Closer look at San Diego Chargers’ 2009 schedule
San Diego, the defending AFC West champion, has opened as one of the top-five favorites on WagerWeb.com to win Super Bowl XLIV at +1000.
And why not, since the Chargers will get back All-Pro linebacker Shawne Merriman in 2009 after he basically missed all off 2008 with an injury. Certainly betting on the Bolts in Week 1 is a safe bet, since San Diego has beaten Oakland 11 times in a row.
Three of the Chargers’ first five games are in prime time, and they play on Christmas for the first time. The ending stretch could be tough, as three of the team’s final five games are on the road.
San Diego has the NFL’s 17th strongest schedule in 2009 as rated by opponents’ winning percentage. The Chargers play four defending division winners, three of the four teams that were in conference championship games and road games at the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers (who beat the Chargers twice last year) and the teams that had the best two regular-season records in 2008.
If there is one benefit, the Chargers don’t face any teams coming off byes in 2009. Coach Norv Turner thought it was unfair his team had to face two teams off byes in 2008.
“One thing I start looking at to help decide about the (toughness of the) schedule,” Turner said, “is who are the teams playing the week before they play us, do they have a stretch that is tough, do they have a bye before they play us.”
CHARGERS’ 2009 SCHEDULE (all times Eastern)
Week 1: Mon, Sept. 14 at Oakland Raiders ESPN 10:15 p.m.
Week 2: Sun, Sept. 20 vs. Baltimore Ravens CBS 4:15 p.m.
Week 3: Sun, Sept. 27 vs. Miami Dolphins CBS 4:15 p.m.
Week 4: Sun, Oct. 4 at Pittsburgh Steelers NBC 8:20 p.m.
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: Mon, Oct. 19 vs. Denver Broncos ESPN 8:30 p.m.
Week 7: Sun, Oct. 25 at Kansas City Chiefs CBS 1 p.m.
Week 8: Sun, Nov. 1 vs. Oakland Raiders CBS 4:05 p.m.
Week 9: Sun, Nov. 8 at New York Giants CBS 4:15 p.m.
Week 10: Sun, Nov. 15 vs. Philadelphia Eagles FOX 4:15 p.m.
Week 11: Sun, Nov. 22 at Denver Broncos CBS 4:15 p.m.
Week 12: Sun, Nov. 29 vs. Kansas City Chiefs CBS 4:05 p.m.
Week 13: Sun, Dec. 6 at Cleveland Browns CBS 4:05 p.m.
Week 14: Sun, Dec. 13 at Dallas Cowboys CBS 4:15 p.m.
Week 15: Sun, Dec. 20 vs. Cincinnati Bengals CBS 4:05 p.m.
Week 16: Fri, Dec. 25 at Tennessee Titans NFLN 7:30 p.m.
Week 17: Sun, Jan. 3 vs. Washington Redskins FOX 4:15 p.m.
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