Is This The Year Ladainian and The Chargers Get to the Super Bowl?

The question in San Diego is can the Chargers get to the Super Bowl. 

The Chargers are clearly a top 5 team in the NFL right now, and could be a top-3 team if two key players on their team weren't injured.

Shawne Merriman says that the torn ligaments in his knee aren't "career-threatening", and their star Tight End Antonio Gates is coming off toe surgery and hasn't played all preseason. Quarterback Philip Rivers is coming off a torn ACL but is ready to play. LT is coming off a knee injury, but has been ready to  go since training camp.

Now we all know the Chargers will run with LT but the passing game can be in question. With a healthy Gates, putting him and WR Chris Chambers on the same side could be deadly for defenses.

Chambers could go deep and atrract double teams—leaving Gates open on a post pattern. But if Gates is still injured, Rivers' options at receiver would be Chris Chambers, Vincent Jackson, LT, Craig Davis, and Brandon Manumaleuna.

Their defense will be only "okay" if Merriman goes down, but if healthy, they are a top-5 defense.

The combination of Antonio Cromartie and Quentin Jammer at CB is possibly the best in the league. Their linebackers are deep with Merriman, Philips, and Cooper to name a few. Their D-line is pretty dang, good second best in the league behind the Vikings.

The Chargers also have a good special teams unit with Bo Scafers at punter, Nate Kadeing at kicker, and the return specialist Darren Sproles.

I predict an overall record of 15-1. Hey New England and Indy: The playoffs run through San Diego now!

So Chargers fans, you can look for your team to this season win the division, make the playoffs, win the AFC, make the Super Bowl and beat the Dallas Cowboys.