San Diego Chargers 2009 NFL Picks & 2010 Super Bowl Betting Odds: The window is closing on a Superbowl championship for a San Diego Chargers team that has had arguably the most talented teams over the last 5 years. Plenty of core players on the Chargers are in the final year of their contracts, most notably franchise running back LaDanian Tomlinson. Norv Turner is on the hot seat again and will be fired if his team does not make it to the AFC championship game. The Chargers will once again win the soft AFC West but will underachieve and make a quick exit from the playoffs. San Diego Chargers 2009 NFL Picks & 2010 Super Bowl Betting Odds to win the Superbowl has them listed at 12-1 odds at Sportsbetting.com.

Chargers QB Phillip Rivers has emerged as a top-10 NFL QB that makes the Chargers dangerous through the air. Wideouts Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson and Chris Chambers all are premier targets for Rivers to shoot his darts at. Gates played hurt most of last season and could make this offense even more potent now that he is healthy. Turner would like to lean more on the running game this season with a healthy LaDainian Tomlinson and speedy backup RB Darren Sproles. Tomlinson may have hit the 30-year old running back wall, but with Sproles in the mix he can keep his legs fresh enough to play like an All-Pro in spurts. The O-Line is inconsistent but remains an above-average group thanks to All-Pro Guard Kris Dielman. Head coach Turner knows how to put points on the scoreboard with his talented offense if nothing else.

All-Pro OLB Shawn Merriman has a completely reconstructed knee and the defense was not the same without him last season. With Merriman on the sideline last season the Chargers pass defense was abused, ranking 31st in the NFL in pass D. If Merriman can even return to 80% of what he was he will be an All-Pro that makes an instant difference. As an insurance policy the Chargers drafted a blue-chip pass-rushing prospect in the 1st round with Larry English. ILB Stephen Cooper emerged as a quality all-around player in the middle and should benefit greatly from Merriman’s return.  Top coverman Antonio Cromartie went from a star to average Joe playing with a fractured hip all season. Was Cromartie’s 10 interception season in 07’ a fluke or did the hip injury torture him? On special teams the Chargers have lots of weapons to control field position with. The San Diego defense hinges around the play of road-grading NT Jamal Williams and OLB Shawn Merriman. Their performances will largely determine how stingy the defense is in 2009.