2009 San Diego Chargers Season Preview

The 2008 season for the San Diego Chargers was a bit of a roller coaster to say the least. The majority of their season was seen as a disappointment. They struggled through the majority of the season and were 4-8 after the first 12 games of the season. The Broncos were well ahead of them and they were on the verge of being 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. They made the playoffs and even won a game before being knocked out by eventual champion 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 off-season. 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 Charger's 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 make them a decent offense, 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 year 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 of them around the web have the Chargers in the playoffs and a 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. They never seem to live up to 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.