28 Los Angeles Chargers 0-4 Last week: L, 26-24 vs PHI

Last rank: 28th

Recap: Looking to avoid a 0-4 start as well as snap an eight-game overall losing streak, the Chargers played their third consecutive home game against a much-improved bunch of Philadelphia Eagles. Philip Rivers would throw for 347 yards and a pair of scores without an interception (although he would lose a fumble early in the game). But just when the club was able to score some points, the Chargers’ defense allowed a whopping 454 total yards to Doug Pederson’s club. That included a disappointing 214 yards on the ground – 136 of those by hard-charging running back LeGarrette Blount.

Next Week: The Bolts hit the road for the first time since Week 1 and head east to face the New York Giants, who are also struggling these days. Once again, it’s a battle between two of the celebrated members of the quarterback draft class of 2004 in Philip Rivers and Eli Manning, who saw their rights traded for each other’s 13 years ago.

Playoff Hopes: Unless the Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos all wind up in free fall, the Chargers won’t be headed to the postseason for the fourth consecutive year. This is a franchise with some nice pieces on both sides of the ball. But something has been missing in recent seasons regardless of the head coach.