Chargers: No Defense, No Comeback - The Trend Continues

The Chargers continue the trend that has been the theme for the 2008 season with their game against New Orleans in London.

The Charger defense is ranked as one of the worst in the NFL and displayed why this past weekend.  Drew Brees was able to move the Saints whenever they needed to march down the field to keep the game out of reach for the Chargers for the entire game.  Then the Chargers had a final possession and if they were able to score a touchdown would have emerged victorious...instead, for the second week in a row, Phillip Rivers - who has played very well so far this season - threw an interception on the final drive and the game was over.

The Charger defense has had absolutely no pressure on opponents' quarterbacks...they can easily drop back and have plenty of time to survey the field and pick apart a Charger secondary that is routinely in poor position.  This Charger team defense reminds me of the Charger defense of the late 90's when they set an NFL record for consecutive games without allowing a 100 yard rusher...but their record was (approximately) 6-74 over that 5 year span because the reason no team rushed for 100 yards on the Chargers is because they didn't need too....they could easily pass for 500 yards on the Bolts and that is becoming the theme of this defense for the 2008-09 campaign.

Many of the Charger faithful are just pointing to the weak AFC West and that the Chargers are still in the running to win the AFC West and get a playoff berth and then, with a team as 'talented' as the Chargers, would have the opportunity to redeem themselves for a shoddy regular season....and boy would I love to be drinking that Kool-Aid...but that is not what I see.  Many think that 9-7 could win the AFC West...well, here's my 'breakdown' for the rest of the schedule for the Chargers after this week's bye week:

W -Kansas City - They should win this game against a bad Chiefs game and fresh off their bye.

L - at Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh's defense will demonstrate how important a respectable defense is.

L - Indianapolis - Actually this could be a coin-flip because the Chargers have had success against the Colts the past few years...but I really don't see how Peyton Manning wouldn't be able to shred this defense.

L - Atlanta - Micheal Turner returns to San Diego...he likely won't need to factor in but Roddy White and Matt Ryan will torch the inept secondary of the Chargers.

W - Oakland - Chargers win against a team that barely qualifies as an NFL team these days.

L - at Kansas City - Chargers can't win on the road regardless of how bad a team is.  Chiefs prove this.

L - at Tampa Bay - Tampa has a solid defense and a possession control offense.  They should methodically beat the Chargers the entire game.

W - Denver - The Chargers pride up for their season finale against Denver.  After getting screwed by Ed Hochuli in their first match up the Chargers, likely playing for nothing but pride end the season on a positive by beating the Broncos, who likely will be AFC West champs and looking ahead to the playoffs.

So I have the Chargers at 6-10 for the season and obviously out of the playoffs.  My 'picking' skills are pretty shitty and I hope that I am wrong... It certainly would at least turn into an entertaining season if the Chargers could enter the playoff picture...