San Diego coach Norv Turner must feel the pressure. He must know that his job only can be secure if San Diego, for the first time since 1994, advances to the Super Bowl. So, the perpetual hot-seated coach must figure: what the hell, I’ll go ahead and raise expectations.

At a lunch today, Turner told the local media, including the San Diego Union-Tribune , that "this has a chance to be the best team since I've been here."

Ah, nothing like giving your end-of-the-season critics massive amounts of ammunition if the Chargers, once again, have a January meltdown.

Plus, they’ll get little immediate help from LT Marcus McNeil and top WR Vincent Jackson – both could hold out for much of the season, and Jackson will have to serve a three-game suspension at the very least.

From Kevin Acee’s story:

Turner said he believes his coaching staff will be better for staying entirely intact for the first time since his arrival in 2007, that "we'll get back to being an elite running team" and the Chargers will have a more aggressive defense.

And because we seemingly cannot discuss Marcus McNeill and Vincent Jackson enough, Turner was asked about them (a lot) and made a case for the Chargers being prepared to absorb the blows of their expected absences.

Turner has made a point for months to acknowledge the Chargers would miss McNeill and Jackson if they do sit out (they will). He did so again yesterday but played up, especially, the readiness of young receivers Legedu Naanee and Buster Davis.

--Josh Katzowitz

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