With LaDaininan Tomlinson and Antonio Gates on the bench and Phillip Rivers playing on a leg that would ultimately be operated on, the San Diego Chargers watched their 2007 season come to a close on a cold January afternoon in Foxboro, MA as the eventual AFC Champion New England Patriots moved to a perfect 18-0.
The Chargers snuck up on the AFC and NFL pundits last season by dispatching a surprising Tennessee squad at Qualcomm Stadium and pounding out a win at the RCA Dome against the defending Super Bowl Champion Colts, all this after beginning the season 1-3 and 5-5.
This year, back at full strength and facing a much more forgiving schedule than last season, the Chargers seem poised to take the NFL by storm and give San Diego fans their first Lombardi Trophy.
But, will it truly be that easy?
Injuries have already started to creep up on the San Diego camp, sidelining center Nick Hardwick and potentially sidelining (as you all know by the multiple, and I mean multiple articles) Shawne Merriman.
However, the Chargers have a very deep team and considering injuries, suspensions (to Stephen Cooper) and other intangibles, I've come up with the following prediction:
Week 1 vs. Carolina - Win (1-0)
Steve Smith is out and without his No. 1 receiving threat, Jake Delhomme will have to suffer endless blitzing from the Charger defense. San Diego wins.
Week 2 at Denver - Win (2-0)
Denver continues to rebuild after a horrid 2007. Weather is usually a big help to Denver whenever San Diego or other rivals roll into town, but at worst, the Chargers can expect a day in the mid-50's in the middle of September. San Diego has the superior squad.
Week 3 vs. NY Jets - Win (3-0)
Brett Favre rolls into town having beaten the Chargers last September. However, this time he does it with the Jets, learning a new offense and protected by a less than stellar line. In prime time, LT turns it on and San Diego wins.
Week 4 at Oakland - Win (4-0)
This is a tough one. The preceding sentence was not a typo. Oakland hasn't beaten San Diego since 2003 and with a revamped, young offense they'll be looking to hand San Diego their first loss. The Chargers, struggling with their middle linebackers, will cede ground but come out on top at the end.
Week 5 at Miami - Win (5-0)
Though not the worst team in football this season (right, Atlanta?) Miami is in full rebuilding mode. Their only advantage, knowledge of the San Diego offense went out the window when they fired Cam Cameron, SD's old offensive coordinator.
Week 6 vs New England - Loss (5-1)
Surely after two cross-country flights in the last two weeks and not-so-easy opponents, the Chargers will be tired, hurt and tired some more. New England has had San Diego's number these past few seasons, and this one will be close, but I see NE prevailing.
Week 7 at Buffalo - Win (6-1)
8 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Alex Chidester 10 months ago
Completely ignoring the fact that the Chargers have beaten the Broncos like a cheap rug the last 3 seasons, Denver will steal a W at
Invesco Field atMile High this season.And we're not rebuilding this season; we'll likely challenge for a wild card spot.
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Eric Gomez 10 months ago
In the NFL, anything's possible. And Denver certainly has a home field advantage over any one team who goes in there. However, ooh - wild card spot? Do you actually see the Broncos better than Cleveland? Jacksonville? Pittsburgh? Indy? San Diego? New England? Heck, I'd take Tennessee or Houston at this point over the Broncos.
I'm not saying the Broncos are a bad team, I'm just saying the AFC is stacked with talented teams.
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Alex Chidester 10 months ago
The Broncos could compete with the Browns (Quinn could be the starter there--yeah, yikes) and the Titans/Texans for that last playoff spot. Both of our teams have a cake schedule this year (NFC South, AFC East, the Chiefs) and if our defense can figure things out, we can be right there in the hunt, if not sneak in and get punked in the RCA Dome or Heinz Field.
The AFC is loaded, yes, but IMO the Broncos are right there on the margin of being a playoff contender.
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Eric Gomez 10 months ago
Well, you definitely have a better feel for the Broncos than I do. We'll see what happens this season. Good luck to your team.
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big ROC Stockton, CA 10 months ago
My Raiders are taking at least one game from the Chargers this season. I think the injuries are going to catch up to the Chargers this season. First off, Merriman is gambling with his career this season. He won't last very long at all. He just wants to be on the opening day roster so that he can get paid for the entire season. LT, Rivers, and Gates also have injuries that they sustained late last season. Only time will tell how well LT's recovering knee holds up to an NFL season of pounding. Remember now, the Chargers lost lead blocking specialist Lorenzo Neal and backup RB Michael Turner this offseason. The loss of Neal is a lot more of a problem than you think. When he is in the game the RB doesn't even have to worry about the first man. Neal would completely take out opposing MLBs all game long.
As for your prediction, 14-2 and a Super Bowl Championship, it kind of sounds like a "homer" pick. They'll go 12-4 at the very best and i'm predicting a 10-6 season for them with the Raiders right behind them.
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Eric Gomez 10 months ago
I'm going to put my homer hat for this comment. Saying that the Raiders will be anything other than right behind third place is incorrect.
In all seriousness though, as for the picks I made, I assessed the Chargers' overall strength against teams they'd face. No one Charger fan will tell you right now that they'll lose against New England, at home. Again. But I did. That Pittsburgh game is very difficult as well. I don't feel anyone in the division comes close to San Diego right now, but if you read my blurb for the first Oakland you'll see I give the Raiders some props for their revamped offense. Like I said in the beginning, injuries and intangibles will always screw with any sort of prediction, taking a team's season one way or the other.
Either way, thanks for your comments and good luck to your team this season.
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Sean C 10 months ago
Wow, Rock, I am impressed with an intellectual, football-intelligence based comment from a Raiders fan in proper English. Although, of course I would disagree with your prediction, I am impressed. The Raiders just don't have enough firepower right now, in terms of a genuine receiving threat, besides Zach Miller. The other problem now is that they are going to have to also leave him in to block because even though they have shown improvement, the O-line is still shabby at best for pass protection. The other problem is still run defense, although they did try to improve it, the loss of Thomas Howard will be huge. Plus, the depth of the Raiders roster is definitely not a strength. Although they do have some talent in the skill positions for their starters, besides running back, there are really still more weaknesses on this team than strengths. Anything can happen, please get to the season already!
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Jose Rodriguez 10 months ago
Im predicting the playoffs like this...
New England Patriots 14-2 (with a loss to the Broncos in reg. season)
Indianapolis Colts 13-3
San Diego Chargers 13-3 (with a loss to the Broncos in reg. season)
Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5
Jacksonville Jaguars 10-6
Denver Broncos 10-6
I predict the Broncos win their first playoff game but eventually lose to the Charger who beat the Cowboys to win their first Superbowl, but good luck Chargers because after that the Broncos are taking over the division again.
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