2009 Expert NFL Picks Preview: San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers' 2008 season was a roller coaster ride, to say the least.

The majority of the Chargers' season was seen as a disappointment. They struggled and were 4-8 after their first 12 games of the season. The Broncos were well ahead of them and 2008 Chargers were on the verge of becoming one of the biggest disappointments in franchise history.

However, they miraculously ended up winning their last four games of the year, while the Broncos proceeded to lose out. San Diego made the playoffs and even won a game, before being knocked out by the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

So what can we expect out of the 2009 version of the San Diego Chargers?

If you're looking for free NFL betting picks, they'll probably end up being Division Champions in the AFC West.

The Good News

The best news in San Diego isn't exactly who they got in the offseason. It's all about who they got back from injury.

Shawne Merriman is back from a terrible knee injury that sidelined him for 2008 and he's ready to wreak havoc on opposing backfields again. The Pro Bowl outside linebacker made a world of difference for the Chargers' defense as a whole. Without him, they couldn't seem to find any type of pass rush. Without a pass rush, their pass defense dropped to 31st in the league. They were also able to add another pass rushing specialist in Larry English through their first round draft pick.

The defense was their weak suit in 2008 and they definitely bolstered it back up.

The Bad News

The window of opportunity might be closed or closing.

They've been one of the most "talented" teams for about five years now. However, they always seem to blow it in the playoffs, before they can make a run.

LT dropped off quite a bit from his former self last year and Antonio Gates didn't look like the tight end that he once was. They still don't have a great wide receiver on the roster either. While Rivers should be able to keep their offense decent, the defense was pretty bad last year.

It remains to be seen whether one player can make that much of a difference on an entire unit. Antonio Cromartie had a terrible year last year after a league leading 10 interceptions in his rookie season, the previous year.

Do they have enough studs in the secondary to contend against the other members of the AFC West?

Outlook

As far as NFL football predictions go, the majority around the Web have the Chargers in the playoffs and as possible Super Bowl contender.

However, nothing is guaranteed in this division and they've been picked to make the Super Bowl for the last three years, yet they never seem to live up to high expectations.

Look for the Kansas City Chiefs to rebound and battle with the Chargers for the top spot in the West. The Chargers are still the favorite, but they'll have a lot more competition this year than they've had in recent years.

Make sure you check out Vernon Croy's Expert NFL Picks this season.