Bowl however will probably be a really promising begin to what followers hope is a future of success.
Learn extra from FanSided’s 2022 NFL Preview right here. For extra Los Angeles Chargers protection, check out Bolt Beat.