The Chargers are coming off a loss to the Chiefs.
Here is what the national media thinks of the Bolts ahead of Week 8:
USA Today: 21 (Previous: 19)
“How is it possible that a team with OLBs Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa hunting opposing quarterbacks ranks last defending the pass?”
Touchdown Wire: 15 (Previous: 12)
“I can’t keep defending the Chargers, man. It feels like Justin Herbert is going to have a Matthew Stafford career arc. We know he’s talented, but he’s never going to win in Los Angeles.”
NFL: 22 (Previous: 14)
“It took too long for the Chargers to get out of the zone defense that Patrick Mahomes was carving up on Sunday. Asante Samuel Jr.’s interception seemed to inspire the coaches to play more man, and it worked, as the Chiefs scored 14 points on their final six possessions (vs. 17 on their first four). The Chargers ultimately gave up too much ground early, a familiar theme this season. Even so, this offense has just been way too inconsistent. The Bolts have now struggled to score in three straight second halves (they registered zero points in two of those halves), committing turnovers in each. Is it a Justin Herbert problem? A Kellen Moore problem? Some other factor? Whatever the case, until that trend changes, the Bolts will look like a non-playoff team.”
CBS Sports: 18 (Previous: 21)
“At 3-4, the heat has to be on Brandon Staley. The offense hasn’t improved that much with Kellen Moore, and Justin Herbert is turning it over too much”
ESPN: 18 (Previous: 14)
Young riser: OLB Tuli Tuipulotu
“The Chargers second-round pick turned 21 last month and has been one of the team’s most consistent players. He has the fourth-most quarterback pressures (16) among rookies and had 10 in Week 3 — the second most a rookie has had in a game since 2016, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. “Is he ahead of schedule?” coach Brandon Staley said. “I think he’s on schedule. I think he’s right on schedule. This guy, we had a strong feeling about this guy in the springtime.”
Yahoo Sports: 17 (Previous: 14)
“Last season, Justin Herbert had a 101.3 passer rating in the first halves of games, and 85.5 in the second half (also 50.3 in overtime). This season, Herbert has a 110.4 rating in the first half, 84.1 in the second half and went 0-for-3 in his only overtime appearance. The Chargers had a chance to beat the Chiefs on Sunday but the offense totally stalled in the second half. Herbert mostly gets a pass from criticism but the truth is he has to come up bigger late in games, particularly close ones. Every other quarterback is held to that standard.”
The Athletic: 23 (Previous: 21)
“Hear us out. The Chargers have lost to only one team with a losing record. Three of their four losses came against the Dolphins, Cowboys and Chiefs, and only Sunday’s loss came by more than three points. Justin Herbert is getting a lot of heat lately, but he’s ninth in the league in passer rating (97.1) and sixth in yards per attempt (7.5). We haven’t given up on the Chargers just yet.”
