Chargers 2009 Record Prediction and Analysis

Wondering how the San Diego Chargers will do this season? Here's a game by game prediction:




RECORD 14-2 & a Super Bowl Victory



Week 1 Mon. Sep. 14 @ Raiders 7:15 PM W


The Raiders will come out pumped up and probably try some desperate trick plays, but soon realize they're in for another season of dysfunction as their losing streak to the Chargers grows.

Week 2 Sun. Sep. 20 Ravens 1:15 PM W


This is a tough early game and will be close, but the Chargers use home field advantage and early season confidence to pull this one out. The Ravens may find out Ray Lewis is getting older and Joe Flacco is a bit overrated.

Week 3 Sun. Sep. 27 Dolphins 1:15 PM W


Teams are more prepared for the Wildcat this season, showing it for the flash in the pan NFL fad that it is. The Dolphins are tough and play hard, but don't have the talent of the Chargers.

Week 4 Sun. Oct. 4 @ Steelers 5:20 PM L


This should be an excellent early season reality check for San Diego, showing them that they may be good, but if they want to win the Super Bowl they're going to have to be great. Hopefully, this will be one of those losses that can be turned into a positive, challenging the team to work harder.

Week 5 Sun. Oct. 11 BYE


I'm not a fan of early bye's, but the Chargers will need it at this point after three consecutive tough, old-school style opponents in a row. Take a break. Hit the beach. Stay away from The Stingaree and women who are named after any kind of alcohol, and start salivating about crushing your woeful division "rivals."

Week 6 Mon. Oct. 19 Broncos 5:30 PM W


Ed Hochuli can't save you now. The Broncos are vying with the Raiders for the "Most Disastrous Off Season Ever" award. All they need to do to catch up is intra-squad choking drills. I'm sure many Broncos would line up to get at Brandon Marshall.

Week 7 Sun. Oct. 25 @ Chiefs 10:00 AM W


I know many folks are saying the Chiefs are the most dangerous opponent in the AFC West for San Diego, but with the state of the division, that's not saying much. They simply don't have the personnel on defense. I'm also not convinced that Matt Cassel can be as effective without "the genius" backing him up. What the Broncos and Chiefs haven't figured out yet is that just because someone worked with Bill Belichick, doesn't mean they are Bill Belichick. The guy who mixed paint for Leonardo Da Vinci probably couldn't paint worth a lick. The "genius by association" theory will prove to be false again this season.

Week 8 Sun. Nov. 1 Raiders 1:05 PM W


By this point in the season, Raiders fans will be wondering again if they can trade Al Davis. There will also be recriminations for releasing their only viable quarterback in Jeff Garcia, because he was too good and might create the dreaded "quarterback controversy." Hey, Tom Cable may even be on trial for felony assault. The good news for the Chargers? Billy Volek gets some valuable mid-season playing time as San Diego wins by 35.

Week 9 Sun. Nov. 08 @ Giants 1:15 PM L


Lest the Chargers get too cocky, here's another reality check for them in traveling to a tough, East Coast, NFC opponent. This should be a great test of the stolidness of San Diego's run defense as the Giants have the best offensive line in the league. Once again though, this loss comes at the perfect time, reminding the Chargers whose heads may be inflating with three consecutive victories over AFC West tomato cans, that the playoffs will be as tough as ever.

Week 10 Sun. Nov. 15 Eagles 1:15 PM W


The Eagles should be another tough opponent, but the Chargers will be up to the task on this one. McNab has a 50/50 chance of being injured by this point in the season the way things usually go for him. Could the Chargers see a starting Michael Vick? Let's hope so.

Week 11 Sun. Nov. 22 @ Broncos* 1:15 PM W


The "Mile-High Mystique" will have thoroughly lost its mojo by this point in the season.

Week 12 Sun. Nov. 29 Chiefs* 1:05 PM W


LaDanian Tomlinson shows he hasn't lost a step with a huge game at home against a weak defense. Doubters will be surprised to see him approaching 2006 MVP stats at this point in the season.

Week 13 Sun. Dec. 6 @ Browns* 1:05 PM W


This could be a "sleeper" game which the Chargers take too lightly after four consecutive wins, but I'm going to give Norv and the veteran leadership on this team the nod here in keeping this team focused to beat the rebuilding Browns.

Week 14 Sun. Dec. 13 @ Cowboys* 1:15 PM W


I don't think Dallas is as good as they think they are. Jerry Jones is kind of an "Al Davis-Lite" in getting too involved in football operations, when he isn't really a football professional. Tony Romo really hasn't proven himself to be much more than a flashy flash in the pan either. They will have a poor season. The blame will fall on Wade Phillips, who will be fired, instead of where it should be placed, with Jerry Jones. Good news for the Chargers? San Diego will be able to bring Phillips back as defensive coordinator after Ron Rivera accepts a head coaching job in 2010.

Week 15 Sun. Dec. 20 Bengals* 1:05 PM W


Anyone see the HBO reality training camp show "Hard Knocks"? Well, it featured the Bengals this season. They look like a tragedy waiting to happen.

Week 16 Fri. Dec. 25 @ Titans 4:30 PM W


This game will have playoff implications in terms of home-field advantage and a playoff atmosphere. The Titans will be much less scary without Albert Haynesworth. The Chargers will tee-off on a slow moving (if he isn't already injured) Kerry Collins.

Week 17 Sun. Jan. 3 Redskins* 1:15 PM W


San Diego's offensive line won't have to shed a tear that they missed Albert Haynesworth in Tennessee, as they will get to face his awesome and cheap shot-taking presence at home this week. The Redskins keep under performing because they don't have a strong quarterback. The main focus here will be getting the win to maintain home-field advantage over the Steelers and Patriots in the playoffs, but another big focus will be staying healthy. I wouldn't put it beyond Haynesworth to pull a late hit body slam or knee slam on LT, Rivers, or Gates (which he's done before) just for the pure joy of injuring someone (he's a real nice fellow).


If the Chargers go into the post-season with any of these three injured again, we must consider that we may have some sort of Chicago Cub-like voodoo curse on our city. The ghost of Jack Murphy (I want my stadium back)? The ghost of Gene Klein cursing the Spanoses for daring to consider moving his beloved team?


I'm one to believe in the reality of the law of averages over curses, so I'm predicting none of this will happen this season. San Diego will get a bye in the playoffs, then go on to beat the Steelers and Patriots at home, then take the Minessota Vikings in the Super Bowl.