2014 San Diego Predictions
The San Diego Chargers will look to build on a rare solid December stretch from last year, a first round playoff upset of the Bengals and a near-win against Denver in the second round of the postseason.
2013 Record Straight Up: 9-7-0
2013 ATS Record: 9-6-1
Chargers Odds to win the 2015 Super Bowl XLIX: 40/1
Chargers Odds to win the 2015 AFC Conference: 18/1
Chargers Odds to Win the 2014 AFC West: +550
Chargers Futures from Bovada
Based on last year’s impressive run – the choker label can be erased. Second year coach Mike McCoy has his team looking like a contender as long as the players do their jobs!
The San Diego Chargers benefitted largely from a bounce back season by Philip Rivers last year – he had looked old, slow and somewhat disinterested toward the end of 2012. We can thank the new culture that Mike McCoy instilled, improved offensive line play, a better focus on the running game and the variety of tools at Rivers’ expense.
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Let’s start with the Offensive Line – a position long neglected in San Diego. King Dunlap, the No. 11 overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft on D.J. Fluker, Jeromey Clary, Chad Rinehart and Nick Hardwick did an admirable job keeping Rivers upright and allowing the running game to improve drastically. What was once a weakness in San Diego became a strength in one year and should continue to improve with the focus on blocking!
With Rivers not running for his life he was able to establish an incredible chemistry with third-round rookie Keenan Allen – a true game changer that had been absent since the departure of Vincent Jackson. Allen had 71 catches last year, 1,046 yards and eight touchdowns. He is in the elite class of receivers heading into 2014 but may just be the only reliable threat for Rivers.
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Let’s face it – Antonio Gates isn’t nearly what he used to be, Malcolm Floyd is coming off a brutal neck injury and Vincent Brown doesn’t scare anybody. It’s a good thing for Danny Woodhead out of the backfield – he gives Rivers a much needed reliable target out of the backfield. As we saw last year, the Chargers passing game doesn’t have to be top tier – they simply have to be a compliment to a strong…
Running game. Ryan Matthews stayed healthy last year and that made all the difference for San Diego. He’s a freakishly talented guy that has been as injury prone as they come. Last year Matthews managed 1,255 yards on the ground and finally realized his potential as a very nice professional back. Danny Woodhead is there to spell Matthews off and the Chargers added Donald Brown from Indianapolis to also help eat up chunks of yards.
The Chargers will look to improve on defense this upcoming season and build on a stretch run that saw them give up 24 or fewer points in the last seven games – two against the juggernaut Broncos. All in all however, the team was 23rd in yards allowed, 27th in rush defense, 29th in pass defense – no good!
Melvin Ingram, Dwight Freeney, second-year Jeremiah Attaochu up front looks decent on paper – they just need to perform on the field.
Richard Marshall at corner, 25th-overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft on Jason Verrett across from Marshall and the addition of Brandon Flowers makes the secondary at least formidable – undrafted rookie free agent safety Jahleel Addae also helps the secondary look at least decent on paper.
Chargers 2014 Betting Prediction:
The Chargers will have a real opportunity to make a statement right off the bat – they only play one 2013 playoff team in the first six weeks. Despite a tougher late schedule this year I like the Chargers to ride the wave of momentum created at the end of last season and to surpass the Chiefs for second in the AFC West.
San Diego was a solid team toward the end of the 2013 campaign – a good reflection of what they should be this year. A 9-7 record is likely but a 10-6 season certainly wouldn’t be out of the question.
Look for the Chargers to sneak into the playoffs again – although I can’t see them going too far once there!
