SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (9-7)
OPEN CAMP: July 30, San Diego.
LAST YEAR: Went from 5-1, including Week 2 home upset of Seattle, to missing playoffs for fourth time in five seasons. Couldn't hang with elite of AFC, losing consecutive December home games to Patriots and Broncos. Needed only to win season finale at Kansas City, against backup quarterback Chase Daniel, but lost 19-7 as QB Philip Rivers was sacked seven times.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: CB Patrick Robinson; S Jimmy Wilson; WRs Stevie Johnson and Jacoby Jones; G Orlando Franklin; DL Mitch Unrein; RB Melvin Gordon; LB Denzel Perryman.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: C Nick Hardwick; G Jeromey Clary; OLB Jarret Johnson.
CAMP NEEDS: Chargers have to get offensive line jelling, running game moving forward and pass rush nastier. Franklin was obtained to form big wall with LT King Dunlap to better protect Rivers and open holes for Gordon. Chris Watt, one of five players to start at center last year, will be starter in his second season. Chargers had only 26 sacks last year and will be asking a lot of LBs Melvin Ingram and Jerry Attaochu.
EXPECTATIONS: With ownership eyeing move to Los Angeles, this could be Chargers' 55th and last season in San Diego. Some fans think Chargers can leap-frog Peyton Manning and Broncos to win division, but they're forgetting about Kansas City. Chargers finished third behind Broncos, Chiefs each of last two seasons, and were swept by Denver, Kansas City in 2014. Rivers, safety Eric Weddle motivated to win in what could be their final year with Chargers, but Bolts still could miss postseason.
---
AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL