Introduction:
In week 8, the halfway point of the NFL season, the Chargers enjoyed a well-deserved bye. I say well-deserved because they are currently boasting a four-game winning streak and their only two losses are to the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs who have one combined loss this season. The Chargers offense has been spectacular, and their defense has been great for the most part, despite not having its best player (Joey Bosa) for the entire year thus far. With all this being said I am going to give out mid-season awards for the best rookie, biggest surprise, biggest disappointment and MVP.
Best Rookie: Derwin James
This pick doesn’t come as a surprise as he was the team’s first-round pick. James is a safety who is able to make plays all over the field. He has 44 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one interception and six passes defended. The chargers have struggled to find a dynamic safety since getting rid of Eric Weddle, but it looks like they hit the lottery this time. James isn’t just the best defensive rookie for the Chargers, he will be in the talks for Defensive Rookie of the Year award across the whole league.
Biggest Surprise: Mike Badgley
It’s not the best thing in the world when you’re surprised that a kicker can make field goals, but after a group of kickers who couldn’t get it done, Badgley saved the day. He came in after an injury to Caleb Sturgis (not too sad about that) and has been perfect. While he has only played two games, he has made both his field goal attempts and all seven of his extra-point attempts. The Chargers tried out Younghoe Koo, Nick Novak, Travis Coons and Nick Rose last season, piling the stress onto their fans after an absurd amount of missed kicks. The trend continued this season when they signed Sturgis, who missed two extra points and 3 field goals before getting hurt. Sturgis should be ready for week 9 against the Seahawks, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Badgley got the start.
Biggest Disappointment: Casey Hayward
Casey Hayward has been an All-Pro the last couple of years and in the conversation of best cornerback in the league. That is not the case this year. Hayward’s success rate for covering passes went up 7% in week 7 to put him at 50%. He’s lucky a couple of wide receivers dropped passes while he was covering them. A success rate of 50% puts him at 82ndoverall in the league. Last year Hayward was top 10 in nearly every stat imaginable. He’s not just playing below his standards, he’s playing below the standards of an average cornerback. The Chargers need Hayward to find his form again for the Chargers to make it out of the AFC.
MVP: Philip Rivers
Did you expect to find a different name here? No. Philip Rivers has been the best player on the Chargers since LaDainian Tomlinson was on the team and Antonio Gates was in his prime. Rivers is 36 years old, having one of the best season of his career, and chasing that ring that he dearly desires. In seven games, Rivers is completing 69% of his passes for 2,008 yards with 17 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions. He has a QBR of 117.8, ranking second in the league behind Drew Brees. His window of opportunity to win a Super Bowl is closing. So instead of relying on his teammates to pick up the slack, he’s picking it up and making everyone around him better. Rivers hasn’t been in the conversation for best QB in the league much, but only because he has been playing with QB;’s like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, and Drew Brees his entire career. Everyone who has followed Rivers throughout his career knows he doesn’t want that recognition, but he deserves it. If Rivers continues to play like he currently is, and his team stays healthy, this could finally be the year he holds that Lombardi Trophy high in the air!
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