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| Chris Graythen / Getty Images |
| Philip Rivers, entering the final year of his contract, has led the Chargers to the playoffs three straight seasons. |
As part of NFL Network's 32 teams in 32 days series, airing daily on Total Access, NFL.com takes a look at a key question facing each NFL team.
NFL Network analysts Brian Baldinger and Jamie Dukes discuss the San Diego Chargers. Is the window closing on the Chargers to be Super Bowl contenders?
Read their takes and then enter the discussion below.
Baldinger: Window is closing I think the window is closing. The reason why it's closing is because all of the other teams in the AFC West have made changes during the offseason to catch San Diego.
All those teams have been picking high in recent years. Oakland has been picking in the top five, and look who they've been adding to the roster. They've been adding elite talent, and we'll soon find out if they 'll pan out. The Chiefs have been adding elite talent. The biggest thing the Chargers have to contend with right now is which guys they'll be able to keep. They've got five or six key players in the final year of their contracts, including Philip Rivers, Shawne Merriman, L.T., Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill. They've got some elite players, so it will be difficult to keep all of them. If you lose any of them, it's difficult. As we saw with Merriman last year, a team that had an elite defense and led the league in turnovers turned into a team that was awful on defense without him. I think this has to be the year the Chargers make their run. They're going to have everyone there for one more year. I believe this is where they have to put it all together. |
Dukes: Rivers is the key No, I don't think the
Chargers' window is closing.
Philip Rivers is entering his sixth season. As long as Rivers is in the game, they're OK.
Rivers, who is the key to this question, in my mind, has lots of years left. But when Rivers leaves, the window closes. Certainly, defensively the Chargers need to get Merriman signed. As many said last year, and I wouldn't disagree, the Chargers might have been willing to part ways with Merriman, potentially, if he wanted to hold out. They need to pay that man. He showed you what his absence means. There are only two guys the Chargers have to keep: Rivers and "Lights Out." The Chargers' window remains open because GM A.J. Smith is a good evaluator of talent. He'll continue to add talent, and the organization has a franchise QB in Rivers. At running back, I'm sure he'll replace L.T. eventually with another quality back. Norv Turner is a good coach. The Chargers will be fine and the window will stay open. They still made the playoffs last season and made some noise without Merriman. |
