2010 San Diego Chargers Preview

The San Diego Chargers have been a franchise measured on playoff wins for years. It was HC Marty Schottenheimer that was canned for not being able to bring the team to the Super Bowl after a tremendous regular season a few years back, and the time might be here to think about offing HC Norv Turner as well unless the Bolts make a real run in '10. The cupboard has been stripped just a bit, but San Diego is still full of firepower for this season.

Even though names like Brady, Manning, and Brees are atop the list of the best NFL quarterbacks, it can't be too far down before the name "Philip Rivers" comes up. The former member of the NC State Wolfpack threw for 4,254 yards last season and led the game's fifth best passing attack. He turned both WR Vincent Jackson and TE Antonio Gates into 1,100+ yard receivers, a feat that no other quarterback pulled off in the league last year.

The rushing game is going to sorely miss the play of longtime starter RB LaDainian Tomlinson. The Bolts decided it was time to part ways with "LT" after he had his least productive season ever in 2009, running for just 730 yards. Still, knowing that RB Darren Sproles is probably too small to carry the load by himself for a full season, San Diego had to go out and take RB Ryan Mathews out of Fresno State in this year's NFL Draft. He should immediately become a favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, as Mathews should be called on quite a bit by a team that is going to be leading its share of games.

Surprisingly, it was a defense that really let down the Chargers at times last season. The unit ranked just 16th in the league in total 'D' at 327.0 YPG and conceded 20.0 PPG. Losing DB Antonio Cromartie to the New York Jets is going to hurt, but without a doubt, under the direction of LB Shawne Merriman, this defense won't fold. It was an underachieving group in 2009 and should do significantly better this year in 2010.

The Chargers might not be a better team this year than they were last year, but they are still going to have a chance to post the best record in football thanks to a lousy division and manageable non-conference schedule. Expect some lopsided games, but beating the Super Bowl XLV odds probably won't happen.

2010 NFL Betting Odds (Courtesy of Bodog Sportsbook)
San Diego Chargers Odds To Win AFC West: -300
San Diego Chargers Odds To Win AFC Championship: +550
San Diego Chargers Odds To Win Super Bowl XLV: +1000
San Diego Chargers Season Win Total: 11 (over +120)

2010 San Diego Chargers Regular Season Schedule
9/13 @ KC
9/19 vs. JAC
9/26 @ SEA
10/3 vs. ARI
10/10 @ OAK
10/17 @ STL
10/24 vs. NE
10/31 vs. TEN
11/7 @ HOU
Bye
11/22 vs. DEN
11/28 @ IND
12/5 vs. OAK
12/12 vs. KC
12/16 vs. SF
12/26 @ CIN
1/2 @ DEN