Playing For It All
As we enter into Week 16 there are a lot of potential playoff teams still playing for something. That something can be a playoff berth, home field advantage, or a divisional title. Either way, there is still a lot of football left in the 2018 calendar year. For the Los Angeles Chargers, there is no rest for the wary. For a player like Melvin Gordon III, not even a knee injury will keep him from playing against the Baltimore Ravens. Playing a player like Gordon III can be risky, but with the AFC No. 1 seed on the line, all bets are off.
Play Em’
In an industry where health and player availability reigns supreme, red flags about a players safety is always a concern. What makes playing Gordon III so questionable is the current success of the Chargers. With a record of 11-3, the Bolts are currently tied with the Kansas City Chiefs. So, that means there is still a chance for either team to clinch the AFC West Division and the AFC No. 1 seed. Oddly enough, that makes it very difficult for players such as Gordon III to sit out for any length of time as they recover from an injury. December for playoff-bound teams like the Chargers can decide everything. Barring any setbacks or injuries with players, the Chargers will have to risk it all in their quest for a Championship.
The easiest option for potential Coach of the Year candidate Anthony Lynn is to rest Gordon III even if healthy, but when so much is on the line you can’t. Once again, opportunities like this don’t come often for the Chargers. Quite frankly, simply having a successful season with a winning record is not going to cut it either. Luckily, even with Gordon’s absence, the Chargers have maintained a winning record. But, overall, it’s hard to replace his productivity. Gordon III, even after missing three games, is ranked 5th in rushing yards per game at 80.2. He also ranks 5th in rushing touchdowns with 9. While attempting to substitute his production with Austin Ekeler and Rookie Justin Johnson has been okay, the Chargers offense overall showed signs of looking one dimensional. With Gordon III in the backfield, there is no doubt the Chargers are legit Superbowl contenders.
All On The Line
The Los Angeles Chargers need a spark to bring more relevance to their historic organization. Unfortunately, a 2018-19 playoff appearance with a plethora of players being voted to the Pro Bowl doesn’t help the fan base. The Chargers hoisting up a Vince Lombardi Trophy will be the only thing that can help bring more stability to this organization. Teams that win Championships in this era of football don’t do a lot of moving from city to city. This current roster and coach staff of the Los Angeles Chargers is well equipped to bring home a championship. So, if a Melvin Gordon III is 100% ready to play, then he must play. Period.