The Pro Bowl is a week-long celebration of the best talent in the NFL, so naturally, some of the league's top experts and pundits are on hand for the action.
One of them is CBS Sports' Pete Prisco, who took in the first day of practice from ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando. Prisco attended Chargers' training camp last summer and said he wasn't the least bit surprised the Bolts had six players named to the Pro Bowl.
"I think they're all deserving," Prisco said. "The bottom line is, that was a good football team. (If they had a) break here or a break there, they're in the postseason. You could say that every year almost, right? They can rush the passer and they can throw the football, and that's all you need in the NFL."
In 2017, the Chargers were a good football team that overcame an 0-4 start to get to 9-7. Although they narrowly missed out on the playoffs, Prisco was happy with how the team notched as many wins in one season as they had in the prior two years combined.
"I think that's a good season for them… I think if the (offensive) line hadn't had injures early on, then they'd be even better. I think it's a good football team…. Again, they can rush the passer (with) Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa. (Casey) Hayward's a hell of a corner. You can throw the football with (Philip) Rivers, you can run the football with Melvin Gordon. They have a lot of things in place."
Much of the team's success has to do with Head Coach Anthony Lynn. Prisco admitted his guidance along with his ability to have veteran coordinators Gus Bradley and Ken Whisenhunt was beneficial for the rookie head coach.
"I think leaning on his coordinators was good. Keeping Gus Bradley was a good thing, too (with) keeping that familiarity with them and with the guys. I think Ken Whisenhunt and Gus Bradley being (previous) head coaches was good for Anthony Lynn."
Last season, Prisco predicted the Chargers would win the AFC West. While they came close, they finished 2017 ranked second in the division Prisco is sticking with them in 2018.
What makes him so bullish on the Bolts?
The guy under center.
"I don't think there's any doubt (he's the best in the West). Kansas City's in flux a little bit (at the quarterback position). What are they going to do with Alex Smith? Is Patrick Mahomes going to play? Oakland's got a new coach. Yeah, it's Jon Gruden but they had problems this year. Then you look at Denver and they have quarterback issues. If you rank the quarterbacks in the division, Philip Rivers is still number one. When you have the number one quarterback, of course you can win the division."
