San Diego Chargers hoping to build on 2013 season: 2014 Win Total

Going into last season, it was the San Diego Chargers – not the Kansas City Chiefs – that were expected to give Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos the most trouble in the AFC West.

We all know how that turned out, with the Norv Turner-less Chargers going 9-7 (including a late season surge) and winning a playoff game. Phillip Rivers continues to be the key to the San Diego Chargers’ offensive success with his passing game ranking fourth last season, while the run game was a respectable 13th. A healthy Ryan Matthews and Keenan Allen will keep the Chargers flying high this season.

The biggest hole on the team was on the defensive side of the ball. Despite ranking 12th against the run, the team was only 29th against the pass. That’s why the team added first round cornerback Jason Verrett and second round linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu into the mix.

Going into this season, the Chargers face seven playoff teams with an overall schedule featuring opponents boasting a .563 winning percentage last year (the fourth hardest in the league). Also, the Chargers play two sets of back-to-back road games.

Oddsmakers have the Chargers at 8 for o/u wins, which oddly enough is the same total of the Kansas City Chiefs. While common sense would suggest there aren’t that many wins in the division, the truth is the Chargers, Chiefs and Broncos were all over .500 last year. That said, the over (-120) offers a decent payout on what appears to be a good team.