Thank you, NFL schedule makers!
The league handed the Chargers a season-opening win on Monday, announcing San Diego will open the 2009 season on Monday Night Football in Oakland against the Raiders. That's as close to a guaranteed win as you'll ever find. Head coach Norv Turner tried not to gush about the chance to start 1-0.
"The Chargers-Raiders rivalry is always a heated matchup," Turner said. "Our fans always get a little extra excited when we play the Raiders, and this will be a great way for us to get things going."
He stopped just short of adding, "and it's nice to know we'll be in first place after Week 1 because those guys up there are a complete disaster."
The Bolts have won 11 straight games against the Raiders, and most of them haven't been all that close. You may recall the last time San Diego opened the season in the Bay Area. It was 2006, the Bolts won 27-0 and went on to a 14-2 season. Here's hoping history repeats itself.
