Los Angeles Chargers: Predicting the record for the last five games

The Los Angeles Chargers enter the final stretch of the 2019 season with a disappointing 4-7 record and the slimmest of playoff hopes.

Personally, as a fan of the Los Angeles Chargers, I think the 2019 season is over and there is no chance of sneaking into the playoffs. However, mathematically, it is possible as the Chargers could win out and finish 9-7.

The problem is that the Chargers have lost to three other wild-card contenders in the Tennesee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders. Even a 9-7 record is probably not going to be good enough.

However, some fans are not losing hope and I don’t blame them. The team is getting healthy as Derwin James and Adrian Phillips are both nearing a return. And in typical Charger fashion, it would not be surprising if the Chargers won out, got close to a playoff seed and then left fans wondering “what if”.

Anything can happen with the Chargers, anyone that has rooted for them knows this. This is how we expect the final five games to go.

Week 13 at Denver Broncos: Win, 21-13

The Los Angeles Chargers got embarrassed in the first matchup against the Denver Broncos and it really was the beginning of the end for the 2019 season. At that point, the slow start could be boiled down to just that: a slow start. After that, it was clear that the Chargers might not have been as good as we thought.

However, this time around the Chargers will get their revenge in Denver, much like they did a year ago. The Broncos looked awful against the Buffalo Bills and this time around the Chargers will learn from their mistakes, run the ball more and outlast Denver in a low-scoring, ugly game.

Week 14 at Jacksonville Jaguars: Win, 34-20

This is going to be the game that we all look back on and think about what could have been for the Chargers. The idea here is that Derwin James and Adrian Phillips will be returning to the picture to disrupt things defensively and that will lead to several instances in which the Chargers take over in good field position.

This will be the best game of Philip Rivers‘ season and this performance will do nothing but add fuel to the fire for the hopeful fans that think the Chargers will make the playoffs. Just like the surprise win over the Green Bay Packers, this win will at least somewhat put the Chargers on the map at 6-7.

Week 15 vs Minnesota Vikings: Loss, 28-24

Another narrow loss for the Los Angeles Chargers, which is not surprising as the team has literally lost every game by one possession this season. The team returns back home to Los Angeles and will be welcomed with a mostly-purple stadium, where Kirk Cousins will be comfortable enough to get the job done.

I expect a game similar to Week 1 of the NFL season where Marlon Mack did pretty much whatever he wanted against the Chargers and this time it will be Dalvin Cook. Cook will find the endzone twice, as will Cousins.

The only difference is this time it will be the Minnesota Vikings driving down the field, looking to take the lead or tie the game and they will successfully do so, instead of the Chargers driving downfield and failing.

Week 16: vs Oakland Raiders: Win, 24-21

The Chargers have to get a game-winning drive at some point this season, right? Well, they did get one in Week 1 against the Colts, but that is beside the point.

This will be the one game that the Chargers successfully take the ball down the field and kick the game-winning field goal. Oakland will score a touchdown late to tie the game and Rivers and the offense will take over looking like last year’s unit, ripping off several big plays to get into field goal range.

Week 17 vs Kansas City Chiefs: Win, 38-30

This game is going to be fun and I give the Los Angeles Chargers the benefit of the doubt in the Week 17 matchup, in Kansas City, against the Chiefs. The logic here is simple: by beating the Raiders the previous week, the Chargers will have guaranteed the AFC West for the Chiefs.

I also believe that they will have the third seed in the AFC locked down at this point as well over the Houston Texans. With literally nothing to play for, the Chiefs will play most of their backups and the Chargers will take advantage against an already poor defense in an offensive slugfest where they make Matt Moore look good.

That gives us a final record prediction of 8-8, which would be the perfect way for the Chargers 2019 season to end. A bad first half, a promising second half and a myriad of mistakes that held them back.