Expectations for the Los Angeles Chargers‘ first season under Jim Harbaugh were sky-high. Finishing the season 11-6 validated those feelings, only to have them dashed against the rocks against the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round of the 2024 playoffs.
While there is plenty of work to be done, the enthusiasm still abounds in Charger-land. But for a fanbase so desperate to make it to a Super Bowl, after years of toiling in bad coaches, bad breaks, and missed opportunities, high expectations are no longer acceptable.
It is for those beleaguered fans that I give Bucky Brooks of NFL.com. In his recent column, he listed eight teams with the biggest Super Bowl window, including your Los Angeles Chargers.
Los Angeles Chargers Top 6 Super Bowl Window
In Jim Harbaugh’s debut campaign with the franchise, the Chargers won 11 games and earned a playoff berth. Over the next few seasons, the Bolts should take a quantum leap as the former NFL quarterback continues to put his stamp on the program,” Mr. Brooks writes. “The Chargers’ commitment to old-school football enabled them to win with limited star power in 2024. If they can boost the roster further, they should have even more success in 2025.”
Mr. Brooks acknowledges that the Chargers have work to do to get the offense humming with, as he puts it; “adding a WR1/WR2 to complement Ladd McConkey,” and “have to figure out how to replace J.K. Dobbins.”
“..provided they can build up a more explosive aerial attack around a rugged rushing attack, the Chargers should have more answers to the aggressive tactics used to stymie their throwback offense.”
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On the other side of the ball, Mr. Brooks writes, “The Chargers will have to weigh the futures of both pass rushers while adding the next collection of disruptors at the point of attack. In the back end, the team must revamp a unit that could lose Asante Samuel Jr., Elijah Molden, and Kristian Fulton to free agency. If the Chargers can address those needs with more blue-chip talent, Harbaugh could help his team climb in the AFC West and emerge as a force to be reckoned with in the conference.”
Regardless of how much and what kind of work the team needs, Vegas doesn’t put them in the same echelon of NFL teams. Per BetOnline.ag, the Chargers are 11th in betting odds, sitting at +2800, tied with the Houston Texans. They are fifth in the AFC in betting odds, behind the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and Cincinnati Bengals.
Mr. Brooks listed the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Chiefs, Ravens, and Green Bay Packers, ahead of LA followed by the Washington Commanders and Texans