The Bolts got the season started with a big 22-10 AFC West win over Las Vegas.
After a season-opening home win over the Raiders, the Chargers will travel to Carolina to take on the Panthers. Kickoff for Week 2 is scheduled for 10 a.m. (PT).
Ahead of the Chargers first road trip of the season, NFL analysts and publications have released their power rankings. Take a look at where the Bolts are ranked as they enter Week 2.
No. 9: Josh Kendall – The Athletic (Last Week: No. 17)
Justin Herbert passed for 144 yards. J.K. Dobbins rushed for 135 (on 10 carries). Welcome back to the NFL, Jim Harbaugh! His return to the NFL is everything we thought it would be. Dobbins, a second-round pick by the Ravens in 2020, has a chance to be one of this year's breakout stars. He has played in just 24 games in four years because of injury, but if he stays healthy, Harbaugh will make sure he gets plenty of carries.
No. 10: Vinnie Iyer – Sporting News (Last Week: No. 12)
The Chargers had a slow start before bolting past the Raiders for Jim Harbaugh's debut victory. Not surprisingly, they looked physically and mentally tougher in using the defense and running game to pull away vs. the Raiders.
No. 11: Pete Prisco – CBS Sports (Last Week: No. 18)
Jim Harbaugh won his opener, but it wasn't pretty. Then again, winning ugly and tough is the Harbaugh way.
No. 12: Eric Edholm – NFL.com (Last Week: No. 13)
Ye of little faith, chiding me on social media for my unbridled belief in Jim Harbaugh and the new-blood Chargers! Get used to this kind of final score -- 22-10 -- because I think this is how the Chargers are going to try to (and likely have to) win games this season. The 10 part -- as in the work the defense did -- is a nice change of pace in Chargers country after last season, although the Raiders and their lackluster offense were part of that equation. There's still some tidying needed in the Bolts' secondary, and I fear the lack of weapons for Justin Herbert, but the encouraging debut of J.K. Dobbins and a hard-earned win made for a solid launching pad for the Harbaugh era.
No. 15: Conor Orr – Sports Illustrated (Last Week: No. 19)
This wasn't a flawless victory for the Chargers but it was the first step in a long process that will prolong Justin Herbert's career and save his inner assassin for only the dire moments. Being steeped in the college game is invaluable for coaches who have an eye for allowing quarterbacks to do less and get more at the same time.
No. 17: NFL Nation, Kris Rhim – ESPN (Last Week: No. 20)
Best newcomer performance: RB J.K. Dobbins
Dobbins, who signed a one-year deal with Los Angeles this offseason, broke free for two long runs (41 and 61 yards) that turned the game around for the Chargers' stalling offense. He finished with 135 yards and one touchdown, the most yards by a Chargers RB in a season opener. Dobbins probably would have had more yards, but he was caught from behind and tackled by Raiders defenders on both big gains. Dobbins was disappointed about that postgame, saying he needed to get in shape.
No. 18: Mike Florio – Pro Football Talk (Last Week: No. 18)
J.K. Dobbins, when healthy, is one of the best running backs in the league.
No. 18: Nate Davis – USA Today (Last Week: No. 19)
Suffocating defense, relentless run game, physical fronts. HC Jim Harbaugh's new team debuted as advertised. (And just wait until QB Justin Herbert gets to be a bigger part of the attack after passing for a meager 144 yards Sunday.)
No. 19: BR NFL Staff – Bleacher Report (Last Week: No. 21)
Now, one win over a Raiders team that looked, um, ungood in Week 1 does not fix all the issues the Chargers have... A 2-0 record heading into a Week 3 trip to Pittsburgh would be a nice start to the Harbaugh era.
No. 21: Diante Lee – The Ringer (Last Week: No. 21)
Head coach Jim Harbaugh's second-half adjustment was genius: simply give J.K. Dobbins the ball! Dobbins's 131 yards after halftime gave the Chargers offense the explosiveness it needed, and while I haven't totally bought into the Harbaugh era yet, I can appreciate a team that believes in running the ball to win games.
No. 21: Frank Schwab – Yahoo Sports (Last Week: No. 22)
J.K. Dobbins has always had talent. It's the injuries that have been the issue. Perhaps he won't be able to stay healthy this season either but a 135-yard game with some huge runs in his Chargers debut is a good place to start.
No. 25: David Helman – Fox Sports (Last Week: No. 26)
What a wonderfully on-brand debut for Jim Harbaugh. The Chargers looked like a Big Ten team on Sunday, toting the rock 27 times for 176 yards and playing fundamentally sound football. Don't look now, but a 2-0 start feels possible with Carolina on deck.
