San Diego Chargers 2008 NFL Projection:
Last season with LaDainian Tomlinson watching from the sidelines, the Chargers fell to the
Patriots by a score of
21 – 12 in the AFC Championship game
in Foxborough.
View Game Center.
Not bad for a team starting the season (1-3) that everyone threw the towel in on… Well, almost everyone threw in the towel… See
16th ranking.
The Chargers certainly had some awkward moments during the 2007 season. For example, who can forget Adrian Peterson out-rushing
LT in week 9 by 256 yards?!!!
Head coach Norv Turner had some moments too; most notably in week 10 against the Colts in a Sunday night affair.
See
9th ranking.
Yet the Chargers managed to top the Colts twice last season, including a divisional playoff victory at Indianapolis.
The Chargers have become the Colts’ nemesis ever since breaking up their bid for perfection in December, 2005, when Indianapolis was
(13-0) coming into the game.
Moving on to the 2008 season, the Chargers are a complete offense thanks to acquiring Chris Chambers in a trade with Miami during last season.
Center Nick Hardwick will be on the PUP list heading into training camp as will TE Gates. The Chargers will of course need their services to complete their offense heading into the season.
Assuming they’re back in time for the season opener,
expect San Diego’s passing game to easily surpass last season’s 26th ranking as Chambers’ presence from week 1 will make the difference.
On the defensive side of the ball the Chargers strength at outside linebacker will surely take a hit due to ligament
damage in Shawne Merriman’s left knee, although he plans to play.
The Bolts’ could use more depth in the middle of their
defensive line, no thanks to Jamal Williams’ problematic knees. The strength of the Chargers’ defense now looks to be in their secondary.
Schedule Analysis:
A look at San Diego’s 2008 schedule
shows just four games against teams that made the playoffs last season;
Overall the Chargers have the second lightest schedule strength in the league after New England.
That’s a benefit of playing in a division with no returning playoff teams from a season ago other than your own squad.
Record Projection:
Since the season hasn’t begun, the Shawne Merriman news forces us to downgrade our original season projection of
a (13-3) record.
Overall we now predict a record of (11-5) for the Bolts in ’08.
Of course projections on this page will be frozen once the season begins.
To track rolling standings projections throughout the season visit the
projected standings
area.
In closing,
the Chargers should be strong enough to handle
their “ease of schedule” even if Merriman plays tenderly on his left knee.
Once the postseason hits, at least
two of the three; Williams, Hardwick,
Merriman will probably be needed near top strength
if the Chargers are going to make a run at the title.
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2008, remember to
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Free 2008 NFL Predictions Note:
Remember
these now archived 2008 NFL forecasts were made
during the 2008 preseason.
Of course many team components can alter throughout the yearly
football campaign which may have affected
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