5. San Diego Chargers (Last week: 7)
Philip Rivers is making a strong case to be the MVP at the quarter-point of the season. Two-thirds of the Chargers’ backfield is on the sidelines, and the running game has offered no help to Rivers, who’s single-handedly leading the team to victory week after week.
The defense has continued to make strides with a solid front seven and new-look defensive backfield. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Bolts win the AFC West.
What to know: That lowly running game is averaging 2.4 yards per carry. The 31 other NFL teams are all averaging 3.0 yards per carry or more.
