The Los Angeles Chargers had a shaky offseason and the season-ending injury to Rashawn Slater in training camp seemed like an incredibly bad omen before the season even started. But Jim Harbaugh's team is rolling through the first three games.
In three games, the Chargers have accomplished much more than a 3-0 start. It's the first time the team has started 3-0 in 23 years and, perhaps even more impressively, they are the first team since the 2006 Chicago Bears to start 3-0 with all three wins coming against divisional opponents.
Led by early MVP candidate Justin Herbert, the Chargers look like one of the best teams in the league and Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News is taking notice. Iyer left the Chargers outside his top 5 last week, but couldn't ignore their Week 3 victory over the Denver Broncos. That vaulted them into the No. 4 spot.
"The Chargers are a complete, balanced team with all the mental and physical toughness working at a high level for Jim Harbaugh. Between Harbaugh, (Justin) Herbert and (Omarion) Hampton, their H on offense also stands for heart", wrote Iyer.
The only teams that were ranked ahead of the Chargers were the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers.
Harbaugh will help keep his team grounded while pursuing the ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl. In addition to Slater, the team has some early injury concerns that are fairly significant with Khalil Mack and Najee Harris. If the team can properly navigate those, they could get to the top spot in these rankings... and the top spot in the league.
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