Los Angeles Chargers’ pre-draft record prediction by Bolt Beat staff

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 06: Melvin Ingram #54 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates after sacking Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter in the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 06, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 06: Melvin Ingram #54 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates after sacking Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter in the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 06, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 13: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers is tackled by Adrian Clayborn #94 of the New England Patriots during the fourth quater in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 13: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers is tackled by Adrian Clayborn #94 of the New England Patriots during the fourth quater in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Tyler Schoon: 11-5

Losses: vs IND, @DEN, vs PIT, vs KC, @KC

The Chargers have won just one opening week game under Tom Telesco, beating out the Detroit Lions in their home opener in 2015. The Colts will enter the game with a bull of a front line to push the Chargers around. If Telesco doesn’t address the defensive line effectively in this draft, they won’t win. The Denver loss comes as a result of the AFC West familiarity, in which the Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders, and Broncos all have shots to upset each other every year.

The Chargers will try their best to replicate their last result when playing the Steelers, but Mike Tomlin and his team, even without Antonio Brown, will be looking for revenge. Unfortunately, the Bolts have a high chance of losing both games to the Chiefs, and until more wins convince otherwise they will continue to do so this year. Since 2013, the Chargers have won just two games against Andy Reid.

Alexander Insdorf: 11-5 Losses: IND, @CHI, KC (Mexico), @DEN, PIT The Chargers should stay around where they were in 2018 when I look at their schedule. They will finish somewhere between 10-13 wins, it’s really just a matter of how often the ball bounces their way. 11-5 can still be a good enough record to win the division. Keep in mind the Chargers have the 16th ranked SOS in the league, while the Raiders, Broncos, and Chiefs are all top 5.

Getting into the games, I have them splitting the season series with Kansas City and Denver, as they did last year. Denver always seems to play the Chargers tough, and it’s just unlikely with all the firepower the Chiefs have on offense for the Chargers to sweep them. Pittsburgh was a close game last year on the road in primetime, and I expect it to be another close game in primetime again, this time with the Steelers eeking out a win. Indianapolis is one of my favorite teams in the AFC in terms of talent, and they only seem to be getting better on both sides of the ball. Finally, playing at Soldier field vs the Bears is an incredibly tough task as the Bears are a terrific home team, going 7-1 last year.