San Diego Chargers  Odds, Lines & Betting

Location: San Diego, California
Stadium: Qualcomm Stadium
Coach: Marty Scottenheimer
NFL Championships: None

Chargers Team Info : In their inaugural season the Chargers franchise played in Los Angeles as members of the American Football League where they remained until the merger leading into the 1970 season. The team was originally owned by Barron Hilton (grandfather of celebrity recording artist Paris Hilton). Through the 1960s the Chargers were coached by Sid Gillman, a football innovator whose vision was to stretch the field with long passing plays. This plan worked perfectly with Hall of Fame receiver Lance ‘Bambi’ Alworth hauling in long passes and quarterback John Hadl delivering them. The Chargers won the AFL Championship in 1963 defeating the Boston Patriots 51-10.

After joining the NFL after the merger in 1969, the Chargers failed to reach the .500 mark until they went 7-7 in 1977. In 1978 Don ‘Air’ Coryell became the new Chargers head coach and he would begin to assemble one of the greatest passing attacks in NFL history guided by quarterback Dan Fouts. Fouts delivered immaculate touch on his passes and he had a talented group to throw to including tight end Kellen Winslow and receivers Charlie Joiner, John Jefferson and Wes Chandler. The Chargers went to the playoffs four consecutive between the years 1979-82 – they won their division three of these seasons – but never got to the Super Bowl.

It took another decade for the Bolts to make it to the playoffs again, when they beat the Kansas City Chiefs 17-0 keyed by a 54-yard touchdown run by Marion Butts. In 1994 San Diego had what many considered a Cinderella season by winning the AFC West, beating Miami and then Pittsburgh en route to a game against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX. Despite the efforts of outstanding linebacker Junior Seau and defensive lineman Leslie O’Neal the Chargers were beat 49-26 when ‘Niners quarterback Steve Young threw six touchdowns (three to Jerry Rice).

2006 was a great season for a franchise desperately needing one. Unfortunately for the Chargers, it was led my a man named Marty Schottenheimer, who is great at planning for regular season games, but is absolutely clueless in the playoffs. His bumbling cost the Chargers when the Patriots came to visit the AFC regular-season best record-holder and beat San Diego on their home turf in an AFC Divisional Playoff game. That made two home playoff losses for the Chargers with Marty at the helm, and even though he had led the team to a 14-win season with a new quarterback (Philip Rivers), management finally realized that they would never win anything of importance with him as a coach and he was fired in the 2007 offseason.

Unfortunately for Chargers fans, the front office of the organization pulled a huge blunder as well by not deciding to jettison Marty right after the playoff loss. Their indecision led directly to the losses of both their offensive and defensive coordinators to head coaching positions elsewhere. Now, the Chargers enter the 2007 NFL season with new heads at the top three coaching positions. It will be an interesting season, watching to see if new coach Norv Turner can get this great offense and spectacular defense back into the playoffs and add a postseason victory or three. A great offensive coordinator in his own right, Turner’s resume is a perfect example of the Peter Principal and suggests he leaves much to be desired as the top man.

Official Team Site: Chargers.com

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