by - Los Angeles Chargers
Predicted record: 12-4
The Chargers are not just a playoff team but an actual threat to win it all. I do not believe their schedule is horrible but rather quite manageable.
With the talent they have on both sides of the ball there is a possibility that the AFC playoffs run through a soccer stadium that holds 30,000 fans.
Regardless the Dignity Health Sports Park (formerly known as the StubHub Center) might actually be filled with Chargers fans for once if that were the case.
Instead of taking jabs at their lack of a fan base, I want to point out how the roster has been built well in the last several years. Now the quarterback position is one that has not changed in many years because Phillip Rivers continues to put up good numbers, shows why he is a leader and is just so competitive.
The two guys Rivers gets judged against are Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger because of being from the same draft class in 2003. Rivers is the only one without a Super Bowl ring but I would argue that he has more left in the tank than his fellow counterparts.
He had 32 touchdowns in 2018 and for a sixth straight year he passed for over 4,000 yards. His passer rating of 105.5 was also his highest since 2013. The 37-year-old Rivers still has game and I expect to see similar stats once again.
Rivers has a great target in Keenan Allen who has a case to be considered a top five wide receiver in the league. Mike Williams is another nice piece and getting tight end Hunter Henry back from injury will help drastically.
Melvin Gordon is an outstanding running back but the man wants paid. It was reported that his agent requested a trade but the Chargers are not interested in letting him go.
That will be an interesting developing story to follow but I believe both parties will come to an agreement soon on the contract. If Gordon is back, he will probably have another good season and the Chargers will have depth in the backfield.
If Gordon leaves then Austin Ekeler will step up as the starter and he did some good things last season. I am also a big fan of Justin Jackson who showed glimpses of what he can do last year.
The Chargers defense can rush the passer and that is such an important factor in a team looking to win it all. Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram will once again lead the pass rush and those two are dangerous.
Rookie Jerry Tillery is also the newest addition to the front line inside with Brandon Mebane. Last year safety Derwin James showed the league he can play and I believe he will have another great year.
He can cover, tackle and even come up into the box and get physical. He is an outstanding part of the secondary with cornerback Casey Heyward.
The Chargers will have to battle with the Chiefs all year but I like their chances. They will win the division and also a head to head win over the Colts in week 1 could lead to the top seed in the playoffs.
