2011 NFL Predictions: 7 Reasons the Chargers Should Be Super Bowl Favorites

Every year, the San Diego Chargers are considered to be Super Bowl favorites, and a top five team in the league.

This season is different.

The Chargers are coming off a 9-7 record, finishing second in the AFC West. It was the first time in five years that San Diego has not won the division. Fumbles, injuries, and special teams woes plagued their 2010 season. Besides coming off a missed-playoff year, the Chargers had the number one offense and defense in the NFL.

Knowing that, San Diego was ranked tenth on the Preseason Power Rankings. Not too shabby for a team that didn't even make the playoffs. Still, no one expects the Chargers to win it all this season.

But here are seven reasons why they should.

1. Vincent Jackson Is Back.

Last season, Philip Rivers led the NFL with 4,710 yards. He did this without his number one receiver for the most part of the year. Vincent Jackson, entering his seventh year in the league, only played in five games in 2010. Jackson had problems with San Diego's front office last year. Coming off of a pro bowl year, Jackson believed he deserved a high-dollar long-term contract with the Chargers. A.J. Smith kept his famous quote intact.

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"You're only a Charger one year at a time."

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Instead of the long-term deal Jackson was looking for, he was offered a one-year, $3.3 million tender. Insulted, Vincent held out on the Chargers, returning Week 10 to make sure he got an accrued season to be eligible for free agency this summer. Instead of making the $3.3 million, Jackson only made about $300,000. He wasn't worried about the money for the season. He was trying to make a point. That point was recognized at the end of the season.

Even though Rivers led the NFL in passing yards, he still missed his 6'5'' animal of a receiver. A.J. Smith realized this, and surprisingly, placed the franchise tag on Vincent Jackson. Jackson reported to San Diego's facilities on the first Friday of training camp to sign his one-year, $11 million franchise tender.

The first day Jackson was able to practice, he and Rivers suddenly hit it off once again. Both of them felt like he was never gone. Their chemistry is as strong as ever. If that's not enough for San Diego, Vincent Jackson will also be working as hard as he can to show that he does deserve a long-term contract. Philip Rivers should be one happy guy.

2. Antonio Gates Is Healthy...er.

Antonio Gates is arguably one of the best tight ends to ever play in the NFL, and also one of the best Chargers players ever. Many defensive players have said that he is the hardest player to guard in the league. This is because of his basketball background. Gates uses his rebounding ability to box out his defender and create space to catch the ball.

Gates has rolled through his career, including starting seven straight pro bowls. Last season, he hit his first speed bump. He was injured with Plantar Fasciitis, which is an inflammation and swelling of the thick tissue at the bottom of the foot. Gates was sidelined for six games, and wasn't at full health for some others. 

At the start of training camp, Antonio Gates said that he wasn't 100%. He hasn't been participating in team reps, but he's been doing individual drills to get healthy and stay in shape. Gates will likely miss the entire preseason to be ready for the regular season. He is a vital part of the team.

I'm sure San Diego, as well as any other team, would rather have Antonio Gates at 90% than another tight end at 100%. Gates adds to Rivers' arsenal of weapons, and every Charger fan will love to see him back.

3. Revamped Special Teams Unit

If you asked Mike Scifres how many punts he's had blocked in his career before last season, he would've told you one. After the season, the stat would've been five. The Chargers gave up four blocked punts, as well as three kickoffs and one punt returned for touchdowns.

To go along with all of that, on the other side, San Diego had no kickoffs returned for touchdowns, or punts, and did not block any themselves. The Chargers were very criticized for last season's special teams.

Coach Crosby was released at the season's end. Why he was kept all season? They went out and hired Rich Bisaccia, who coached the Buccaneers last season on special teams.

What Bisaccia brings is attitude. He knows he's dealing with the worst unit in the league, but he wants them to be number one in a hurry. Bisaccia is the type of guy where if one thing goes wrong, it's not going to happen again.

Darren Sproles, the Chargers' speedy return man, left San Diego to join the New Orleans Saints. Bisaccia already knows who will be on the special teams unit, but he doesn't quite yet know who will be returning kickoffs and punts. Antoine Cason, Richard Goodman, Marcus Gilchrist, and Patrick Crayton are the rumored names that will be the return men.

In the first preseason game, Bryan Walters, a rookie out of Cornell, returned a kickoff 103 yards for a score. Bisaccia went crazy, as did the entire San Diego sideline. Most Charger fans hope this is what's in store for the future.

4. Norv Turner's Job Security

Norv Turner began coaching in San Diego in 2007. In his first year, Turner led the Chargers to the AFC Championship after winning the AFC West with an 11-5 record. That would be his best year in San Diego. From then on, it all went downhill.

In 2008, the Chargers finished with an 8-8 record and still won the AFC West in the last game of the season. They won their Wild Card game against the Colts, but lost to the Steelers in the Divisional Round.

In 2009, San Diego finished with the second best record in the AFC at 13-3. Disappointingly, the Chargers lost their first game of the playoffs against the Jets.

In 2010, the Chargers finished with a 9-7 record and finished second in the division. It was the first time in five years that the Chargers didn't win the division or make the playoffs.

2007—2 Playoff Wins; 2008—1 Playoff Win; 2009—0 Playoff Wins; 2010—Missed Playoffs.

