The Chargers face disrespect with a 9.5 win total for the 2025 season. Can they overcome the odds and a brutal 70,000-mile travel schedule to win the AFC West?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
Just one season after an 11-6 finish and a Wild Card berth, the Los Angeles Chargers are already being counted out. As of Friday, Las Vegas has set the team's 2025 win total at a modest 9.5, the lowest in the AFC West. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, it's a clear message: the path forward will be an uphill battle, and respect will have to be earned all over again.
The Chargers are set to travel over 70,000 miles during the 2025 NFL season, the most in the league.
Let's be clear: a 9.5 win total feels like a slap in the face. This is a team that went 11-6 last year, handling business as a favorite (11-2) and showing they belonged in the postseason. Yet, the oddsmakers have them at -105 to hit the over and a distant +2600 to win the Super Bowl. The Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, and Las Vegas Raiders are all projected to have better seasons. It seems last year's playoff appearance wasn't enough to convince the experts, setting the stage for a season-long 'prove them wrong' tour.
Adding to the challenge is a travel schedule that can only be described as brutal. The Chargers will log over 70,000 air miles this season, tied with the Rams for the most in the NFL. This isn't just a few extra cross-country trips; it includes international games in both Brazil and London. Managing player fatigue, practice schedules, and body clocks will be a monumental logistical task for the coaching and training staff. Overcoming this travel gauntlet will be just as important as any on-field matchup.
Perhaps sensing the need for extra motivation, the Chargers announced a new initiative on Friday: 'accomplishment patches' on practice jerseys. These patches will be awarded for standout plays, leadership, and hustle during practice. It's a savvy move aimed at fostering a culture of daily competition and rewarding the grind. In a season where external validation is low and the physical toll will be high, creating internal incentives is a key strategy to keep the team sharp and focused.
To defy the odds, the Chargers need to be healthy, and that's already a concern. The team is staying quiet on the status of cornerback Eric Rogers (undisclosed) and offensive guard Branson Taylor (knee), whose availability remains a mystery. More critically, the secondary is banged up heading toward a Week 1 showdown with the Chiefs. Cornerbacks Ja'Sir Taylor (ribs) and Elijah Molden (knee) are both questionable. Facing Patrick Mahomes with a depleted defensive backfield is a nightmare scenario, making these injury reports crucial to watch in the coming weeks.
The road ahead is undeniably tough. The Chargers face the longest travel schedule in the league, mounting injury questions in key positions, and oddsmakers who are already counting them out. But inside the building, a different story is being written. With new incentives like accomplishment patches, the focus is on forging a tough, competitive identity. The question now is whether that internal fire can overcome the external pressures. All eyes will be on training camp to see if this team has the health and the grit to prove the doubters wrong and make another playoff push.
