Sure, the Vikings would like a December trip to San Diego for weather purposes. But looking at the traditionally slow starts the Chargers have had under Norv Turner, they might prefer opening the season with the Chargers, even if they have to do it on the road.
With the players off today and the coaches and personnel department seemingly set with the 53 players they'll take into Week 1, let's take a look at five things you might want to know about the Chargers. It starts with Turner and those not-so-peppy starts:
1, Starting sloooooowly.
The Chargers have won three AFC West titles and advanced to one AFC title game in Turner's four seasons. But each of those seasons has started off 2-3. Turner also is 2-2 in home openers in San Diego. A year ago, the Chargers couldn't catch up and missed the playoffs when they were heavily favored to win the division.
2, No. 1 not good enough.
The Chargers led the league in total offense and total defense a year ago. That tells you all you need to know about statistics. Clearly not happy with its defense, the Chargers made two significant additions when they signed ILB Takeo Spikes and SS Bob Sanders. If Sanders, the 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, can stay healthy -- a big if considering he's missed 39 of 48 games the past three years -- the Chargers expect to be better defensively.
3, First rematch with AD
The Chargers haven't seen Adrian Peterson since Nov. 4, 2007. That's the day Peterson, a rookie at the time, set the NFL record for rushing yards in a game. He had 296 yards, including 253 after halftime. Most of San Diego's defense has turned over since then. OLB Shaun Phillips didn't play in that game, and DE Luis Castillo was injured in the first half.
