Los Angeles Chargers 2018-19 - NFL Season Preview & Future Odds Predictions

The Los Angeles Chargers are expected to be much improved in 2018 and a favorite to win the AFC West. Veteran quarterback Philip Rivers returns for another season but will be without future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates at tight end for the first time since 2003. The tough pass defense and poor defense against the run should be more balances in 2018 with use of the draft this past April. The Chargers missed the postseason by one game in 2017 have a good chance of making it this season.

The Chargers offense will revolve around the strong arm of Rivers and Keenan Allen his favorite target at wide receiver. Rivers in 2017 threw for 4,515 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

LA Chargers star Wide Receiver Allen is back to the form he had prior to missing the entire 2016 season as he reached the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2017. Allen caught 102 passes for 1,392 yards and six touchdowns. Chargers starting TE Hunter Henryis was set to replace future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates, but Hunter was lost for the season with an ACL tear during OTAs. Chargers turn to veteran Virgil Green who will take the tight end reins. Rivers will also be looking for more out of receivers Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin. Mike Williams a first round pick in 2017 is a wildcard for the team if he can remain healthy. The running game for the Chargers was 24th last season. Chargers have Melvin Gordon returning and signed free agent center Mike Pouncey to help block for him. Forrest Lamp returns at guard after sitting out last season with a knee injury.

The Chargers used their top four picks in the draft to shore up the defense. Drafted were safety Derwin James, rusher Uchenna Nwosu, tackle Justin Jones and linebacker Kyzir White. Although the 2017 defense had some top players in their positions, it finished in the middle of the pack in defensive rankings. Simply put, the defense excelled against the pass, but was nearly none-existent against the run.

Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram the team’s top pass rushers will be the heart of the defense. Bosa reached the Pro Bowl in his second season in 2017. He had 12.5 sacks, 70 tackles, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Corey Liuget is suspended for the first four games and will be missed in the middle of the line unit he returns.

The Chargers secondary is full of talent. Rookie James will be part of a group with Casey Hayward a Pro-Bowl cornerback with Jason Verrett at cornerback on the opposite side who is coming back from a season ending injury in 2017, while Desmond King will see action in special packages and started when Verrett was hurt the first game of last season.