San Diego Chargers 2009 Season Preview, Picks & Odds

With the NFL Football season just around the corner, we are providing season previews for all 32 teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best NFL Football Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2009 season preview. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the NFL in our recommened sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2009 NFL Season Previews here.

San Diego Chargers 2008 NFL Record: 8-8 | San Diego Chargers ATS (Against The Spread): 7-8-1

Sitting at 4-8 with four weeks left to go in the season it certainly didn’t look like the Chargers would need to cancel any of their early January vacation plans. Injuries, last second losses and strange referee calls all slowed their season. However, a four game win streak, coupled with a three game losing by the Broncos somehow propelled the Chargers to the top of a terrible AFC West division and into the playoffs with an 8-8 record. Philip Rivers bloomed in the 2008 NFL season, developing into a 4,000 yard passer with a 65% completion percentage, while throwing just 11 interceptions compared to 34 touchdowns. Of course, it helps to have LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson, Chris Chamers and Darren Sproles on your team. The Chargers finished second in the league in points scored. The defense at times struggled at times with Shawne Merriman lost for the year, finishing 15 th in points allowed and 25 th in yards allowed.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 2009 PREVIEW

According to the 2009 San Diego Chargers Season Preview, this year is looking quite promising for the Chargers Fans. The Chargers are a good team who always makes the playoffs but just can’t make it to the Super Bowl, but they are hoping to make it there this year for the second time in franchise history. They are returning all of their offense from last year, which was a potent offense spread evenly between running and passing. Luckily for them their division is rebuilding, so they have a pretty clear path to win the division. They also get the leader of the linebackers back from missing last year in Shawne Merriman. Just in case Merriman is not quite 100 percent they used their first draft pick to get Larry English.

2009 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS OFFENSE:

The Chargers are going to once again have a very high powered attack in 2009. In truth the offense should outperform the 2008 team, which featured a frequently banged up LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates. In fact, Tomlinson looked utterly human last season, if that’s possible considering he still scored 12 touchdowns and accounted for over 1500 yards from scrimmage on the ground and through the air. Expect Darren Sproles to play a more prominent role in the offense after his breakthrough postseason performance, subbing in for the injured LT. If Sproles sees more carries through the regular season, Tomlinson should finally be able to have a healthy postseason, which the club desperately needs if they want to make a deep playoff push. Philip Rivers did more than hit his stride in 2008, he set a benchmark, and if he plays up to that caliber once again it will be hard to derail this dynamic offensive club.

2009 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS DEFENSE:

Chargers fans will be thrilled to see havoc wrecking Shawne Merriman back on the field for the entire season. With Merriman back in the lineup the Chargers will be able to get significantly more pressure on the defense, shoring up a defense that ranked 31 st in pass yards allowed last season. While the loss of defensive end Igor Olshansky shouldn’t be understated, the return of Merriman outweighs it. Coupled with linebacker Shaun Phillips and defensive end Luis Castillo, the Chargers will once again have a dangerous pass rush. Safeties Quentin Jammer and Eric Weddle anchor the defensive backfield and the cornerbacks will surely have an easier time of it this season with the pass rush ignited.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 2009 SEASON PREDICTIONS

We predict that the San Diego Chargers will finish 1st in the AFC West, with a record of 11-5.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS BETTING

Super Bowl Odds: +1000

AFC Conference Odds: +500

AFC West Odds: -450

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