Chargers start strong: Harbaugh boosts Super Bowl hopes in 2023
- The Chargers have improved from 23rd to 9th in points per play under Jim Harbaugh's coaching.
- The team has transformed from the worst defense to the No. 1 scoring defense, allowing quarterback Justin Herbert to have a reduced workload.
- Colin Cowherd believes the Chargers have the components to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
The Los Angeles Chargers have started the 2023 NFL season with a 2-0 record, showcasing significant improvements under head coach Jim Harbaugh. Previously ranked 23rd in points per play, the team now sits ninth, indicating a more effective offensive strategy. Harbaugh's leadership has transformed the Chargers' defense from the worst in the league to the top scoring defense, a remarkable turnaround given the same personnel. This change has allowed quarterback Justin Herbert to have a lighter workload, with fewer than 30 throws in the first two games. Key players like Quentin Johnston have stepped up, with Johnston scoring two touchdowns against the Panthers, matching his total from a challenging rookie season. The Chargers' defense has also been impressive, forcing four turnovers, which ranks them fourth in the league. Harbaugh's coaching prowess is evident, as he has a history of turning struggling teams into contenders, as seen with the San Francisco 49ers and Michigan. Colin Cowherd, a sports commentator, has praised Harbaugh's impact, suggesting that the Chargers possess the essential components of a Super Bowl contender. The team's ability to control the game with an elite run game and a strong defense is seen as a strategy to compete against formidable opponents like the Kansas City Chiefs. With the Chargers' current trajectory, there is optimism that they can build on their early success and potentially achieve more than the five wins they managed last season. The combination of Harbaugh's coaching and the players' contributions has set a promising tone for the rest of the season.