Thursday, November 16
Chargers' best bets: Chiefs, 49ers, Panthers



No team in NFL history has gone 0-16. Not even the Buccaneers, who, thanks to the league's 14-game schedule, went only 0-14 in their expansion year of 1976.

At 0-10, the Chargers have six games to avoid an NFL-record, 16-loss regular season. We asked ESPN's experts if -- and when -- San Diego will get off the schneid.

When is the Chargers' best chance for a win?


John Clayton
Week 12 at Denver, Week 13 vs. Kansas City
The Chargers' best chance is the next two weeks. The Broncos will go into Sunday's game with Gus Frerotte at quarterback instead of the injured Brian Griese, making Denver more vulnerable. And the Broncos have already given two winless teams -- Cincinnati and New England -- victories this year. With the Broncos coming off the emotional victory over Oakland on Monday, the Chargers may be able to capitalize for their first victory. Also, the following week, the Chargers host Kansas City, which could play down to San Diego. The Chargers do have a good defense. If they can just stay close, they might be able to beat the Chiefs.

Mike Golic
Week 14 vs. San Francisco
I don't think any team will go winless these days. To go through an entire season and not get even one lucky break is almost impossible. That being said, the most likely team to fall to the Chargers is the 49ers on Dec. 3 in San Diego. San Francisco has a good scoring offense, but the strength of the Chargers is their defense. Though the Niners played a good game defensively against Kansas City, the Chargers have the potential to score on them. If the Chargers' defense can step up and keep the reins on a productive San Francisco offense, then anything can happen. The Chargers could win any of their games -- any given Sunday, and all that -- but their best shot is probably at home against the Niners.

Merril Hoge
Week 16 at Carolina
San Diego's best shot to win a game this season will be Dec. 17 at Carolina. And the only chance they really have to pull out a victory is if their defense wins it for them. The Chargers' offense is as pathetic as they get. The main problem, of course, is lack of consistent production from the quarterback position. Denver, Kansas City and San Francisco are all far superior offensive teams. They will outscore San Diego with their eyes closed. Baltimore and Pittsburgh are tremendous defensive teams who can easily hold San Diego scoreless until they have a chance to put some points on the board. That leaves Carolina, an inconsistent team who, if the Chargers' defense can force some turnovers and score, is really the only team left on the San Diego's schedule they have a prayer of beating.

Andrea Kremer
Week 13 vs. Kansas City, Week 14 vs. San Francisco
Looking at their schedule, the scary thing is the Chargers could go winless. However, if absolutely forced to make a decision, I say the Chargers could beat the Kansas City at home on Nov. 26 after asking for and receiving many blessings on Thanksgiving. Kansas City seems vulnerable. The Chiefs only scored seven points against the 49ers' defense, one of the worst in the league. If the Chargers can just muster a modicum of offense, they can beat the Chiefs. The second choice would be San Francisco on Dec. 3, even though I think Jeff Garcia can have success against the Chargers' defense.

Sean Salisbury
Week 14 vs. San Francisco
Their best chance is at home on Dec. 3 against the 49ers. But even that's a stretch against the Niners' passing attack. Anything is possible but this is probably the most legitimate chance we've seen in a long time for a team to go 0-16. San Francisco can also be scored upon. They are an improved team, but they're still not a great team. With Jeff Garcia, Terrell Owens and Charlie Garner all having Pro Bowl-caliber seasons, the Niners' will probably be too much for the Chargers to handle offensively and San Francisco will probably win this game, but it represents San Diego's last best chance to steal a win.

Marty Schottenheimer
Week 16 at Carolina
The Chargers' remaining schedule is pretty brutal. They are in Denver this week, but even with Brian Griese out, the Chargers can't beat the Broncos at Mile High. Then they've got the Chiefs and 49ers at home, but both of those teams will beat San Diego. Then at Baltimore (no chance), at Carolina, and back home on Christmas Eve against the Steelers. It looks like they can't win any of those games, but nobody goes 0-16, so I'll say Carolina. If that game was in San Diego, the Chargers' chances would exponentially increase. But even though they're on the road, I'll say they can beat the Panthers. Not because there are any matchups they can unequivocally win, but because they have to reach a point where they'll win at least one game. Eventually, the odds have to be in their favor. It's really not a matter of Xs and Os. It's a matter of mathematical probability!








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