2008 Figures: Overall record: 8-8. ATS: 7-9. O/U: 8-7-1
2008 Rankings: Scoring offense: 27.44 (No. 2) Scoring Defense: 21.69 (No. 15)
2008 Inside the Numbers: The Chargers only defeated one playoff team in 2008, the Indianapolis Colts, in the playoffs 23-17 as a 1.5-point dog.
2009 Super Bowl Odds: +1400

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Offense: As the health of LaDainian Tomlinson decreases and the confidence in Phillip Rivers increases the shift from power running to passing has tilted to match. Last season the balance of offensive attack began to look a lot less like “Marty-Ball” as the Chargers finished seventh in the league with 241.3 yards per game passing while slipping to 20th in rushing, barely bettering 100-ypg (107.8).

Coupled with the struggles of Hall of Fame-bound Tomlinson was an injury-riddled season for Rivers favorite target, TE Antonio Gates. While Gates still led the team in receptions (60) and receiving touchdowns (eight) there was an emergence of a downfield threat, and potential new go-to guy in Vincent Jackson. Jackson, a 6-foot-5 230-pound leaper rolled up 1,098 yard and seven touchdowns on 59 catches. The ability to lean on the trio of Chris Chambers, Jackson, and Gates may help to slow the slope in production of Tomlinson. Either way the offense goes points should be easy to come by once again for the Charger as the schedule still includes six games inside the very weak AFC West.

Defense: The Chargers defense was not anything special for most of the 2008 season. The loss of Shawn Merriman to injury and an underperforming Ted Cottrell defense lead to a change in the middle of last season and optimism heading into 2009. Ron Rivera is in his first full season in San Diego. The 3-4 defense will be in full force, and Merriman has been back on the field working hard for the season. The Chargers will lean on DT Jamal Williams to take up blockers and free up the linebackers – who should be the strength of this unit. With Merriman back and an emerging superstar in Shaun Phillips on the other side, the OLBs are set. In the NFL Draft the Chargers took Larry English from Northern Illinois and could be grooming him as Merriman’s replacement, but his intensity and physical play could have him see time on the inside in his rookie campaign.

Overall: The Chargers are the vastly superior team in the AFC West and winning this division should still be a given in 2009. Whether or not they become a better bet for NFL handicappers than their 7-9 mark ATS in 2008 is yet to be seen. However, with Tomlinson having time to recover from injury, a passing efficient quarterback, and a defense that simply won’t be No. 31 in passing yards allowed in 2009, things point to a team to go to the window with.

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Look for an 11-win season and a trip to the playoffs. Depending on the defense coming together a Super Bowl run is not out of the question.