Here on the eve of kickoff for the San Diego Chargers 2009 opener, I will take my annual stab at predicting the Bolts win-loss record.
In Las Vegas the Over/Under total for the club has been about 9.5 wins. I said it last year, and will say it with greater emphasis this time around, but this season has got to be the greatest odds for a division title that the Chargers have ever seen. And it's no stretch to say they will probably be favored in all six divisional contests.
9/14 at Oakland (WIN) - Chargers currently have franchise-record 11 game win-streak vs. the Raiders. No reason to think it stops now.
9/20 BALTIMORE (WIN) - This should be a very tough game, and perhaps low scoring. I'll take San Diego at home but wouldn't be surprised if they drop this one, knowing the slow-start history under Norv Turner.
9/27 MIAMI (WIN) - Chargers have some motivation vs. the Dolphins in this one, after perhaps being caught off guard in the loss in South Florida a year ago.
10/4 at Pittsburgh (LOSS) - Tough place to play, and the Chargers still have never won a regular season game in Pittsburgh. The Steelers' Troy Polamalu may be back for this one.
10/19 DENVER (WIN) - Maybe they don't hang half-a-hundred on the Broncos again, but they should win this Monday night matchup handily.
10/25 at Kansas City (WIN) - Always a difficult venue for the Bolts, but with the Chiefs in a rebuilding mode under first-time head coach Todd Haley San Diego should come out of Arrowhead Stadium with the "W."
11/1 OAKLAND (WIN) - Chargers keep the divisional streak going in this one. I do expect the Raiders to put up a good fight.
11/8 at New York Giants (LOSS) - Making the trip back three time zones is always hard on San Diego, and I see this being close before losing late.
11/15 PHILADELPHIA (LOSS) - I'm sure they are fully capable of winning this game, but at the same time I don't see them going unbeaten at home. So I'll give this to most people's early season favorite in the NFC.
11/22 at Denver (WIN) - Chargers currently in the midst of their greatest run of success in the Mile High city...with the exception of last season's fiasco.
11/29 KANSAS CITY (WIN) - San Diego nearly lost both games to the Chiefs in 2008, but like mentioned earlier it shouldn't be as tough this time around.
12/6 at Cleveland (WIN) - Yeah the weather could be nasty, but the Chargers pitched a shutout in the Cleveland snow five years ago and have a better team now. As for the Browns club, that remains to be seen.
12/13 at Dallas (WIN) - Picking a win here largely because of the routine late-season collapse the Cowboys go through. If it was any time in the first three months of the season I would project this as a loss for the Chargers.
12/20 CINCINNATI (WIN) - Chargers should really be playing for playoff positioning come Holiday Season, so expect a focused club here.
12/25 at Tennessee (LOSS) - Short work-week for the Chargers and another long trip to a probable playoff club equals a likely loss.
1/3 WASHINGTON (WIN) - Certainly should win here to close out the regular season, although if they have playoff position locked up it could go the other way.
So there you have it, a 12-4 record. San Diego should be in a great spot for hosting multiple playoff games and maybe take the next step in January.
Keywords: San Diego Chargers
