Chargers Power Rankings Roundup: Bolts see little change after win over Raiders

The Chargers beat the Raiders 31-14 this week to improve to 8-4. Las Vegas is a bad team and the Chargers did what any decent team should have done, which was to dominate them and win by multiple scores. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like their latest win changed the minds of the media all that much. If anything, the Bolts slid in most power rankings as opposed to moving forward.

This week, however, is a great chance to surge upwards with a win over the reigning Super Bowl champions.

With that said, let’s go ahead and see where they landed amongst the rankings this week.

Yahoo Sports – #13

Running back Kimani Vidal has been hot and cold, but coming off a 126-yard game against the Raiders, he should maintain a role even when rookie Omarion Hampton returns from injury. The running game and defense will need to help Justin Herbert, who will be playing after getting surgery on a broken bone in his left hand. – Frank Schwab

ESPN – #14

The 2025 first-round pick has been on injured reserve since Week 5 because of a left ankle fracture but could return to the field as early as Monday against the Eagles. Hampton had been a consistent, bruising force on the ground and a safety valve in the passing game for Herbert. Hampton caught 17 passes from Weeks 3 to 5, tied for second most on the team with wide receiver Keenan Allen. Hampton was also third in the NFL in yards from scrimmage (364) over that span. His return should jump-start this offense at a crucial part of the season. – Kris Rhim

Sports Illustrated – #14

Justin Herbert is now at least the third quarterback I can remember this season that has had some kind of injury to his non-throwing shoulder or wrist, which has created a cornucopia of different options with which to hand off the football using the opposite arm. I know most people don’t care about this, but I could watch off-handed handoffs for hours. – Conor Orr

Pro Football Talk – #14

Without Justin Herbert, they wouldn’t have much of a chance. – Mike Florio

The Athletic – #15

It’s weird for a Jim Harbaugh-led team, but the Chargers have struggled on the ground this season. They entered Sunday ranked 20th in rushing success rate and EPA per rush. But against the Raiders, they ran for 192 yards. – Josh Kendall

NFL.com – #15

Kimani Vidal’s 59-yard TD run seemed to help wake up the Chargers and vault them to a big second half in the much-needed win over the Raiders. It wasn’t a terribly impressive performance, all things considered, and Justin Herbert’s fractured left hand provides the latest dose of hold-your-breath drama, although it appears he’s going to do everything he can to play in Week 14. Interestingly, the Chargers went 100 percent shotgun even after the injury, with Herbert throwing just 15 times from the second quarter on. He also was sacked three times on 23 dropbacks, meaning the Bolts’ most indispensable player was further beat up. The Chargers can still win the AFC West, and they still have a better chance than not of making the playoffs, but Herbert’s health remains a stark concern.

CBS Sports – #18

They came off their bye and beat up a bad Raiders team. Now here come the Eagles with Justin Herbert’s hand injury a major concern. – Pete Prisco

USA Today – #19

Better to go into a Monday night game against a salty Philly D with a quarterback fresh off surgery for a broken (non-throwing) hand? Or Trey Lance? – Nate Davis