The Chargers special teams are an extension of their fine offense and defense.  The Chargers are only allowing an average return of 5.0 yards on punts.  The Chargers could improve a tad on kick-off returns as they allow an average return of 23.4 yards per kick.

Nate Kaeding has connected on 11 of 12 FGs and all 10 XPTs.  Mike Scifres is an outstanding punter.  Scifres averages 46.6 yards per punt, 43.3 net yards per punt and pins the opponent inside the 20 on a remarkable 53.3% of his punts!

Eric Parker is doing a decent job returning punts for an average of 8.7 yards per return.  Running back Michael Turner has returned kick-offs for a 25.0 yard average.

The Chargers are an outstanding team in all three facets of the game and are a serious Super Bowl threat this season in the AFC.

After coming under heat all last week for his conservative play-calling in the Ravens loss, Coach Schottenheimer vowed to open up the offense, and in the second half the Chargers dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Philip Rivers picked apart a Steelers defense that was having trouble getting to the QB.  Rivers completed 24 of 37 passes for 242 yards with 2 TDs and 1 INT, he also rushed 6 times for 24 yards.  The Steelers held LaDainian Tomlinson to 13 carries for 36 yards (2.8 ypc) and 8 catches for 34 yards.  Michael Turner ran the ball better than Tomlinson did, carrying the ball 11 times for 56 yards (5.1 ypc).  Eric Parker caught 5 passes for 86 yards, Antonio Gates caught 3 passes for 55 yards and a TD, and Malcolm Floyd caught 2 passes for 18 yards and a TD.

The defense played a great game, putting pressure on the Steelers QB and stuffing their running game.  The Chargers held the Steelers to 68 yards on 18 carries (3.8 ypc).  The Chargers allowed the Steelers to complete 20 of 31 passes for 197 net yards passing.   DT Luis Castillo had 2 tackles and 1.5 sacks.  The Chargers played great team defense as many times multiple helmets were hitting the Steelers.

These two teams mirror each other.  They both play great defense and love to run the football. 

The Steelers will try to run the ball with Willie Parker (268 yards rushing) against a stingy Chargers defense that is only allowing 66.0 yards rushing per game.  The Steelers will try to run play action passes to Hines Ward (9 rec, 99 yards) and TE Heath Miller (7 rec, 146 yards).  The Steelers have to make sure they pass block well, because the Chargers are an aggressive blitzing unit that already has 11 sacks in three games this season.

The Chargers will come out running the football, as they average 195.0 yards rushing per game.  The Steelers have a rugged run defense (78.3 yards rushing per game and 3.2 yards per carry) but LaDainian Tomlinson (300 yards rushing) and Michael Turner (221 yards rushing) will get their yards, it will just be a little tougher than usual.  Look for Coach Schottenheimer to let Philip Rivers throw a few times on first down to Antonio Gates (10 rec, 122 yards) and Eric Parker (6 rec, 100 yards) to take advantage of the Steelers playing 8 in the box.  The Chargers could burn the Steelers if Pittsburgh blitzes alot, as the Chargers have only allowed 1 sack this season.

Whichever QB makes the least mistakes will lead his team to victory…..plain and simple.

Philip Rivers has played very well so far this season, but it seems that his coach is not impressed yet.  Coach Schottenheimer better let the kid throw once in a while or LaDainian Tomlinson is going to run out of gas by December.  It’s a crime not to let Rivers throw the ball to at least Antonio Gates.  Rivers has completed 46 of 68 passes (67.6%) for 488 yards with 3 TDs and 1 INT.  Rivers has only been sacked 1 time and has a QB rating 0f 96.9!  It’s time for Marty to take off the training wheels and let the kid play.

The San Diego Chargers should have won this football game.  The Chargers outplayed the Ravens this whole football game, but they allowed Steve McNair to perform his magic at the end of the game!   Philip Rivers completed 13 of 22 passes for 145 yards with a TD and an INT.  LaDainian Tomlinson carried the ball 27 times for 98 yards (3.6 ypc) and Michael Turner pitched in 7 carries for 46 yards (6.6 ypc).  TE Antonio Gates caught 4 passes for 41 yards.  WR Eric Parker caught 4 passes for 37 yards.  WR Malcolm Floyd only caught 1 pass, but it was a 31 yard TD.

The Charger defense played an awesome game until the last 2 minutes.  LB Donnie Edwards had 6 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception.  The Chargers only allowed the Ravens to run for 56 yards on 21 carries (2.7 ypc).  The Ravens completed 17 of 30 passes for 150 net yards passing. 

Hopefully the Chargers open it up a little against the Steelers or they will be in trouble again next week.

After a dominating first half the Chargers revert back to the ways of what most San Diegans like to call Marty ball. I’m tired of him being so damn conservative and never eliminating a team when the chance is there. Hmm… lets see its 1st and 20, i’ll run the ball. Okay, 2nd and 15… i’ll run the ball. Oh, 3rd and 10 i’ll run the ball. San Diego is a VERY GOOD TEAM but yet all Marty does is lose games. this is now the 5th game that they’ve blown in the 4th quarter. Charger fans can look forward to another disappointing year if this keeps up.