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2021 NFL Schedule Breakdown: Los Angeles Chargers

NGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers rolls out during a 23-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at SoFi Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Image: Getty)

The Bolts will be entering the season with the intention of building their solid young core. Last season saw the emergence of rookie quarterback Justin Herbert as an explosive offensive quarterback. Herbert broke multiple rookie records and won the NFL Offensive Rookie of The Year award. Herbert’s rookie season exceeded all expectations and was the shining revelation for the future of the franchise. Entering this new season, Herbert has lofty expectations. The team is hoping he can replicate last season’s performance.

The Chargers will also begin the season with a new coaching staff. The team fired Anthony Lynn as head coach and replaced him with former Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. Staley hired former Saints quarterback coach Joe Lombardi as the team’s new offensive coordinator. Former Broncos defensive backs coach, Renaldo Hill, was hired as the new defensive coordinator. Los Angeles signed Pro Bowler Jared Cook in the offseason. It is a big upgrade to the team’s tight end position and for their offense.

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Los Angeles Chargers Schedule:

Week 1: Sun 09/12 a Washington Football Team
Week 2: Sun 09/19 vs Dallas Cowboys
Week 3: Thu 09/26 at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 4: Mon 10/04 vs Las Vegas Raiders
Week 5: Sun 10/10 vs Cleveland Browns
Week 6: Sun 10/17 at Baltimore Ravens
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: Sun 10/31 vs New England Patriots
Week 9: Sun 11/07 at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 10: Sun 11/14 vs Minnesota Vikings
Week 11: Sun 11/21 vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 12: Sun 11/28 at Denver Broncos
Week 13:Sun 12/05 at Cincinnatti Bengals
Week 14: Sun 12/12 vs New York Giants
Week 15: Thu 12/16 vs Kansas City Chiefs
Week 16: Sun 12/26 at Houston Texans
Week 17: Sun 1/02 vs Denver Broncos
Week 18: Sun 01/09 at Las Vegas Raiders

AFC West: The Chargers finished third in the division last year, only one game behind the second-place Raiders within the division standings. The Chiefs will win the division since they are the favorites, but the Chargers could finish second. The Chargers just need to do better in close games this year. They lost so many contests last year by one score or less.

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Matchups: The Chargers will begin their season with pretty even matchups with Washington and Dallas. Weeks 3-6 will be a stretch of tough games with the Chiefs, Raiders, Browns and Ravens. Luckily, following their bye week, they will face easier teams until Week 15, when they face the Chiefs again. Their final three games are fairly favorable and all are winnable contests.

Overall: The Chargers will begin the season with high expectations for Herbert as the team’s starting quarterback. They added Cook to bolster their offensive potential. Herbert’s offensive production will depend on the new coaching staff’s style. Los Angeles’ schedule is mixed, with tough opponents in the middle before a stretch of more winnable games.

Prediction: The Chargers will finish with a record of 9-8.

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