In direct contrast to my AFC East previews, I somehow managed to save the best team in the division for last. By that I mean the Norv Turner-coached San Diego Chargers. Never thought I’d say that with Norv coaching this team, but this team definitely suprised me in the playoffs last year. They definitely gave the Pats all they wanted in the AFC championship game.
When you take a look at this squad, there are not a whole lot of weaknesses. You have Phillip Rivers returning at QB and even on one knee (ACL injury), he almost led the Chargers to his first-ever Super Bowl a season ago. Rivers looks to be sharp again and continue building up his winning percentage (he’s 25-7 as a starter).
Rivers has Antonie Gates, Eric Parker, Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson to spread the ball around to. Oh, and there’s this guy named LaDainian Tomlinson. Heard of him? This offense should be able to score on anybody, IF they are healthy. Rivers is obviously coming off the ACL injury. LT is coming off an MCL injury that plagued him to the point of taking himself out of the postseason game against the Pats last year. Gates hopes to be up to speed by the pre-season following the foot injury that limited his effectiveness over the final few games of ‘08 as well. The Chargers will need these guys back at 100% to be able to compete for the AFC title again.
The success of this year’s squad may depend on how reliable the defense is. I don’t really have too much to say here because the Charger ‘D’ seems to come and go. But, this unit does have the potential to once again be a top 10 defense in the league with the talent they have returning.
Now lets look ahead to the schedule. Frankly, thanks to Tony Gonzalez recently saving one of their own fans’ lives, the Chargers owe one to KC. But I doubt if they let that happen. The Chargers should own this division, plus they benefit from having a weak NFC schedule (did I mention the AFC West gets the NFC South yet??) Heck, this whole division must also have hapless Miami on its schedules. SD gets the pleasure of traveling to play the Dolphins on 10/5/08 in essentially what many are saying is a bye week.
However, there are three tough games that should test the SD mettle in ‘08. New England comes into town on 10/12/08, and what an interesting game this should be, especically if LT is healthy (that AFC title game was too close for the Patriots’ comfort this past January). A road game at Pittsburgh and then a home game against Indianapolis also pose tough challenges in weeks 10 and 11.
One other tidbit about the Chargers ‘08 schedule. They are the ‘fortunate’ ones who get to travel along with the Saints to London to play the NFL’s second official regular season game outside the country. If you missed it last year, the Giants attempted to play the Dolphins in a rainy, muddy, pigpin mess that was pretty much unwatchable. (Jints won 13-10…somehow). Hopefully for the NFL’s sake, the Chargers and Saints get to play in good weather.
‘Ifs’ and ‘Buts’ always seem to pave the way for pre-season predictions and I’m not shying away from those with my pick for the Chargers. If this team remains healthy, there’s no reason to think a 12-4 season is not within reach, and possibly even as many as 14 wins based on their schedule. I’m going with 12-4. That’s my pick. However, it seems whenever anyone picks the Chargers to succeed, they end up floundering. So at this point, the ‘08 season marks the chance for SD to step up, rep up.