Norv Turner's Chargers have declined one playoff win every season he's been the coach. Even if San Diego goes 16-0 this season, Turner could still be let go. After the 2006 season, Marty Schottenheimer was fired because he didn't win in the playoffs. Did I mention that San Diego went 14-2 that season, which lead the NFL?

With all the talent on the roster, Norv Turner is directly on the hot seat. Turner has two new coaches under him, including Greg Manusky and Rich Bisaccia. A new era should begin this season in San Diego. If Norv wants to remain a Charger, he'll have to impress the front office. Anything below at least one playoff win could be the end of Norv Turner.

5. Free Agency

As soon as the NFL Lockout ended, every NFL team was able to agree to terms with free agents. The Chargers wasted no time, agreeing with Safety Bob Sanders and Linebackers Takeo Spikes and Travis Laboy. Teams were also allowed to re-sign their own free agents. San Diego made Eric Weddle the highest paid safety in NFL history. Vincent Jackson was also franchise tagged.

The biggest concern for San Diego was Darren Sproles, Kevin Burnett, and Malcom Floyd. The Chargers figured they could only sign one. Sproles took more money in New Orleans, Burnett the same in Miami, and Floyd was predicted to go to Baltimore. Floyd took a long time to make his decision, and after seeing everything the Chargers had done all offseason, he decided to take less money to stay in San Diego.

The Chargers were definitely free agency winners. Vincent Jackson, Mike Tolbert, and Malcom Floyd were brought back for their offense. Stephen Cooper and Eric Weddle, the top two leading tacklers over the last 3 years for the Chargers, were brought back for the defense.

San Diego brought back their own free agents they thought meant the most to the team. Some may be sad about the departure of Sproles, but he will be easier to replace than Floyd or Tolbert.

The Chargers are pretty much the same exact team from a year ago, except they have hard-hitting Takeo Spikes, pass rushing Travis Laboy, all around safety Bob Sanders, and not to mention, a happy Vincent Jackson. A.J. Smith did his job this offseason.

6. Greg Manusky Will Prevail

Greg Manusky will be taking over for Ron Rivera, now the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, at defensive coordinator. He's spent the last four years as the 49ers' defensive coordinator.

Manusky should be familiar with San Diego. From 2002-2006, he was the linebacker coach for the Chargers. He's a fiery guy who will get the defense energized and ready for action. Being a former linebacker coach, he specializes in pass rush, which the Chargers need a lot of help at.

Most Charger fans were sad to see Rivera leave the Chargers, but very happy to see Manusky as his replacement. If there is any coach in the league that can do what Rivera did for the Chargers in 2010, Manusky is one of them. San Diego had the number one ranked defense last year, yet they still need a lot of improvement.

Manusky knows that the Chargers have many talented players on their defense, and he's ready to get them going. Linebackers Takeo Spikes and Travis Laboy came over from San Francisco as well to join Manusky and the Chargers.

San Diego didn't stop there. They signed safety Bob Sanders. Sanders, who has been battling injury problems the last couple years, was given a chance at a comeback from GM A.J. Smith. The Chargers also brought back safety Eric Weddle, which could be the biggest move they made for their defense.

Antonio Garay, Luis Castillo, Jacques Cesaire, and Corey Liuget transitioning up front. Shaun Philips, Takeo Spikes, Stephen Cooper, Travis Laboy, Donald Butler, and Jonas Mouton in the middle at linebackers. Quentin Jammer, Marcus Gilchrist, and Antoine Cason on the sides at cornerback. Eric Weddle and Bob Sanders in the back at safety. Sound good to you? Well it does to Manusky.

7. Philip Rivers

In 2009, the Chargers had to make the biggest decision in franchise history. They released running back LaDainian Tomlinson after two below-average years.

It was clear that it was now Philip Rivers' team.

Ever since taking over the starting quarterback role in 2006, Rivers has a 55-25 record. He has made three pro bowls, and holds the NFL record for most passing yards through ten games (3,251).

Rivers is a one-of-a-kind quarterback. His best ability doesn't even include his talent. Philip Rivers loves, and I mean loves, to play football. The attitude and emotion he shows on the field is unbelievable. His quick release and pocket presence has been compared to the great quarterback Dan Marino.

In 2010, besides the Chargers not making the playoffs, Philip Rivers had his best career year ever. He completed at least one pass to over 15 different receivers. His 4,710 passing yards led the NFL. Rivers threw for 30 touchdowns, had a 66 completion percentage, and had a 101.8 passer rating.

He did all this with most of his receivers inactive. Gates, Crayton, Floyd, and Naanee were all battling injuries throughout the year. Vincent Jackson didn't make a catch until Week 13 because of his holdout. In the Chargers vs. Texans game, Rivers threw four touchdowns, two to Seyi Ajirotutu and two to Randy McMichael. Gates, Crayton, Jackson, and Floyd were all inactive for this game. Philip Rivers could have been the MVP if the Chargers had a better year.

From the three quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2004 draft, Rivers is the only one who hasn't won a Super Bowl. Philip is recognized as a quarterback on the same tier as Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. He isn't even considered to be on the same level as guys like Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, or Aaron Rodgers.

Well, Philip Rivers is on a mission. His mission is to bring the Lombardi Trophy to San Diego. Then he'll be recognized as where he should be, on the level with Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

With Rivers playing the way he's been of late, with all his receivers back, the Chargers' number one offense will just get better and more explosive. This could be the year for San Diego.