San Diego Chargers Tickets

The San Diego Chargers got off to their typical slow start this season, and as per usual, there was no shortage of fans and pundits calling for head coach Norv Turner's job. It has become a yearly ritual.

The Chargers, of course, quickly turned things around and ran away with the AFC West division title on their way to the No. 2 seed in the AFC and a first round bye.

They come into the postseason as one of the NFL's hottest teams, and many pundits are jumping on the bandwagon and taking the Chargers to get to the Super Bowl.

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson isn't the unbelievable game-breaker that he used to be, but he is still plenty good enough to make San Diego the most balanced team in the playoffs.

The Chargers have a solid defense and are very balanced on the offensive side of the ball. They can run the ball or throw it, and have a number of playmakers all over the field. I'm glad I don't have to gameplan against their offense.

Quarterback Phillip Rivers has emerged into one of the elite players at his position. He often gets overlooked because he plays for a West Coast team and is the only top quarterback from his draft class not to win a Super Bowl yet. His lack of playoff success has drawn the ire of his critics, but it's only a matter of time until he gets his team to the big stage.

Rivers has one of the best tight end targets in the game in Antonio Gates, who has had an excellent season. He has also had the luxury of throwing up deep balls and letting his tall wide receivers go make a play. Wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd have both the size and speed to give opposing cornerbacks all kinds of problems.

Even the special teams units are above average for San Diego. They have one of the best punt and kick returners in the game in Darren Sproles and a nearly automatic field goal kicker in Nate Kaeding.

San Diego has another thing working for them, which is their recent success against the No. 1 seed Indianapolis Colts. The Chargers have been a thorn in the Colts' side in recent years and seem to have their number. They have beaten Indianapolis on the road in the playoffs before, so a showdown in the AFC championship game would not faze them.

Still, the fact that Turner is still their head coach and will be faced with pressure situations has to be a concern. He seems to always get conservative in crunch time, and it usually comes back to haunt the Chargers.

San Diego has the personnel to make a deep playoff run and even win the Super Bowl, but Turner is going to have to stay loose if they want to finally get that ring.