2015 NFL Football – Chargers Analysis
The San Diego Chargers enter the 2015 season with a ton of questions and few answers. Will the team still be in San Diego next year? Will Philip Rivers remain with the team?
Chargers Odds
2015 San Diego Chargers Odds to win the 2016 Super Bowl: 50/1
2015 San Diego Chargers Odds to win the 2015 AFC Conference: 18/1
2015 Season Win Total: Chargers 8.5 wins (OVER -115, UNDER -115); 2014 wins: 9
***2015 BONUSES***
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Will a tough schedule lead to yet another average season for the Bolts? Will the absence of a proven running game haunt the team this year? And will they be able to overtake the Broncos within their own division?
The Chargers won nine games last year – Vegas has the Win Total set at 8.5 this year. The addition of Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon in the first round of the draft could pay dividends but likely not enough to take San Diego out of that C+ caliber of team.
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So where do they finish in what looks like it could be a tumultuous year? Let’s take a look at the full schedule.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13, Detroit, 4:05 p.m.
Home against Detroit in Week 1 is a tough task – the Lions were a playoff team last year and the Chargers were not. While neither team did a whole lot to improve themselves this offseason, I think Calvin Johnson, Matt Stafford and company dominate the small Chargers corners in this one. Take the Lions to start the season in style.
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 20, at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Ugh – Cincinnati on the road in a 10 AM PT start. Cincinnati’s defense should be strong this year – enough to give Rivers and company fits. We don’t know what we will get from Andy Dalton but it should be enough to provide his team a close home win.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 27, at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Adrian Peterson’s availability in this game is the key – the Chargers were a leaky run D last year and will likely be again this year. Assuming AP plays, this is another loss for the Chargers. An 0-3 start has the faithful panicking – and it isn’t even October yet!
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 4, Cleveland, 4:05 p.m.
Nothing like a visit from Cleveland to get your first win. The Browns may be in more disarray than the Chargers by Week 4! The Chargers have not lost to Cleveland in San Diego since 1991 – I don’t see it happening in Week 4!
Week 5: Monday, Oct. 12, Pittsburgh, 8:30 p.m.
The Steelers have owned the Chargers lately – Pittsburgh is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings. Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger all have good games as the Steelers have their way and drop the Chargers to 1-4.
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 18, at Green Bay, 4:25 p.m.
A visit to Green Bay isn’t exactly what the doctor ordered – San Diego is 1-9 in their last 10 trips. Green Bay is poised to be elite and they are virtually untouchable at home.
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Yikes if you are a Bolts fan!
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 25, Oakland, 4:05 p.m.
At home against an improved Oakland team should help the team’s confidence a tad. San Diego always finds a way to beat Oakland – my guess is that it happens again in Week 7.
Week 8: Sunday, Nov. 1, at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
At 2-5 the Chargers are in some trouble by Week 8 – the whispers of relocation are loud and the dissatisfaction among fans has made the team as dysfunctional as can be. On the road against a good Baltimore team that is fighting for an AFC North crown won’t cure the problems. San Diego drops to 2-6!
Week 9: Monday, Nov. 9, Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Home against Chicago on Monday night – the Bears have been one of the worst defenses in the game and they still have Jay Cutler “running the show”. Chicago may be the only team more dysfunctional than the Chargers by Week 9 – San Diego takes advantage at home and heads into their bye 3-6.
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 22, Kansas City, 8:30 p.m.
The Chiefs traditionally don’t travel that well – this is a good spot for the Chargers especially since they will have an extra week to prepare. San Diego takes care of home field in Week 11 and moves to 4-6.
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 29, at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
Jacksonville will still be a doormat this upcoming season and while San Diego is far from an elite team they are good enough to get by Jacksonville – for sure!
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 6, Denver, 4:05 p.m.
At 5-6 there is some hope for the Chargers after all. Enter the Denver Broncos. Some think that the Chargers could rise to the occasion at home and play the Broncos tough like they usually do. Count me as one of the doubters. This should be an easy Denver win.
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 13, at Kansas City, 1 p.m.
Arrowhead is a tough place to play, particularly in December. Jamaal Charles should dominate against a San Diego run defense that was bad last year and figures to be again this year.
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A two-game losing streak has San Diego at 5-8.
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 20, vs. Miami, 4:25 p.m.
Miami destroyed the Chargers last year but this game is on the Chargers turf. Expect San Diego to win this one at home and to avenge their ugly loss last year between the clubs.
Week 16: Thursday, Dec. 24, at Oakland, 8:25 p.m.
The Chargers have had Oakland’s number – they are 8-2 in their last 10 at Oakland. Oakland will be improved but not quite at the level of San Diego just yet. San Diego enters the final week of the season 7-8.
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3, at Denver, 4:25 p.m.
At Mile High in January is purgatory for a California team. That said, my thought is that the Broncos will have their playoff position locked up and may choose to sit Peyton Manning. In that case give me the Chargers to pull the minor upset against an undermanned Broncos team.
The Chargers head into the season looking like an average team – and that is where they will end. With possible relocation on the horizon and with more questions surrounding Philip Rivers, distraction will be a common theme throughout the year. In an improving division and with a tough schedule on the horizon expect the Chargers to be a .500 team this year with typical highs and lows.
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