The Chargers fell to 7-4 after losing to the Ravens on Monday night.
Let's look at where Los Angeles stands in the NFL power rankings after Week 12:
: 13 (Previous: 11)
“Critics who might want to call them the Hoosiers of the NFL are not a problem. A defense that hadn't given up more than 20 points all season – albeit against questionable competition – has given up 57 points at home in the last two weeks. It also burned 212 yards on the ground Monday, the most ever for a Jim Harbaugh-coached team. Factor in RB JK Dobbins’ knee injury and… woof.”
: 9 (Previous: 9)
“After a great start, the Chargers really struggled to contain the Ravens' running game, particularly Derrick Henry. Henry helped the Ravens get out of an early slump, and the Bolts helped Henry get going by missing several tackles, although they're hardly the first team to struggle with that against Baltimore. Still, Jim Harbaugh must be concerned about this. His defense was picked apart a bit in the final six quarters against the Bengals and Ravens. But the problems weren't just limited to the defense. The offense has a lot to worry about, starting with RB JK Dobbins' knee injury. The Chargers simply couldn't get the ground attack going after he left, and Justin Herbert's receivers let him down. Incredibly, all five starting offensive linemen were also tagged. Trey Pipkins' layup offset a 27-yard pass interference on third-and-six in a 23-16 game. Instead, the Chargers ended up punting, and Justice Hill shot the ball down a few minutes later. No time for the Bolts to cry about the end of their four-game winning streak; They’re going to Atlanta and Kansas City the next two Sundays.”
: 9 (Previous: 9)
Ranking of crimes: 15
Defense Ranking: 15
Special teams rankings: 14
“In terms of scoring, the Chargers have the best defense in the league, allowing just 15.9 points per game. However, according to ESPN Analytics, this is the nfl's easiest schedule. The Chargers' offense has been on a tear since a 23-16 win over the Broncos in Week 6, when quarterback Justin Herbert fully recovered from a high ankle sprain. The offensive rankings will likely continue to rise as the season progresses; Los Angeles ranks third in average game win probability.”
“The top-ranked defense was a little deflated in the loss to the Ravens. Now they face a tough road trip against Atlanta, which has a bye.”
“With a relatively light pass rush and Lamar Jackson racking up nearly all of his passing yards on extended plays, we have now seen how far the Chargers have come and how far they still have to go. The wide receiver is still desperately needed as Quentin Johnston returned to 2023 form on Monday after a few critical balls.”
“The Chargers entered Monday looking to get just their second win of the season against a playoff-caliber team — Denver is the only team they have beaten that is currently over .500. They seemed up to the challenge until JK Dobbins left the game with a knee injury. LA made things a little interesting late, but they lost convincingly to the Ravens.
This is the Chargers in their first year under Jim Harbaugh. The future is bright, but Los Angeles will beat the teams it is supposed to and fight the ones we expect to see in late January. And if Dobbins is forced to miss extended playing time, LA may not even make the postseason.”
