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Chargers Quietly Becoming Legitimate Super Bowl 53 Contenders

Ryan Metivier

by Ryan Metivier in NFL Football

Updated Jan 6, 2023 · 6:41 AM PST

Melvin Gordon Los Angeles Chargers
Melvin Gordon has racked up 745 yards from scrimmage and 9 total touchdowns through six weeks of the 2018 NFL season. Photo by Jeffrey Beall (Wiki Commons)
  • The Los Angeles Chargers are 2nd in the AFC West and have average odds of +1700 to win Super Bowl 53
  • Which players have been key in their recent three-game win streak?
  • Do the Bolts present Super Bowl betting value?

The Los Angeles Chargers started this season with high expectations, yet began with losses in two of their opening three games. Two victories followed and the Chargers entered this past weekend with average Super Bowl 53 odds of +2300.

Those odds have now shortened to +1700 after their 38-14 win over Cleveland, placing them as a top seven contender to win the Super Bowl, and the third-shortest odds in the AFC.

LA has now won three straight and reside in second place in the AFC West division at 4-2, only behind Kansas City at 5-1.

Super Bowl 53 Odds

Team Odds
Los Angeles Rams +333
New England Patriots +600
Kansas City Chiefs +700
New Orleans Saints +800
Minnesota Vikings +1200
Los Angeles Chargers +1800

Sunday’s win in Cleveland was likely LA’s most complete game, as they jumped out to a 21-6 lead by halftime and carried a 35-6 lead into the fourth.

The win was headlined by a three-touchdown performance from Melvin Gordon who racked up 132 yards on the ground.

Gordon and Rivers Lead Dynamic Offense

After Gordon’s Week 6 performance, he now ranks fifth in rushing yards and third in rushing touchdowns. The Chargers’ run game is sixth overall in YPG.

The offense is guided by veteran QB Philip Rivers, who’s third in passing touchdowns with 15, in an offense ranked 13th in passing and seventh overall.

LA is getting a decent return on the defensive side of the ball as well.

They rank 17th in passing, 11th in rushing, and 13th overall in YPG. They also boast Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate Derwin James in their secondary, who has combined for 36 tackles, 3.5 sacks, seven passes defended, and one INT.

Are The Bolts Worth A Bet?

The Chargers have never won a Super Bowl and last made it to the big game in Super Bowl 29.

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Should they make a run this year, they’ll have to improve their performances against some of the league’s stronger opponents.

LA is unbeaten against teams with a losing record, going 4-0 and allowing a PPG average of 17.8. Those opponents have a combined record of 6-17-1, hardly ranking as the league’s best.

LA are unbeaten against teams with a losing record going 4-0 and allowing a PPG average of 17.8

In the two games they faced a team with a winning record, they suffered defeats and allowed an average of 36.5 PPG. Granted those losses came against the Chiefs and Rams, who are a combined 11-1, but LA will still need to improve against stronger opposition.

Take a look at the Chargers’ remaining schedule, though, and a path to the playoffs and a Super Bowl run could be in the cards. Of their remaining ten games, only four come against teams who currently have winning records.

They can also look forward to the return of standout pass-rusher Joey Bosa, who should return later this season from injury. On the downside, they once again have kicking issues to sort out, as starter Caleb Sturgis has already missed three field goals and four extra points.

I’m not sure I’m ready to place the Chargers in the Super Bowl favorites conversation just yet, but at their current price, they definitely present strong betting value.

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