NFL Betting Online: After hovering around .500 for the last five seasons, 2015 saw the Chargers bottom out. San Diego found itself in an extremely tough AFC West and failed to win a division game en route to a 4-12 record. Mike McCoy is back after the disastrous season, but if the Chargers don’t make the playoffs this season, he is likely gone at the end of the year. Fortunately for McCoy, San Diego wasn’t as outclassed as many teams that finish with a Top Five draft pick, losing all but three of their games by one score or less.
San Diego Chargers Playoff Odds at BookMaker.eu
Yes +400
No -500
2015 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS SEASON REVIEW
The lack of a ground game killed the Chargers in 2016. San Diego was able to move the ball through the air thanks to Philip Rivers, who ended the year with almost 4800 yards and 29 touchdowns, but the rushing attach was toothless. Melvin Gordon failed to deliver in his rookie season, carrying the ball for just 3.5 yards per carry and failing to register a single touchdown all season. Danny Woodhead, Donald Brown, and Branden Oliver weren’t much better and none of the three cracked 4.0 yards per carry.
Not only could the Chargers not run the ball, they couldn’t stop the run either. San Diego ranked second-to-last in the NFL in rush defense according to Football Outsiders, and running backs constantly had field days against them. The Chargers allowed 2005 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground and gave up 4.8 yards per carry. That killed San Diego late in games when it needed a stop to get the ball back and instead the opponent was able to just grind the game away.
KEY LOSSES
Pittsburgh ravaged San Diego in free agency, signing away tight ends Ladarius Green and David Johnson as well as defensive tackle Ricardo Mathews. Johnson is one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL and will be sorely missed on a team looking to find a running game, while Green was beginning to emerge as the replacement for the aging Antonio Gates.
The Chargers also lost one of their best defensive players in safety Eric Weddle. Weddle was the only consistent Pro Bowler on San Diego’s defense, but he and the team had an acrimonious falling out and it was clear that he would not be coming back midway through the season.
KEY ADDITIONS
San Diego looked to improve its run defense through free agency and the draft. The Chargers brought in Brandon Mebane from Seattle and he should help shore up a defense that had major issues stuffing the run. Also helping matters will be first-round pick Joey Bosa. Bosa was a star at Ohio State and if he plays at the same level in the NFL, San Diego will alleviate a lot of the problems from last season.
2016 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS SEASON PREVIEW
Even though Denver isn’t the same team that won the Super Bowl last season, the AFC West is still an extremely tough division and the Broncos, Chiefs, and Raiders are all considered playoff contenders. San Diego is fortunate in cross-division play, matching up against two of the weaker divisions in the AFC South and NFC South, but to make the playoffs the Chargers will have to win some divisional games.
It really feels like this is going to be the end for McCoy. Rivers is getting older and while he is still a solid quarterback in the NFL, his prime is clearly behind him. It doesn’t help matters that Antonio Gates is a shell of his former self either and that no other skill position players have played well outside of Keenan Allen. Allen has been one of the top receivers in the league when healthy, and was on pace for a 1500-yard season in 2015 before an injury cut his season short. This team should improve on last year’s mark, but not enough for McCoy to keep his job.
NFL Odds: San Diego Chargers to miss the playoffs -500
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