The Chargers started out the season 1-3 and they looked bad doing it.  But in the last two weeks the Chargers won both of their games by a combined score of 69-17!  The Chargers made an outstanding move in trading for Chris Chambers this Tuesday as he will replace rookie Chris Davis who was not playing up to his ability.  This will give the Chargers a good chance to stretch the field with the speed of Chambers and Vincent Jackson which could open up more running room for L.T.  The Chargers also must focus on improving the pass defense as they have allowed an average of 238.2 yards passing per game so far this season and that’s way too many. 

The Chargers have placed Eric Parker on the Injured Reserve List with a toe injury.  This helped prod the Chargers to trade for Chris Chambers because they couldn’t afford to wait around for another receiver to step up. 

The Chargers have been looking for a impact receiver to add to Antonio Gates and LaDainian Tomlinson to help spread the offense and Chris Chambers could be that guy.  The Chargers must think he can be too because they traded a second round pick in the 2008 Draft to acquire him.  Chambers wasn’t having a big season for the Dolphins as he has caught 31 passes for 415 yards (13.4 avg) with 0 TDs.  Look for him to improve big-time in San Diego as he will often draw single coverage and Philip Rivers will be throwing to him instead of Cleo Lemon and that’s a gigantic improvement for him.  Chambers has now played in 100 games (90 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 405 passes for 5,688 yards (14.0 avg) with 43 TD grabs and he also had carried the ball 41 times for 355 yards (8.7 ypc).  The bottom line is that this is probably a good trade for both teams as the Dolphins are clearly in rebuilding mode.

The Chargers didn’t do anything fancy in this game as they just lined up and kicked the crap out of the Raiders.  Philip Rivers certainly didn’t have his best game of the season as he completed 14 of 21 passes for 156 yards with 0 TDs and 1 INT.  The interception was returned 66 yards for a TD by Raiders linebacker Thomas Howard.  LaDainian Tomlinson had the breakout game everyone knew was coming soon as he carried the ball 24 times for 198 yards (8.3 ypc) with 4 TD runs!  He also caught 4 passes for 16 yards (4.0 avg).  TE Antonio Gates pitched in with 3 grabs for 58 yards (19.3 avg).  The Chargers finished up with 206 yards rushing on 32 carries (6.4 ypc) and they also completed 14 of 21 passes for 156 yards.

Linebackers Shaun Phillips (9 tackles, 2 sacks) and Shawne Merriman (6 tackles, 2.5 sacks) came up with monster efforts to lead the way for the Chargers defense.  The Raiders only rushed for 53 yards on 23 carries (2.3 ypc) and they completed 24 of 37 passes for 193 yards.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=271014024

The Oakland Raiders have a 2-game winning streak and they have played much better under rookie coach Lane Kiffin than anyone had a right to believe that they would.  The Chargers are coming off of their best performance of the season as they trashed the Broncos 41-3 last week in Denver.

The Raiders will come off of the bus trying to run the football against the Chargers.  The Raiders are averaging an amazing 194.3 yards rushing per game and 5.3 yards per carry so far this season.  The Raiders hope to have LaMont Jordan back (424 yards rushing, 128 yards receiving) from his back injury but they are in good shape even if he’s not ready.  That’s because Justin Fargas (261 yards rushing, 6.1 ypc) and Dominic Rhodes are more than capable of putting up big yardage behind the Raiders offensive line.  The Chargers do have a solid run defense as they are only allowing 92.8 yards rushing per game and 3.9 yards per carry.  The Raiders would like to throw the ball deep as long as Daunte Culpepper has time to throw the ball but the line could have problems blocking outside linebackers Shaun Phillips and Shawne Merriman.

The Chargers will likely come out running the football against the Raiders who have had no luck stopping the run.  The Raiders are allowing 129.5 yards rushing per game and 5.3 yards per carry this season.  Look for the Chargers to feed the rock to LaDainian Tomlinson (329 yards rushing, 194 yards receiving) and Michael Turner (201 yards rushing, 7.4 ypc, 2 TDs) early and often.  Look for the Chargers to run a lot of play action passes after the running game is established.  TE Antonio Gates (40 rec, 489 yards, 3 TDs) and WR Vincent Jackson (19 rec, 315 yards, 2 TDs) will challenge the tough secondary of the Raiders.

