Week 3 Charger Power Rankings and Ratings

[Bolt-O]

Summary, read below for blurbs. Football Outsiders DAVE is 80% pre-season. I removed a rating (Cold Hard Football) that doesn't track anymore.

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Chris Simms, Bleacher Report/PFT: 22. Los Angeles Chargers

Last Week's Ranking: 22

For the second week in a row, the Los Angeles Chargers were let down by their kicker. That's unfortunate because L.A. has done enough to win both games. Perhaps more concerning, though, is the fact the Chargers were also let down by their run defense for the second week in a row.

This is one of the rare times the preseason may have shown us the truth. The Chargers got the ball run on them in the preseason, and they've allowed the ball to be run on them through the first two weeks of the regular season.

Younghoe Koo's two missed field goals were the difference in this game. Even with a leaky run defense, the Chargers did a nice job of limiting the Miami Dolphins' scoring. Quarterback Philip Rivers had a strong outing, and the Chargers were able to move the ball.

It didn't help that star cornerback Jason Verrett was out, as DeVante Parker was able to do damage in the passing game. However, without those missed field goals, the Chargers are sitting at 1-1. This is a good team with a couple of specific flaws.

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Frank Schwab, Yahoo Sports: 18. Los Angeles Chargers (0-2, LW: 15)Walter Football: 21 (Previously 17)

Speaking of teams with no home-field advantage, I think I might begin referring to the Chargers as the "San Diego Chargers" who are playing neutral-site games in Los Angeles.

It's crazy that Philip Rivers, as talented as he is, happens to be 9-25 as a starter in his previous 34 games. I know his supporting cast sucks, but I can't remember an elite, or even a second-tier quarterback, going through a stretch like this.

By the way, minutes after Younghoe Koo missed the game-winning field goal, I received this random e-mail with just one sentence:
image: http://walterfootball.com/images/koomeds.jpg

Read more at http://walterfootball.com/nflpowerra...evAMI0yDcgp.99

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Elliott Harrison, NFL.COM: 20 (Last week 22)

Last week, the Chargers couldn't block for their kicker. This week, that same kicker blocked any hopes for a win, missing two makeable attempts. Younghoe Koo pushed a 44-yard try that could've evened the Bolts' record to 1-1. As it stands now, Los Angeles sits two games back of the AFC West-leading Raiders, Broncos and Chiefs. The Chargers also can't run the ball. At least they made up for it by allowing Jay Ajayi to run it. And now they can't trust their special teams. You know who is special? Kansas City, L.A.'s next opponent.

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SB Nation: Ranks Chiefs, Raiders and Broncos 1,2,3. Chargers ranked 23

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Mike Florio, PFTVinnie Iyer, Sporting News:

26 (LW 23)

Anthony Lynn is making it a point for his team to close out games better. That hasn't materialized, as they've fallen just short on offense and special teams. They're already done as they face three perfect teams ahead of them in the AFC West.
This week: vs. Chiefs, a must-win division situation, Sunday

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Matt Verderame, Fansided.com

23 (LW 20)

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USA Today: (20, LW 17) YoungHoe Koo was nice story ... until season started. Rookie has missed three of four FGs, including both in final seconds of Bolts' losses.

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ESPN : (24, LW 22) Maybe the best news for the Chargers is that it would be statistically improbable to keep losing this many close games. The Chargers are 1-10 in games decided by seven or fewer points the past two seasons, and more wins are bound to come from those situations.

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FiveThirtyEight (https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com...l-predictions/) gives the Chargers a 4% chance of making the playoffs, and <1% chance of winning the division.
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Pro Football Reference Simple Ranking System initially has the Chargers at #9, but ahead of the Broncos. Scoring is poor throughout the league.

[Bolt-O]

Updated with summary.