The Chargers were outstanding on offense in this football game.  Philip Rivers was very efficient, completing 15 of 23 passes for 206 yards and a TD.  LaDainian Tomlinson was out of this world against the Rams.  Tomlinson carried the ball 25 times for 183 yards (7.3 ypc) and 2 TDs.  Tomlinson also caught 3 passes for 57 yards and a TD.  Michael Turner carried the ball 5 times for 28 yards and a TD.  TE Antonio Gates caught 5 passes for 66 yards and WR Eric Parker chipped in 4 catches for 56 yards.

At least three of the Chargers defenders came to play today against the Rams.  LB Donnie Edwards led the team with 12 tackles.  OLB Shawne Merriman had 2 tackles and 3 sacks.  FS Marlon McCree had 7 tackles and returned a Steven Davis fumble 79 yards for a TD!  The Rams did run the ball well, carrying the rock 21 times for 101 yards (4.8 ypc).  The Rams completed 27 of 40 passes for 311 net yards passing.

The Chargers offense has been much better than anyone could have forecasted.  The Chargers are averaging a robust 29.7 points per game this season.  The running game has been pretty good this season, averaging 148.0 yards rushing per game.  The passing game has generated 214.2 net yards passing and 65.8% completions.

The defense has been outstanding and is only allowing 14.2 points per game.  The Chargers are only allowing 82.0 yards per game rushing, but 4.0 yards per carry.  The Chargers defense has been outstanding vs. the pass, allowing 159.2 net yards passing and 52.5% completions.

Both of these football teams are 4-2 and coming off of devastating last-second losses.  At least the Rams had a week off to get it out of their system.

The Rams will look to run a balanced offense against the Chargers.  RB Steven Jackson could have a good game running the ball against a Charger defense that only allows 82.0 yards rushing per game, but 4.0 yards per carry.  The big issue with the Rams offense will be pass protection, because if Bulger gets time to throw he could have a big game.  The Rams O-Line has already allowed 19 sacks and the Chargers defense already has 23 sacks!  The Chargers will be without starting OLB Shaun Phillips, who already had six sacks this season, with a calf injury.  Torry Holt (37 rec, 526 yards, 7 TDs) and Isaac Bruce (27 rec, 388 yards) could cause huge problems for the secondary of the Chargers.

The Rams defense has been soft against the run allowing 121.3 yards rushing and 4.5 yards per carry, which is bad news when facing the Chargers.  LaDainian Tomlinson has 473 yards rushing and 7 TDs so far this season, but he hasn’t had a huge game yet……but that could change this week.  QB Philip Rivers has been fantastic this season and he should have a little fun throwing against the Rams defense which allows 218.0 yards passing per game.  Look for Antonio Gates to have a huge game against the Rams safeties.

This should be a great football game, but I have to angle towards the Chargers winning this game because of their defense.  I wouldn’t be shocked if the Rams pulled an upset though.

The strength of the Charger defense looks like it will be seriously weakened for at least a month.  OLB Shaun Phillps was injured Sunday and will be out 4-6 weeks.  The other starting OLB Shawne Merriman was suspended by the NFL for four games for violating the league’s steroid policy.  Look for Marques Harris and Carlos Polk to replace the Chargers impact OLBs.

The Chargers offense led a furious comeback after the Chiefs built up a lead and tried to grind out a win.  Philip Rivers led the comeback completing 25 of 43 passes for 266 yards with 2 TDs and an INT.  LaDainian Tomlinson did a little of everything, carrying the ball 15 times for 66 yards (4.4 ypc), caught 6 passes for 72 yards and a TD, and threw a 1 yard TD pass.  TE Antonio Gates caught 9 passes for 63 yards and a TD and TE Brandon Manumaleuna caught 4 passes for 23 yards and a TD from Tomlinson.  WR Keenan McCardell pitched in 4 catches for 51 yards.

LB Donnie Edwards looked like one of the only guys that came to play with 9 tackles.  The Chiefs ran the ball 30 times for 134 yards (4.5 ypc).  The Chiefs completed 15 of 27 passes for 221 net yards passing.

Defensive End Igor Olshansky will miss 3-6 weeks after having knee surgery on Wednesday.  Jacques Cesaire will replace him.

The Chargers have been flat-out dominating teams as of late.  After Coach Schottemheimer opened up the playbook, the offense has been awesome as they have scored 71 points in the last two weeks….both wins.  The Chiefs are coming off a game in which they got destroyed 45-7 by the Steelers.

