Bolts From The Blue
The Chargers will have a much tougher schedule in 2025. Does that mean they could fall short of expectations?
The Chargers go from having one of the easiest schedules during the 2024 campaign to having one of the tougher slates in the league this upcoming campaign. They’re the only team in the league to begin the year with three consecutive divisional matchups and have one of the more difficult finishes to the season, facing four playoff games — as well as their other three AFC West matchups — within their final six games.
There is still plenty of time until the season arrives, meaning there’s a lot of time for things to continue changing with the Chargers (and around the NFL for that matter) but here’s our first take at predicting the team’s win-loss record based on the current moment.
I’ve taken this stance with the Chargers playing the Chiefs for several years now. Until the Chargers start, at minimum, splitting the series year after year, I can’t ever feel confident picking them to beat the Chiefs. Time and time again, they fail to make the necessary plays in the most critical moments to seize the game for themselves. Too often they allow Kansas City to end the game with the ball in their hands and until they can flip that script, this will continue to be a lopsided “rivalry.”
The Raiders added elite running back prospect Ashton Jeanty to their backfield and traded for a high-floor starting quarterback in veteran Geno Smith. That immediately makes this team much more competitive than they’ve been in recent years. Add in that All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers will likely be just as productive and you’ve got a real darkhorse in the AFC West. However, as good as the offense could be this year, the defense is still at a much worse place compared to the units for the Chiefs, Chargers, and Broncos.
I have the Raiders continuing to be in the basement of the division in 2025 until they can fix the other side of the ball.
I do not think the Chargers improve enough along the interior of both the offensive and defensive lines. Mekhi Becton was a great addition at right guard, but leaving the other two spots up for grabs — potentially by the incumbent starters from a year ago — is not how I would have handled the group this offseason. As for the other side of the ball, the Chargers opted to try and replace defensive tackle Poona Ford by signing two cheap deals in Naquan Jones and Da’Shawn Hand. They also drafted nose tackle Jamaree Caldwell in the third round.
Will all of these moves be enough to compete against other squads with strong trench play? I’m just not certain of that right now. I think...
