Early breakdown of the 2011 Chargers schedule

The 2011 schedule was released yesterday afternoon and there is a lot of buzz for all of the fans. There may not even be a season because of the stupid lockout, but it is still fun to think of the possibilities.

Because of the lockout and since the draft has not occurred yet, we don’t even know what players will be on what team. We will just have to project what may happen in the off-season and breakdown this 2011 Chargers schedule.

Week 1: Sunday Sept. 11 vs. Minnesota VikingsOur NFL season will start on the 10 year anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. We will open it up against the Vikings and they don’t even know who will be under center when the season starts. Brett Favre is “retired” (should be for real this time) and there are a lot of rumors that link the Vikes with Donovan McNabb. The last time we played against the Vikings, Adrian Peterson ran like a mad man on our rush defense and set an NFL record 296-rushing yards.

All the uncertainty with the quarterback (leader of the football team) will be an advantage for us and we should be able to start the season on the right foot with a victory.

Record: 1-0

Week 2: Sunday Sept. 18 @ New England PatriotsThis is our measuring stick and we will get an early season test against girl-haired Tom Brady and crew. We will need to get over our early season slumber if we plan on beating the Pats. They will be prepared for that game and we most likely will not be.

Record: 1-1

Week 3: Sunday Sept. 25 vs. Kansas City ChiefsOur first crack at the defending AFC West Champions! We want revenge and we want the title back. Our defense better be prepared for Jamaal Charles and that rushing attack, but I still don’t think that Matt Cassel is a quarterback that should beat us.

Record: 2-1

Week 4: Sunday Oct. 2 vs. Miami DolphinsThird home game in four weeks. Ronnie Brown may not be part of this offense anymore and we probably will be facing against Ricky Williams and company. Who will be the quarterback for this team when we get there? Either way, we should be looking at our 3rd win of the season.

Record: 3-1

Week 5: Sunday Oct. 9 @ Denver BroncosOur first look at Tim Tebow and the Donkies this season. They have a new coach and will be running a new defense. We will be looking to head into the BYE week with a victory. We should be leaving town with another victory

Record: 4-1

Week 6: BYE

Week 7: Sunday Oct. 23 @ New York JetsLT will be HYPED for this game for sure and will try to stick it to his former team. Antonio Cromartie (if he is still there) will also be looking to pick off Philip a couple of times. We should be running big Mike Tolbert in Cro’s direction the whole game. We know that he doesn’t want to try and make that tackle.

We are coming off the BYE week, but this is a long plane ride for the Bolts and LT will be playing inspired ball.

Record: 4-2

Week 8: Monday Oct. 31 @ Kansas City Chiefs (MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL)The rematch on Halloween! At least we are not in Oakland for that costume town and those bunch of goons, BUT this is still Arrowhead and their cast of characters. The last time we played in KC, it was rainy and windy and the special teams was letting everyone run by them. We will be much more prepared this time and we want that AFC West Championship back.

Record: 5-2

Week 9: Sunday Nov. 6 vs. Green Bay PackersBy this time of the season, people will be HYPING this game up as a potential Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers vs Philip Rivers. What an epic battle it will be in Qualcomm and it will be a high-flying affair between the two teams. The Chargers want to prove that they are contenders and we have home-field advantage (we better fill that stadium up and keep those cheese heads out!).

Record: 6-2

Week 10: Thursday Nov. 10 vs Oakland Raiders (THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL)10 weeks into the NFL season and this will be the first time that we see the Raiders. It’s going to be a tough, physical game and it probably will be UGLY football. They swept us last year, but this is a new year and Al Davis is pushing all the wrong buttons again.

Record: 7-2

Week 11: Sunday Nov. 20 @ Chicago BearsPhilip gets to play against his best friend Jay Cutler! He will yell at him from the sideline and the defense will make sure that he throws a bunch of interceptions to keep Philip smiling. We get a few extra days of preparation after the Thursday Night Football game and prepare well for the match-up in Chicago.

Record: 8-2

Week 12: Sunday Nov. 27 vs. Denver BroncosWho knows what the Broncos will be playing for at this time in the season, but it will be fun to see Tim Tebow in town trying to lead his team against us. The Broncos are still not prepared to compete with us yet… maybe next season.

Record: 9-2

Week 13: Monday Dec. 5 @ Jacksonville Jaguars (MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL)Why is this even a Monday Night Football game? Maurice Jones Drew is a STUD though and the Chargers can’t let their guard down against them. The Chargers just seemed due for a letdown and traveling out to Jacksonville is not easy.

Record: 9-3

Week 14: Sunday Dec. 11 vs. Buffalo BillsWill Shawne Merriman be healthy to return back to San Diego? Either way, the Bills do not have the talent on offense or defense to put up a fight against a team that is looking to secure a playoff spot.

Record: 10-3

Week 15: Sunday Dec 18 vs. Baltimore Ravens (SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL)It will be a potential playoff match-up and it will be another physical battle for the Chargers. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and the Raven defense will slow the offense enough to sneak out of San Diego with a victory.

Record: 10-4

Week 16: Saturday Dec 24 @ Detroit LionsFinishing up the season against a Lions team that is getting better every year. Ndamukong Suh will give our offensive line fits. Calvin Johnson will also be making big plays against the corners. We should leave town with a victory, but it will be closer than some think.

Record: 11-4

Week 17: Sunday Jan. 1 @ Oakland RaidersAnd we end the regular season out in Oakland. We should have the AFC West already wrapped up and the Raiders will be in meltdown mode by this time in the season. Their coaching staff will be half-way out the door and the receivers will be dropping passes. We win in blowout fashion in the new year and hope that our record is good enough for a first round BYE.

Record: 12-4

There you have it! It’s early and nobody even knows if we are having a season. We don’t even know what players will be on each roster, but I will put the prediction out there for 12 wins and a possible BYE in the first week of the playoffs.

How many wins do you predict?