PREDICTION:  The Raiders will put up a better fight than most expect before the Chargers pull away late because they have better players, period.

 

The Chargers finally played up the their ability and they destroyed the Broncos.  Philip Rivers did a great job of managing the game as he completed 13 of 18 passes for 270 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 INTs.  LaDainian Tomlinson had a solid game with 67 yards rushing on 21 carries (3.2 ypc) and he also caught 3 passes for 73 yards (24.3 avg).  Michael Turner stole the show late as he carried the ball 10 times for 147 yards (14.7 ypc) including a 74-yard TD run.  Antonio Gates (7 rec, 113 yards, TD) and Vincent Jackson (3 rec, 84 yards, TD) each had huge games too.  The Chargers finished up with 214 yards rushing on 37 carries (5.8 ypc) and they also completed 13 of 18 passes for 270 yards.

The Chargers defense was led by Quentin Jammer who had 7 tackles and a fumble recovery.  Rookie Brandon Siler scored on a 23 yard fumble return for a TD.  The Broncos finished up with 72 yards rushing on 20 carries (3.6 ypc) and they also completed 23 of 36 passes for 224 yards.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=271007007

Darren Sproles is the main man on special teams for the Chargers and they’re glad he’s back.  He missed last season with a broken leg.  Sproles has returned 5 punts for 31 yards (6.2 avg) and he has returned 11 kickoffs for 279 yards (25.4 avg) so far this season.  Michael Turner also has returned some kickoffs (5 for 113, 22.6 avg) but they will likely stick with Sproles in that role for the most part.

Both of these teams are reeling right now.  The Chargers have lost three games in a row and they have been outscored 99-54 in those games.  The Broncos have lost the last two games as they have been outscored 61-34 in those games.  The Broncos are very lucky that they aren’t 0-4 right now.

The Chargers should just run the football until the Broncos prove they can stop it.  The Broncos are allowing an amazing 181.0 yards rushing per game and 5.0 yards per carry this season!  Look for LaDainian Tomlinson to have his best game of the season as he’s off to a tough start this year.  He has 262 yards rushing (3.4 ypc) and 121 yards receiving (6.4 avg) so the Broncos linebackers better be ready.  The Chargers will also likely dump the ball off to TE Antonio Gates quite a bit as he leads the team with 33 receptions for 376 yards (11.4 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Also, keep your eye on WR Vincent Jackson who could go deep off play action (16 rec, 231 yards).

The Broncos would like to run the football often but they aren’t sure whether or not Travis Henry will be available due to a possible drug suspension.  Even if Henry can’t go the Broncos will run the ball with impressive rookie Selvin Young who is averaging 9.2 ypc and 11.4 yards per catch.  The Chargers will blitz often when Jay Cutler drops back to pass so the Broncos should throw the ball shorter this week than usual.  Look for Daniel Graham to have a good game against the Chargers’ safeties.  It’s up in the air as to whether Javon Walker will play or not so Brandon Stokley would likely take his spot in the starting lineup.  Brandon Marshall is having a breakout year (20 rec, 290 yards, 2 TDs) and the Broncos will try to get him the ball often.

PREDICTION:  If talent wins out in this football game the Chargers will win it by 10 or more points.  But, Mike Shanahan is 10 times the coach Norv Turner is and the Broncos are at home so they have a fighting chance in this game.

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The Chargers have lost backup running back/fullback Andrew Pinnock for the next 3-4 weeks.  He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery recently.  The Chargers won’t miss him unless they suffer a rash of injuries to either their running backs or fullbacks as Pinnock is way down the depth chart.

The San Diego Chargers look like a lost team that misses Marty Schottenheimer badly!  Philip Rivers had another poor game as he completed 21 of 42 passes for 211 yards with 0 TD passes and 2 interceptions.  At least L.T. woke up as he carried the ball 20 times for 132 yards (6.6 ypc) with 1 TD run and he also caught 5 passes for 22 yards (4.4 avg).  Antonio Gates (6 rec, 79 yards) and Vincent Jackson (3 rec, 52 yards) each pitched in on the passing game.  The Chargers finished up with 133 yards rushing on 24 carries (5.5 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 42 passes for 200 yards.

OLB Shawne Merriman (10 tackles, sack) led the way for an overmatched Chargers’ defense.  The Chiefs rushed for 126 yards on 28 carries (4.5 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 29 passes for 264 yards.