Chargers 2018-2019 Season Prediction/Keys to Super Bowl LIII, 9.5.18
I’m going to get straight to the point, the San Diego/Los Angeles Super Chargers will win Super Bowl LIII. I want to be short and sweet, so here are a few keys to our season.
Keys to Super Bowl LII
1. Stay Healthy
a. Chargers had 15 players on IR in 2014, 9 players on IR in 2015, and a league-high 27 players on IR in 2016. This is of course not including injuries for players who missed consecutive games here and there without being placed on IR. We need to stay healthy. In 2017, we had 11 players on IR, but few were starters or second-string. We went 9-7, losing the first 3 of the first 4 games within one score. I believe our team is one of the best, if not the best, in the league when we are healthy.
2. Take care of the football
a. Granted, we had many injuries, Philip Rivers has taken care of the ball this past year. He had 18, 13, and 21 INTs in 2014, 2015, and 2016 respectively. Last year he had only 10 INTs with 6 of them coming from our two games against KC. Phil looked sharp last year, and when he has players to throw to, and a decent offensive line, he will take care of the ball. No doubt about it. I believe a lot of his interceptions during the years we were injury-plagued came to him trying to make a play. He’s a gunslinger and NFL defenses know it. If he can take care of the ball this year, expect us to have a good chance at playing football in January and beyond.
3. Aggressive/Assertive play calling
a. Coach Lynn is the man. I love Coach Gus, and Coach Wiz. I hope to see them all be a bit gutsier this year. We have the players for big chunk plays and we have defensive play makers that can make a difference on the other side of the ball. I want to see Phil let loose and see more man coverage.
4. Better special teams play
a. I’m talking specifically about our kicking game. Had we made one more field goal last year, we would’ve been in the playoffs. Last year we kicked a league-low of 66.7% on field goals. The kicking game has been almost like an Achilles heel of some sort for our team, dating back to Nate Kaeding missing FG’s in the playoffs. I hope Caleb can bring some (positive) consistency to our kicking game this year. If so, we’ll be good to go.
5. Improve on run defense
a. We have a phenomenal secondary with Casey, Jason, Trevor, and Desmond. We have the best pass rushing tandem in the league with Melvin and Joey. We don’t have a great run defense. We allowed 131 opponent rush yards per game last year. That number needs to improve greatly if we want to increase our chances in winning games this year.
The Three Monkeys
Ever heard of the saying getting the monkey off your back? To finally solve a difficult or long-existing problem? There are three monkeys we need to get off our back this year.
1. Beating the Kansas City Chiefs
a. We haven’t beat the Chiefs since December 29th of 2013. That is 4 whole years. We almost had them in the opener of 2016 season where we were up 17 heading into the 4th, but couldn’t get it done. In order for our season to be as special as we want it to be, we have to be Kansas City at least once this year. I’m hoping it’s opening day at the hub.
2. Making the playoffs
a. We came close last year and were excluded due to tie-breaker rules, but the Chargers have not seen January football since 2013 when they clinched a wildcard berth and ended up losing to Denver in the Divisional round after beating Cincinnati in the Wildcard. It’d be nice to be back the mix of things, hopeful for a Lombardi in February.
3. Winning the Super Bowl
a. Phil’s first. The organizations first. My first as a fan. We gotta shut the naysayers up once and for all. Phil has been overlooked his whole career and people are debating whether or not he’s Canton-bound. That’s wild to me, he’s top 10 in every major statistical category and people are saying he needs an SB ring to go to the Hall? Crazy talk! Phil is HOF ring or not, but I would love to see him win a ring. I believe he will put the pieces together this year and do so.
Predictions
Record prediction: 13-3
NFL MVP: Philip Rivers
Super Bowl LIII MVP: Philip Rivers
San Diego Super Chargers the Super Bowl LIII Champions
Debate me in the comments, lol.