LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
2023 Record - 5-12
Head Coach - Jim Harbaugh
Key Additions - Gus Edwards (RB), Will Dissly (TE), J.K. Dobbins (RB), Hayden Hurst (TE), Joe Alt (OL), Denzel Perryman (LB), Kristian Fulton (DB), DJ Chark (WR)
Key Losses - Keenan Allen (WR), Austin Ekeler (RB), Michael Davis (DB), Will Clapp (OL), Austin Johnson (DL), Eric Kendricks (LB), Mike Williams (WR), Gerald Everett (TE), Kenneth Murray, Jr. (DB)
2023 STATS LINE
PASSING - Justin Herbert (3,134 yards, 20 TD, 7 INT)
RUSHING - Austin Ekeler (628 yards, 3.5 ypc, 5 TD)
RECEIVING - Keenan Allen (108 receptions, 1,243 yards, 7 TD)
SACKS - Khalil Mack (17)
INTERCEPTIONS - Asante Samuel, Jr. (2), Alohi Gilman (2)
OUTLOOK FOR 2024 - Who knows what to expect from the 2024 Los Angeles Chargers? This team has been revamped on both sides of the football, but mostly on offense as new Head Coach Jim Harbaugh takes over after a disastrous 2023 season.
The Chargers have one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL with Justin Herbert, but he missed multiple games last year with a broken finger. When healthy, he can sling it with the best of them, but his main targets in recent seasons are gone (Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Gerald Everett and Austin Ekeler) and coming on board for 2024 are two former Baltimore Ravens running backs, Gus Edwards (810 yards, 4.1 ypc, 13 TD) and J.K. Dobbins, who missed last season with a knee injury. Replacing Allen and Williams will be Josh Palmer (38, 581, 2 TD), Quentin Johnson (38, 431, 2 TD) and DJ Chark. The tight ends are Hayden Hurst and Will Dissly, both off-season acquisitions. The Chargers offense dropped off last year, finishing 18th overall (329 YPG) and averaged 20.4 PPG, which was 21st in the NFL.
The Chargers defense didn't measure up in 2023 as they allowed 363 yards per game (28th overall) while the pass defense ranked 30th, allowing 250 yards per game and the 'Bolts gave up 23.4 points per game. They did get 48 sacks (7th in NFL) and picked off nine passes. The leaders for the defensive unit are linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack and also safety Derwin James. Asante Samuel, Jr. has shown flashes at the cornerback position, but overall this team needs a much better effort from the defense this year.
Jim Harbaugh has had success everywhere he has been a head coach (Stanford and Michigan at collegiate level and the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL) and he brings a fire and passion with him that could rub off on this team. The Chargers definitely need a jolt of enthusiasm after former coach Brandon Staley was fired during last season, which included an embarrassing 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on a Thursday night national telecast. If the Chargers want to get back to the playoffs, they will need for Herbert to stay on the field and the new components of the offense to mesh rather quickly. The defense must improve big time, especially against the pass. The best they can hope for is enough improvement to compete for a wild card spot, because the (two-time defending) Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs appear to be miles ahead of the rest of the AFC West division.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - vs. Las Vegas
Week Two - at Carolina
Week Three - at Pittsburgh
Week Four - vs. Kansas City
Week Five - BYE
Week Six - at Denver
Week Seven - at Arizona
Week Eight - vs. New Orleans
Week Nine - at Cleveland
Week Ten - vs. Tennessee
Week Eleven - vs. Cincinnati
Week Twelve - vs. Baltimore
Week Thirteen - at Atlanta
Week Fourteen - at Kansas City
Week Fifteen - vs. Tampa Bay
Week Sixteen - vs. Denver
Week Seventeen - at New England
Week Eighteen - at Las Vegas
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