During July, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be analyzing the schedules of every team in the NFL and ranking each game in order of difficulty (with one being the most difficult). This series will be split up into the eight most difficult games (ranked 1-8) and the eight easiest games (ranked 9-16) for each team. In this article, the San Diego Chargers easiest games are the focus.
San Diego Chargers Easiest Games in 2016
9. Week 3 at Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts had a rough 2015 season. However, they still nearly won their division and made the playoffs. Indianapolis is one of three teams from the AFC South that is listed in the Chargers easier games. The AFC West plays the AFC South and this could help the Chargers get some a much needed victory. The Colts will not be an easy game for San Diego though, especially with a healthy Andrew Luck on the field.
10. Week 4 vs. New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees will face his former team in this week four match-up. This will be a fun quarterback duel between Philip Rivers and Drew Brees. Rivers will face off against the quarterback he replaced in San Diego. These two passers have become two of the top quarterbacks in the league over the last decade. They should put on quite a game for that Sunday afternoon game on October second..
11. Week 7 at Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons could be a tricky team to actually project how they will be in 2016. They started out winning 5 straight games in 2015 but limped to an 8-8 record. As long as Matt Ryan has Julio Jones to throw to they will always have a deep threat target. It’s been a while since the Falcons have played the Chargers, the last time these two teams faced off was in 2012. The Chargers lost that game 27-3 but did limit Jones to only 5 receptions for 67 yards and one touchdown. It wasn’t his greatest statistical game and containing him might be all San Diego can ask for
12. Week 10 vs. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are another team that seem tough to actually predict how they will be. On paper they seem like a pretty solid team but they always seem to flirt with a .500 record. They just signed Arian Foster to help their run game and have solid receivers. They signed Ndamukong Suh to help booster their defense in the 2015 off-season but let go of Olivier Vernon in the 2016 off-season.
13. Week 13 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay is a team on the rise. Jameis Winston showed a lot of promise in 2015 and the Buccaneers hope to capitalize on his success in 2016. Doug Martin had a great season rushing for 1,402 yards in 2015. He can also be used as a receiving back as he caught 33 passes as well. Mike Evans has showed promise but also can be a question mark at times. He finished with 1,206 receiving yards but also led the league in drops with 11. Evans also only had three touchdowns which is pretty low for that many yards.
14. Week 2 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars bring one of the most explosive and high powered offenses in the league to San Diego in week two. However, they also bring in a defense that has problems stopping anybody. This could end up being quite the game to watch though as Philip Rivers faces off against Blake Bortles. It’s one of those match-ups that pits an experienced veteran against a new up and comer star.
15. Week 16 vs Cleveland Browns
Cleveland has been a running joke for quite a while now. They signed Robert Griffin III this off-season and were recently informed that one of the most exciting receivers in the NFL back from suspension. Josh Gordon and Griffin III played together at Baylor in college. Cleveland also drafted another receiver out of Baylor in Corey Coleman. Coleman wasn’t there when Griffin III was but they could still very well have chemistry and things could be finally looking bright Cleveland’s way.
16. Week 9 vs Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans had the second overall pick in 2015 NFL draft. They used that draft pick on Marcus Mariota from Oregon. The following draft in 2016 they had the first overall pick but traded it to the Los Angeles Rams. They might eventually start turning things around but as of right now they appear to be the easiest team on the Chargers schedule.
Be sure and check out the eight most difficult games on the Chargers schedule.
