It’s always been widely accepted that the Los Angeles Chargers have the talent to be a playoff contender in the AFC. However, keeping that talent healthy and on the field is one thing the Chargers are not known for. Once again the team was ravaged with injuries last season and the loss of several key playmakers, along with their inability to win close games were the major factors in the Chargers 5-11 campaign. They won nine games just two seasons ago and if healthy they could easily reach that mark again.
Los Angeles Chargers Futures Odds at BookMaker.eu
Chargers Over 7.5 Wins -160
Chargers Under 7.5 Wins +131
2017 Los Angeles Chargers Offense Preview
The offense is loaded with playmakers but we’ve rarely had the chance to see everybody on the field at the same time. The one man who has escaped the injury bug and the one the Chargers can least afford to lose is Philip Rivers, who surpassed the 4,000-yard passing mark last season despite losing No. 1 receiver Keenan Allen in the first game and security blanked Danny Woodhead early in the year.
The injury situation forced other players to elevate their game and the receiving corps should be outstanding with Allen back and Mike Williams taken in the draft. Dontrelle Inman and Travis Benjamin topped the team in receiving and Rivers has two outstanding tight ends in Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry at his disposal.
The Chargers revamped their offensive line after injuries and inconsistent play led to their middle-of-the-pack ranking in total offense. Given the amount of talent at the skill positions, the numbers should be better and picking up the pace offensively will help in close games where the Chargers were dreadful last year.
2017 Los Angeles Chargers Defense Preview
Injuries also took their toll on the defensive side of the ball last season. Top pick Joey Bosa missed the first quarter of the year, Jason Verrett couldn’t stay healthy and others were out for several games at a time.
Despite holding out and then getting hurt at the start of last season, Bosa proved to be dominant at his end spot. He recorded 10.5 sacks in 12 games and was named the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. Melvin Ingram is another pass rusher at outside linebacker and the two should prove to be disruptive in opponent’s backfield. Ingram collected 8.5 sacks a season ago.
If Verrett can stay healthy the Chargers have two of the best corners in the league. Verrett played just four games last season but he established a reputation as a top cover guy the year before when he picked off three passes with 12 breakups. Casey Hayward tied for the league lead with seven interceptions last season. You almost expect bad news on the injury front from the Chargers and we got a dose in the preseason when Denzell Perryman was lost for a few months.
2017 Los Angeles Chargers Schedule Analysis
If the Chargers can win a division game they just might get over the projected victory total. It’s been an ongoing battle but maybe the move out of San Diego is what they need. The Chargers beat Denver last season, breaking a 10-game losing skid to AFC West foes. They then proceeded to start a new streak by losing their last three against their division rivals.
Outside of New England, the AFC East could be helpful. Miami will have its concerns without Ryan Tannehill and the Bills are a huge question mark. The Jets are expected to be the worst team in the league. It could be tight against the NFC East and the fourth place games have Cleveland and Jacksonville on the slate. Those aren’t gimmes considering the Chargers were the only team to lose to the Browns a year ago.
The Final Verdict
It wouldn’t be a stretch to think the Chargers could eclipse their projected win total and possibly contend for a division crown given the talent they’ve assembled. However Rivers showed signs of slowing down last year with a league-high 21 interceptions and taking 36 sacks. A juggled line and an injured receiving group could have led to those issues, but Rivers is getting up there.
You expect the club to have better luck with injuries after two years that absolutely devastated the team. They should be better in the close games as well. Even with all the bad luck the Chargers were just minus-13 in point differential, which suggests an eight or nine win record. They were 1-8 in games decided by seven points or fewer and that should change. I want to say they will reach the 8-win mark, but given their history and new distractions with their move and coaching change, they won’t get there.
NFL Odds: Los Angeles Chargers Under 7.5 Wins
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