Oakland Raiders: Predicting How The AFC West Plays Out This Season

4. San Diego Chargers

Injuries were probably the biggest problem for the Chargers last season – a year in which the team went 4-12. There was a rash of injuries along the offensive line and top receiver Keenan Allen went down with a lacerated kidney.

But not even the rash of injuries could entirely explain away all of the miseries the Chargers suffered in 2015. There was the inconsistent play of San Diego’s linebackers. The inexplicable decline in play from cornerback Brandon Flowers. And of course, the lack of production from highly touted rookie running back Melvin Gordon.

The Chargers had the league’s ninth ranked offense in terms of yardage gained at a tick under 372 yards per game. The problem though, was when it came to sealing the deal as the Chargers’ offense was only the 26^th best when it came to scoring offense with just 20 points per game.

Add an offense without a scoring punch to a defense that was only the 20^th best in the league and gave up the 21^st most points, and it’s easy to see why the Chargers finished 2015 with a disappointing record of 4-12.

They just couldn’t seem to score or stop anybody else from scoring – other than that, they were great.

This offseason, they brought in Travis Benjamin after he exploded in 2015 with 966 yards on 68 receptions and five scores. They also drafted the heir apparent to Antonio Gates in Hunter Henry. The hope is obviously to add a little more scoring punch, but the question is – how much can they really add?

If Gordon doesn’t improve in his second season, San Diego’s ground game will again be dead in the water as teams will be able to tee off on Philip Rivers and his receivers.

On the defensive side of the ball, Joey Bosa figures to help improve the Chagers’ pass rush, but the linebackers group remains inconsistent and prone to giving up big chunks of yardage. And though Jason Verrett is solid on one corner, if Flowers can’t find his way back to the form that led San Diego to sign him in the first place, San Diego will again be in trouble.

And let’s not forget that the Chargers lost a big piece in the middle of their defensive backfield after the team’s divorce with arguably, the heart and soul of that defense – Eric Weddle.

Even if the team manages to stay healthy this year, there are still far too many question marks on both sides of the ball. San Diego is going to have a tough year.

Record: 6-10 (4^th in the AFC West)

Next: Crashing Back Down To Earth