PSO Premium Review: Chargers vs. Saints on MNF

1. Justin Herbert is the future of the Los Angeles Chargers

If there is one clear takeaway from this game, it’s that the Chargers must recognize QB Justin Herbert for who he is: the future of the franchise. He has looked all the part of Rookie of the Year and he continues to improve every week as he becomes more familiar with the offense with every snap he takes. It’s rare to see rookie QBs put up these kinds of numbers and connect on these beautiful deep balls this early into a career. With the right people around him, Herbert will flourish in the Chargers’ offensive system and he has the potential to be an elite QB throughout the 2020s.  

2. Don’t underestimate the Saints Super Bowl aspirations until Michael Thomas returns

The Saints haven’t looked like the Super Bowl contender some believed they would be this season (including PSO). However, before anyone can count them out, it’s important to note they’re missing a pretty valuable player. In case anyone forgot, it’s the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, most unguardable player in league history (NFL record 149 receptions last year), and clear-cut most important player to New Orleans’ championship aspirations. 

While Alvin Kamara has been an absolute force to be reckoned with these last few weeks in place of MT, the Saints cannot keep relying on him to be the team’s rushing AND receiving leader every single week or he’ll wear down when it matters. The return of Michael Thomas will take an immense amount of pressure off Kamara and could elevate this very talented Saints team back to where they belong.

3. The Chargers struggle to win close games more than any other team

Another week, another Los Angeles Chargers game that ends in a loss by only a single score. This team just can’t seem to shake off this one nagging flaw no matter how many times they are put in this situation with a chance to win. It’s not just an issue they’ve dealt with this season, it’s one that spans to previous years as well. Usually a team’s one-score record fluctuates back to league average over time, but the Chargers have seemingly made losing these close games a part of their culture. 

Since 2019, they are 3-13 in one-score games, and despite their rookie QB’s hot start to his career, he is now 0-4 as a starter despite putting up elite QB-type numbers. Whether it’s coaching, culture, or continuous fluke kicking disappointments, until the Chargers figure out how to win close games, it’s hard to trust them in any game where the score is close late in the game.