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The NFL season kicks off soon and the Los Angeles Chargers are hoping to be more competitive. After a busy offseason, this franchise has set themselves up for success for years to come. With a new coaching staff and a better roster, the Chargers could make some noise in 2021.
LA's offense is the strongest asset of this team, especially the passing attack. We should see plenty of Austin Ekeler highlights throughout the year as he has the potential to be the top receiving running back in the league. Keenan Allen is one of the best route runners and aims to be a top receiver once again. Meanwhile, Justin Herbert is coming off a spectacular rookie campaign that won him the Rookie of the Year award. He aims to be in the running for another award this season.
The AFC West is rather competitive and the Chargers have a long way to go before they catch up to the Kansas City Chiefs. Even so, Los Angeles has made numerous improvements to the roster as they hope to make a playoff run. With that said, here are four bold predictions for the Chargers 2021 NFL season.
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4. Austin Ekeler records the most receiving yards amongst running backs
It's no secret Austin Ekeler is a receiving threat out of the backfield. In fact, he records most of his stats through the passing game. The Chargers are set up once again to air it out, especially with their gunslinging quarterback under center. Ekeler serves as an elite underneath route runner who can make things happen in open space.
The Chargers will draw up multiple plays for Austin Ekeler throughout the season, as he's a versatile weapon. He should be in for a huge year as he could end up with the most receiving yards of any running back in the league. Ekeler will be in close contention with Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara, as he is a top receiving back in the NFL.
3. Keenan Allen finishes as a top 10 wide receiver
Keenan Allen might be one of the most underrated stars in the NFL. He's an elite route runner and produces at a high level year in and year out. Herbert has a knack for hitting his favorite target and that should remain the same in 2021.
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With a year of experience under his belt and finally receiving a full training camp, Herbert should be able to connect with Keenan Allen more often. Look for Allen to play a prominent role in the Chargers offense yet again. If he can finish as a top 10 wide receiver, Los Angeles should be a legitimate playoff contender this year.
2. Justin Herbert wins the MVP
After putting up a historic rookie season, Justin Herbert has a real chance to win the MVP award in 2021. A second-year quarterback has won the prestigious award twice in the last three years and Justin Herbert could continue that streak.
The front office restructured the offensive line during the offseason, showing the Chargers are in it for the long haul. Protecting the franchise quarterback is a key ingredient for success and that's exactly what the Chargers plan to do. Herbert is electric under center and now that he'll have more time in the pocket, the sky is the limit for the Chargers' young quarterback.
1. Chargers make the playoffs
The AFC is going to be a closely contested conference this year. However, with seven playoff spots available, the Chargers have the talent to become a Wild Card team. Anything can happen, but Los Angeles has a real shot at a postseason run. The defense will need to step up for that to happen, as this team can't fully rely on the offense.
With Herbert, Allen, and Ekeler leading the way, the Los Angeles Chargers will be competitive in most of their games. If they can manage a winning record against their AFC West division rivals, then the Chargers should be in the running for a Wild Card spot near the end of the season.
