It’s officially November and the Los Angeles Chargers We’re almost halfway through Jim Harbaugh’s first season.

They last from 4-3 to eight weeks. There were positive points, such as resurgent defense. There were negative points, such as inconsistent rushing attack and uneven offensive play throughout the matches.

The Chargers are still forging their identity in this inaugural season for Harbaugh. The true nature of this team will become clearer during the second half of the season, as the Chargers likely make a push for a playoff spot.

Here are five predictions for the rest of the season.

GO DEEPER

Five logical trades for the Chargers before the NFL trade deadline

1. Ladd McConkey will exceed 1,000 receiving yards

McConkey, drafted by the Chargers in the second round in April, is coming off the best game of his young career. He set career highs in catches (six), yards (111) and touchdowns (two) in a Week 8 win on the New Orleans Saints. This seemed like a real breakthrough for two main reasons.

First, McConkey was able to attack down the field for the first time this season, firing a deep shot from 60 yards out for one of his scores. Second, on his two touchdowns, McConkey was closely covered in a one-on-one situation, and the quarterback Justin Herbert McConkey was trusted enough to go for contested windows.

Trust takes time to develop. Once a receiver has Herbert’s trust, he can expect high volume. We saw it with Keenan Allen. We saw it with Mike Williams. McConkey appears to be that type of player for Herbert.

McConkey has 376 yards in seven games. He would need to average 62.4 yards per game over the last 10 games to reach 1,000 yards. This is very realistic given where the McConkey-Herbert relationship is in their first season together.

GO DEEPER

What Ladd McConkey’s breakout could mean for the Chargers’ offense

2. Poona Ford will set a career record in sacks

Ford has been a monster in run defense this season. There are many reasons why the Chargers’ run defense has improved. I would put the addition of Ford at the top of the list. But I think Ford’s ability as a passer has been overlooked to some extent through seven games. He provided consistent penetration inside as a passer. He is an advantage in the game when he is one-on-one with a guard or center. Ford got his first sack as a Charger late last week against the Saints. His career high is three, which he set with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. I think he will surpass that easily.

Ford generated big rushes in big moments. In the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinalsfor example, receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. was wide open on a double move on a first down. The Chargers lost him in coverage. However, Ford won his face-off and forced the quarterback Kyler Murray out of place. Murray escaped and made a shorter throw to the tight end Trey McBride along the left sideline. Ford saved a touchdown with this rush. If he keeps rushing like this, the bags will come.

Poona Ford’s impact as a passer has been underestimated. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Imagn Images)

3. The offense will find its rhythm of play

The Chargers rank 27th in rushing success rate, according to TruMedia. They’re not yet where they hope to be in this phase under coordinator Greg Roman. But I don’t think the Chargers will stay this low in terms of success over the course of the season. They have too much run blocking talent along the offensive line. Roman has too good a track record as a racing game schemer.

Right now, teams are preparing to stop the Chargers’ rushing attack. This opened up the field for Herbert in the passing game. Eventually, teams will need to adapt and devote more resources to the back end. I expect a rushed breakout match in the near future. I’m watching week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengalswho ranks dead last in defensive success rate, according to TruMedia.

Newsletter Scoop City

Free daily NFL updates delivered straight to your inbox.

Free daily NFL updates delivered straight to your inbox.

Register

Mack has been at the same level of dominance as always so far in his age 33 season. He’s still one of the best all-around rushers in football, period. No qualifiers. Anyone who says Mack has lost a step is simply not watching him play. The counting stats aren’t quite there yet. It has 3 1/2 bags. His 26 pressures rank 19th among Edge Rushers. I think a lot of that has to do with the attention he gets from his opponents. He is often double-teamed. He is even part of a triple team sometimes.

Joey Bosa is back now. He played his first game in over a month against the Saints. He’s clearly not 100 percent. But his mere presence should alleviate at least some of the attention Mack receives in clear pass-rush situations. A vintage Mack buyout game is on the horizon. I can feel it. He had six sacks in a game last season against the Las Vegas Raiders. I don’t know if he will reproduce this. He’s still very capable of destroying a match, and I think we’ll see it happen before the end of 2024.

Ignore the counting stats, Khalil Mack remains an elite passer. (Ron Chenoy / Imagn Images)

5. Justin Herbert will be second half MVP

Herbert is playing some of the best football of his career since the bye, especially the last two games. Its precision is there. He pushes the ball downfield without taking too many risks. His mobility is improving each week as time passes since his high ankle sprain earlier in the season. This leads to scrambled yards, impressive sack avoidance, and off-script plays through the air. The injury and slow start will keep him from seriously entering the MVP conversation.

But the last two games are up to par with some of the best quarterbacking I’ve seen from Herbert. He listens. And if he can stay healthy, I think he’ll be the best player in the league over the second half of the season. The threat of a running game creates more opportunities. He obviously has the ability, and now his health is cooperating.

Football 100

The story of the greatest players in NFL history. In 100 captivating profiles, top football writers justify their selections and learn about the history of the NFL.

The story of the greatest players in NFL history.

Buy

(Top photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)