Look for the Chargers to come out running the ball with LaDainian Tomlinson (407 yards rushing) and Michael Turner (277 yards rushing) against a run defense that is allowing 129.0 yards rushing and 4.0 yards per carry.  After the Chargers loosen up the Chiefs defense look for Philip Rivers to take some shots down the field to Eric Parker (18 rec, 274 yards), Keenan McCardell (16 rec, 178 yards) and Pro-Bowl TE Antonio Gates (18 rec, 255 yards).  The Chiefs are not really equipped to deal with a team with the firepower the Chargers have on offense.

Look for the Chiefs to play this one conservative……surprise there!  RB Larry Johnson (357 yards rushing, 3.4 ypc) should run into trouble with the Chargers run defense that is only allowing 71.6 yards rushing per game and 3.9 yards per carry.  The Chargers blitz very well and bring a lot of heat rushing the passer as they already have 21 sacks this season.  So Damon Huard will have to set up fast and get rid of the ball.  The Chargers only allow 142.8 yards per game passing, and they’ve intercepted 7 passes so far this season, so Huard will have to be careful.  This would be the perfect game to feed the ball to TE Tony Gonzalez (21 rec, 187 yards), the forgotten man of the offense. 

The Chargers are a better football team than the Steelers are, and you saw last week what the Steelers did to the Chiefs.  It’s hard for me to imagine the Chiefs having much of a chance in this football game.  Playing at Arrowhead should help a little bit, but the Chargers are winning and covering the pointspread in this game.

The Chargers are only allowing 218.4 yards per game on defense.  The linebacking corps has led the way.  ILB Donnie Edwards is one of the most under-rated middle linebackers in the NFL….all he does is make big plays all over the football field.  Edwards has 25 tackles, 1/2 a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery.  OLB Shawne Merriman has been great again this season.  Merriman has 19 tackles, 5.5 sacks and an interception.  OLB Shaun Phillips, who has been a back-up until this season, probably won’t ever be one again.  Phillips has 25 tackles, 6 sacks and a fumble recovery. 

DT Luis Castillo has been an anchor on the defensive line.  He allows the linebackers to make big plays by taking up blockers.  But Castillo is much more than that.  Castillo has 16 tackles, 4 sacks and an interception.

The Chargers quite simply, dominated this football game!  Philip Rivers had a great game, completing 29 of 39 passes for 334 yards and 2 TDs.  LaDainian Tomlinson carried the ball 21 times for 71 yards and 4 TDs!  Tomlinson also caught 7 passes for 64 yards.  WR Eric Parker had a good game catching 7 passes for 88 yards.  TE Antonio Gates caught 5 passes for 78 yards and a TD.  Keenan McCardell caught 6 passes for 65 yards.  Vincent Jackson caught one pass….a 33 yard TD.

OLB Shaun Phillips led the way on defense with 3 tackles and 2 sacks.  The Chargers really didn’t stop the Niners from running the ball, but they didn’t have to with the lead they had.  The Niners carried the ball 14 times for 92 yards (6.6 ypc).  The Niners completed 20 of 31 passes for 182 net yards passing.

The Chargers did what good teams should do to bad teams……thrash them!

The Chargers are a team with playoff aspirations, while the Niners are just trying to keep improving as a team.  The problem for the Niners in this game is that their weaknesses match-up to the Chargers strengths.

The Chargers will continue with what has got them this far and run the football.  The Niners will have a hard time stopping LaDainian Tomlinson (336 yards rushing) and Michael Turner (277 yards rushing).  The Niners allow 126.2 yards per game rushing and 4.6 yards per carry.  Look for Philip Rivers (94.5 QB rating) to attack the Niners defense with short strikes to TE Antonio Gates and WRs Keenan McCardell and Eric Parker.  The Chargers should be able to do whatever they want on offense against the Niners.

The Niners offense has a tough task ahead of them.  The Chargers defense is only allowing 204.5 total yards per game and 9 points.  The Niners have been running well this season and will run Frank Gore (465 yards rushing) against a Chargers defense that is only allowing 66.5 yards rushing per game and 3.4 yards per carry.  It’s imperative that the Niners line gives Alex Smith time to throw.  The Chargers defense is very aggressive (16 sacks so far) and they love to blitz.  If Smith has time he should be able to get the ball to Antonio Bryant and Arnaz Battle.

This is a bad match-up for the 49ers.  I think the Chargers win this game…..and big!