2010 San Diego Chargers Team Preview/Predictions
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2009 Record: 13-3
ATS: 8-7-1
As the 2009 season drew to a close, the Chargers’ season looked like it might be a magical one. After stumbling out of the gate at 2-3 they’d ripped off eleven straight wins to win the division for the fourth year in a row and looked nearly unstoppable heading into the playoffs.
The magic ended of course when San Diego was unceremoniously upended in front of its home fans by the New York Jets in the divisional playoff round, and that was that.
Still, in many ways, the season was a remarkable success.
Head coach Norv Turner seems to have done with Philip Rivers in San Diego exactly what he did with Troy Aikman back in Dallas years ago. Rivers has become one of the most feared passers in the game.
Last year Rivers had the best QB rating in the AFC (104.4) and his receiving corps appears to have truly come into its own. Despite a penchant for DUIs that may result in some forced time on the sidelines to start the season, Vincent Jackson is a 6’5” 230-pound monster who is becoming almost impossible to stop.
Working in concert with 6’5” Malcolm Floyd, 6’2” Legedu Naanee, and the always-imposing presence of 6’4” Antonio Gates, San Diego’s passing game is among the most formidable in the league.
Additionally, the Chargers learned in 2009 that they could not only survive, but thrive, by moving on from LaDainian Tomlinson and featuring Darren Sproles in the backfield. With Tomlinson now in New York, San Diego will complement the electric Sproles with highly-touted first round draft pick Ryan Mathews (Fresno State).
Assuming center Nick Hardwick can return from injury and reclaim his staring center job (something which looks to be on schedule), San Diego should have one of the most protected, balanced offenses in football this year.
Where the rubber will meet the road for the Chargers is on defense. They lost run-stuffing nose tackle Jamal Williams to, of all teams, the Denver Broncos, and they don’t seem to have a ready replacement.
The obvious problem here is that it was the running game of the Jets (along with a horrible game from kicker Nate Keading) that knocked San Diego out of the playoffs last January.
The Chargers will also take the field without cornerback Antonio Cromartie (NYJ) although they hope corner Antoine Cason can fill that void. The revolving door the Chargers have at strong safety has yet to stop spinning.
Thankfully, though, San Diego’s special teams unit is one of the best in the league; the pass rush is strong thanks to a solid linebacking corps; and although the competition in their division is better, none of their AFC West rivals match San Diego’s talent level just yet.
It also helps that this team’s interconference schedule this year pairs the Bolts with the NFC West.
Chargers 2010 Outlook
Expect the Chargers – who put up at least 20 points per game in their last 11 games of the 2009 season – to pick up where they left off, win their division, and contend for home field advantage in the playoffs.
Chargers 2010 Futures
Super Bowl Odds: +925
Conference Odds: +605
AFC West Odds: -300
2010 Chargers Predictions
Place they’ll finish in AFC West: 1st
Place they’ll finish in AFC Conference: 1st
Over/Under Season Wins Prediction: Over 10.5 Wins
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Dave Golokhov has written for BETUS Sportsbook, Sportsfanmagazine.com, FOX, Askmen.com, Sports-central.org, and the FOXSports.com Funhouse.
