San Diego Chargers Predicted To Stun Experts In 2016

The San Diego Chargers are surrounded by a lot of questions going into 2016, but hopes remain high that they can still compete.

Most of the concerns center around what fate await the franchise in regards to a new stadium. There is still a prevailing belief the organization can work out a deal to stay in San Diego despite the growing whispers that they are looking for new homes in other cities like Los Angeles and Las Vegas. All that is known for the moment is they aren’t going anywhere for this season. It’s progress, and allows the coaches and players to focus on the task at hand.

That task is improving on what was a disappointing year in 2015. After back-to-back winning seasons, they fell hard to earth with a 4-12 record. Injuries were a major part of that as the roster was riddled with them. Belief is that getting several key guys back healthy, along with some upgrades to key areas such as their pass rush that this is a team more than capable of hanging with the best in the AFC. It seems they have some believers in the media ready to make that leap.

NFL.com predicted that the Chargers would not only be better this year, but would upset the odds by stealing the division from the Broncos.

"“The AFC West sits as the deepest division entering 2016. It holds the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, wild-card winning Kansas City Chiefs and offseason darling Oakland Raiders. We could make a case for any of the three swiping the division and plowing deep into the playoffs. But on July 1, give me the biggest underdog: the San Diego Chargers.First off, the Chargers boast the best quarterback in the division — if you don’t believe Philip Rivers remains a top-tier signal-caller capable of carrying a team on his shoulders, please, do the world a favor and bake yourself into a pie.Sure, a lot of “ifs” are needed for a shift in fortune for San Diego. But if the offensive line stays healthy, if Melvin Gordon finally lives up to expectations, if Antonio Gates continues to stiff-arm father time, if Joey Bosa is a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate, if Melvin Ingram continues his upward trajectory and if Mike McCoy stays out of the way, the Chargers will win the West.San Diego lost eight games by seven points or fewer last year — three of those by three points — despite being decimated by injuries.”"

The AFC West is a crazy good division. Denver are the defending champions. Kansas City won a playoff game. Oakland went 7-9 and might be the most improved team in the NFL after the additions they made in the off-season. It’s little wonder the Chargers are doubted almost everywhere considering they went 0-6 against the division last year.

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That being said they still have a great quarterback. If he can just get some help, particularly from his pass protection which will have to contend with some great rushers like Von Miller, Khalil Mack and Justin Houston, anything is possible. Not to sound overly optimistic, but if the Chargers can indeed put together a winning season and make the playoffs, that might be just the fuel needed to convince San Diego to get a deal done on a new stadium.

They say winning can cure lots of ailments and there’s plenty of truth to it. Here’s hoping the Bolts can pull through to prevent another fan base from being heartbroken.

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