Who’s Number 1? According to the latest NFL.com power rankings, it’s the Chargers.
NFL writer Elliot Harrison ranked them tops in his weekly poll, moving them up two spaces past the Cincinnati Bengals, who were last week’s top team. They also passed the Arizona Cardinals – the only team to beat the Bolts this season – after the Cards got blown out in Denver last week.
That’s what you get when you have a four-game winning streak and share the best record in the league (4-1).
Said Harrison of the Chargers: “Some of the plays (quarterback Philip) Rivers made Sunday were just ridiculous, whether it was shaking off a sack and converting a third-and-17 or delivering an absolute dime of a touchdown pass to Antonio Gates. #stillMVP”
Rivers said he doesn’t put too much stock in accolades, especially this early in the season.
“That just comes with winning,” he said. “It’s just like the rankings in college football. They really don’t mean much. … It can be an outside distraction.”
For what it’s worth, the Bolts are ranked No. 3 in the latest ESPN power rankings. In the comments, ESPN said: "If not already, start taking these guys seriously."
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They are No. 4 on the Fivethirtyeight.com rankings – which is a site started by stats guru Nate Silver. That same site predicts them winning 10.8 games this season based on multiple season simulations.
USA Today ranks the Bolts No. 3.
The Chargers are eighth in the league in points per game (26.6) and are allowing the fewest points in the league on defense (12.6 per game)
Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers said he isn’t concerned what the rest of the country is saying about the Bolts.
“We don’t need national attention,” he said. “As long as we keep stacking wins.”
The Chargers play the Oakland Raiders (0-4) this week, ranked dead last in just about everybody's poll.
