The Los Angeles Chargers are set to take seven new players. What’s their pre-draft record prediction? The Bolt Beat staff takes a swing at it…
The Chargers have a number of holes to fill in the upcoming draft, and the decisions of the organization this weekend will greatly affect their record in 2019. Add a few players at key positions, and the Chargers can have an even higher win total than last season; ignore those roster holes, and potentially lose more games. The Bolt Beat staff took a crack at some pre-draft record predictions, judging the team purely on the roster they have now. Here’s what they think!
Travis Wakeman: 12-4
Losses: @CHI, @OAK, @DEN, @KC
It’s difficult to guesstimate these things before the draft, but I think the Chargers received a good draw in terms of the schedule. In fact, I predict they get off to a 7-0 start and after their first loss of the season to the Bears, the Chargers defeat the Packers for the first time in over 30 years.
All of the team’s other losses come within the division. I see the Raiders getting an upset on a Thursday night, a short week after a hard-fought with over Green Bay. The division comes down to the last game of the season against the Chiefs, but the Bolts easily get into the playoffs after a solid season.
Collin Larsen: 11-5 Losses: @CHI, vs IND, vs GB, vs DEN, vs KC
The Chargers going into the new season will have a strong season and will be vying for the division title again this year. Losses this year are going to come from match ups that have strong quarterbacks involved and also teams will strong defensive units. Match ups against Chicago and Green Bay are going to tough as Kahil Mack and company and a recreated pass run for the Packers is going to create problems for the Chargers as their offensive line is suspect heading towards the draft. There is also a game in the form of the Broncos which is also a tough match up every year, and this year will be no different as they will split the season series between one another.
Tyler Gallagher: 11-5
Losses: vs HOU, @TEN, @CHI, @Min, @KC
The Houston Texans have strengths where the Chargers have weaknesses; they should have a fairly strong running game coupled with a good pass rush. The same is true of the Tennessee Titans that pushed the Chargers to the limit last year. The Chicago Bears at Soldier Field is a tough draw for the Bolts. The Minnesota Vikings underwhelmed a bit last year but expect that to change with a healthy Dalvin Cook. The Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs are the top of the AFC, and I expect them to split their games again this year. Some of these losses are based largely on mismatches due to the Bolts’ weakness in the trenches, and a strong draft showing by Tom Telesco could be enough to flip some of these games in the Chargers’ direction.