This should be a hard-hitting, fun football game to watch. The Bears will want to run the football behind their outstanding offensive line with RB Cedric Benson but that will be easier said than done. It will be up to C Olin Kreutz to handle NT Jamal Williams by himself which will be tough as Williams’ is one of the best run defending linemen in the NFL. If Kreutz wins the battle in the middle, guards Ruben Brown and Roberto Garza will be free to attack the young middle linebackers on the Chargers defense (Matt Wilhelm and Stephen Cooper). OTs John Tait and Fred Miller will have their hands full with DEs Luis Castillo and Igor Olshansky who are both outstanding against the run. The line must be able to block OLBs Shaun Phillips and Shawne Merriman when passing the ball or Rex Grossman will make big mistakes and start throwing the football to the Chargers DBs. If he has time though the Chargers’ secondary is vulnerable. WR Bernard Berrian is mush faster than any of the Chargers DBs but the issue will be whether or not Grossman has the time to throw deep. More likely the Bears will try to throw the ball short to WR Mushin Muhammad and TE Desmond Clark.

The San Diego Chargers have one of the best offensive lines in football and that’s what makes things go. It will be interesting to see how the revamped defensive line of the Bears does against the Chargers O-Line. Especially interesting will be how DT Dusty Dvoracek and RE Mark Anderson deal with the outstanding pair of LG Kris Dielman and LT Marcus McNeal. Look for the Chargers to run left often behind their two best offensive linemen with FB Lorenzo Neal targeting MLB Brian Urlacher for some high impact collisions. The Bears also must get good efforts from OLBs Lance Briggs and Hunter Hillenmeyer as they try to contain RB LaDainian Tomlinson. The Bears do have an outstanding set of CBs in Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman who match up really well with WRs Vincent Jackson and rookie Chris Davis. Still, look for the Chargers to take some deep shots with QB Philip Rivers on early downs. Also, look for the Chargers to attack the Bears safeties by throwing often to the best TE in the NFL….Antonio Gates. SS Adam Archuleta and FS Mike Brown could be in for a very long day.

Both teams have outstanding special teams. PR/KR Devin Hester is the best return man in the NFL bar none! The Chargers would be smart to kick away from him despite having one of the very best punters in the NFL (Mike Scifres). The Chargers also have an electric returner with the smallish Darren Sproles who also can go the distance on any return. Both teams have great kickers (Chi-Robbie Gould, SD-Nate Kaeding) who are clutch and can hit the long ones.

PREDICTION: To me the matchups in this game are outstanding. So I’m going with the QB least likely to blow the game which means that I must pick the Chargers in a close football game.