The Los Angeles Chargers went 9-8 last season and failed to make the postseason in head coach Brandon Staley’s first season. Los Angeles made some key moves in the offseason and will begin 2022 among the favorites to capture the AFC title and go to the Super Bowl.
The Chargers have one of the best young quarterbacks in the game in Justin Herbert and an offense that can score. L.A. finished fifth in the NFL in total offense (390.2 ypg) and fifth in scoring averaging 27.9 points per game last season. With some upgrades on defense, can the Chargers win a loaded AFC West?
Los Angeles Chargers Regular Season Win Total Betting Lines
OVER 10.5 (+110)
UNDER 10.5 (-140)
Last Season
The Chargers started the 2021 season 4-1 but then got blown out by Baltimore 34-6 and then lost to New England 27-24. The two losses started a string where L.A. lost six of ten games and cemented its place outside of the postseason.
The Chargers lost key games to AFC West rival Kansas City and then got upset by Houston in Week 16. Despite not making the playoffs, Herbert was outstanding. He threw for 5,014 yards and 38 touchdowns. Herbert had two 1,000-yard receivers: Mike Williams (1,146) and Keenan Allen (1,138).
Chargers Key Losses Heading Into 2022
The Chargers lost a couple of key players from last season. OT Bryan Bulaga and G Oday Aboushi are gone. TE Jared Cook and RB Justin Jackson both have new homes and some of the Chargers depth on defense has moved on.
The bulk of the Chargers offense and defense return in 2022 and that is why the Chargers are considered to be a favorite to not only make the playoffs, but to win the AFC.
2022 Los Angeles Chargers Team Preview
The Chargers went out and upgraded the offensive line. That will make it even better for leading rusher Austin Ekeler who ran for 911 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. Ekeler also had eight touchdown catches.
The defense is where the Chargers need to improve. They were 30 th against the run last year and 29 th in scoring. The Chargers allowed 27.0 points per game. That should change with Khalil Mack now opposite Joey Bosa on the defensive front. The Chargers also added All-Pro CB J.C. Jackson.
2022 Los Angeles Chargers Schedule
The most difficult part of the Chargers 2022 schedule is going to be dealing with the rest of the AFC West. The division is loaded and L.A. went 2-4 in the division last year.
The Chargers will face the AFC South which means games against Houston and Jacksonville. L.A. crosses over to face the NFC West, which is one of the tougher divisions with the Rams and 49ers. There are games with Miami at home and Atlanta on the road.
2022 Chargers Regular Season Win Total Prediction
The Chargers are expected to contend for division, conference, and Super Bowl titles. The offense is outstanding and the additions on defense are expected to make that unit one of the best in the NFL.
The rest of the AFC West is in the same boat. Even if the Chargers somehow manage to go 4-2 in the division, finding another seven wins is a tough task. Their final stretch of the season includes Tennessee and the Rams at home, at Indy on a Monday night, and at Denver in Week 18.
PICK: LOS ANGELES CHARGERS UNDER 10.5 (-140)
Read our 2022 Texans team preview and 2022 Bengals team preview.
