The Bolts fell in a close 17-15 game to the Cardinals on Monday night.
The Chargers now prepare for a short week back home as they welcome the Saints to SoFi Stadium.
NFL analysts and publications have released their weekly power rankings. Take a look at where the Bolts are ranked as they enter Week 8.
No. 17: Eric Edholm – NFL.com (Last Week: No. 15)
Los Angeles bled off more than eight minutes on its final march, but ultimately had to settle for Cameron Dicker's fifth field goal of the night to go up, 15-14. On the Cardinals' ensuing drive, the 15-yard flag on Cam Hart hurt, but giving up a 33-yard catch-and-run to James Conner on the very next play was what truly allowed Arizona to score the final three points and nab a 17-15 win. Justin Herbert passed for a season-high 349 yards and made some pretty throws -- some caught, some not -- when he wasn't under heavy pressure. L.A.'s lack of offensive weaponry right now is glaring, especially with the run game stalling out. The Chargers crossed midfield seven times, but ran just one play inside Arizona's 10-yard line. The schedule lightens in the coming weeks, but this loss is going to stick in Harbaugh's craw for a while.
No. 18: Josh Kendall – The Athletic (Last Week: No. 12)
Justin Herbert passed for 349 yards, his highest total since Week 3 last year on Monday night, but it wasn't enough for the Chargers, who rushed for a very un-Jim Harbaugh-like 59 yards. Los Angeles' three losses this season have come by an average of 6.3 points, but their three wins aren't terribly impressive. The Chargers are 12th in the league in point differential (plus-23).
No. 18: Vinnie Iyer – Sporting News (Last Week: No. 15)
The Chargers know themselves well as a hard-nosed, defensive-minded team that can also run the ball. They should be more dangerous with Justin Herbert growing into a bigger factor but they need to score more TDs and fewer field goals.
No. 18: NFL Nation, Kris Rhim – ESPN (Last Week: No. 17)
Young riser: FB/DT Scott Matlock
As a rookie defensive tackle last season, Matlock played primarily on special teams. He was expected to have an increased role on the interior defensive line this season, but coach Jim Harbaugh switched Matlock to fullback and he has been an essential part of the Chargers' rushing game. Matlock, 24, still plays defense and special teams; his 236 snaps are the 11th most on the team. He's emerging as an unlikely but crucial part of one of the NFL's best rushing offenses.
Browse through live action photos of the Bolts Week 7 matchup against the Cardinals in Arizona!
No. 18: Mike Florio – Pro Football Talk (Last Week: No. 15)
No. 19: Conor Orr – Sports Illustrated (Last Week: No. 15)
Too low? I was impressed with the team's ability to grind out an eight-plus minute drive to take the lead late in Monday night's loss to the Cardinals, but Jim Harbaugh is going to have the time and space to build out his weapon set here in Los Angeles … and he's going to need it.
No. 19: Diante Lee – The Ringer (Last Week: No. 20)
The Chargers' run game has been stuck in the mud since the Panthers game in Week 2, and losing the ability to control the line of scrimmage is taking away from Justin Herbert's improving play as he regains his health. Monday night, the Chargers played better than the Cardinals on a down-to-down basis, but key turnovers undid scoring opportunities and allowed Arizona to hang around and steal the game. The schedule is friendly over the next three games but this offense needs to find its run game if the Bolts want to be a serious team.
No. 19: Nate Davis – USA Today (Last Week: No. 17)
Check out the top photos of the Bolts warming up for their Week 7 game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium!
No. 20: Pete Prisco – CBS Sports (Last Week: No. 14)
They are limited on offense with the injuries at receiver, and it showed up in the loss to the Cardinals. They need to get bodies back.
No. 20: BR NFL Staff – Bleacher Report (Last Week: No. 16)
Monday night in Arizona, Herbert had his best passing game of the season, throwing for 349 yards. But the Chargers were held out of the end zone, Arizona gouged the Bolts for over 10 yards a carry on the ground and when the dust settled Los Angeles was on the wrong side of a two-point loss that drops Los Angeles behind Denver in the AFC West.
No. 22: Frank Schwab – Yahoo Sports (Last Week: No. 18)
The loss at Arizona is a tough one. Justin Herbert threw for 349 yards. The Cardinals scored points on only two of their first eight drives. And Los Angeles still lost. That's what happens when you can't turn all of those yards into a single touchdown.
