The Chargers will be without WR Vincent Jackson for the next two weeks due to a right calf strain.  The 27-year old Jackson held out until recently but it did’t hurt the offense much as they kept flying high.  With that in mind I don’t think they are going to miss Jackson much.  Jackson was injured in his season debut last week without making a catch.

The Chargers punched the Colts in the mouth last night!  Philip Rivers was just a game manager last night as he completed 19 of 23 passes for 185 yards without a TD pass or a INT.  Mike Tolbert led the way on the ground for the Chargers in this game.  Tolbert carried the ball 26 times for 103 yards (4.0 ypc) with a TD run and he also caught 2 passes for 15 yards.  Darren Sproles carried the ball 4 times for 17 yards (4.3 ypc) and he also caught 4 passes for 24 yards (6.0 avg) in this game.  TE Antonio Gates (4 rec, 46 yards), WR Legedu Naanee (3 rec, 38 yards) and RB Jacob Hester (4 rec, 34 yards) led the way in the passing game for the Chargers  yesterday.  The Chargers finished up with 129 yards rushing on 34 carries (3.8 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 23 passes for 172 yards as they had possession of the ball for 35:38.

LB Kevin Burnett (10 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1 pass defensed and a interception that he returned 29 yards for a TD) and safety Eric Weddle (4 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception which he returned 41 yards for a TD) led the way for the Chargers in this game on D.  Safety Paul Oliver (6 tackles and 1 fumble recovery), LB Stephen Cooper (INT) and CB Antoine Cason (INT) also made huge plays in this game for the Chargers.  The Colts finished up with 24 yards rushing on 13 carries (1.8 ypc) and they also completed 31 of 48 passes for 279 yards.  The Chargers are now 6-5 on the season.

This should be a great game on Sunday Night Football.  The Chargers are only 1-4 on the road this year but they have won 4 of their last 5 games against the Colts.  The Colts are a different team at Lucas Oil Stadium where they are 4-0 this year outscoring their opponents 110-57.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Chargers have the ball:  The Chargers are going to come out passing in this game with Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Jackson both back in action.  If Rivers has time to throw the ball (and I think he will) I look for him to attack the Colts’ secondary deep.  Mike Tolbert will also likely get in on the action as the Colts don’t stop anyone on the ground where they are allowing 136.7 yards rushing per game and 5.0 yards per carry.

When the Colts have the ball:  The Chargers have 32 sacks already this year so I look for them to come after Peyton Manning.  The Chargers are only allowing 183.9 yards passing per game this year so Peyton Manning might have a rough time against them.  If Manning isn’t his usual self in this game the Chargers are going to roll because the running game of the Colts doesn’t scare anyone.

PREDICTION:  CHARGERS 30, COLTS 23

The Chargers will be without 31-year old WR Patrick Crayton for at the very least the next 2-3 weeks after he recently underwent surgery to repair a dislocated left wrist.  Crayton has played in 9 games for the Chargers so far this year and he has 28 catches for 514 yards (18.4 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Crayton has been a godsend for the Chargers this season but if he had to get hurt at least Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd are back.

The Chargers have waived 33-year old kicker Kris Brown.  Brown played in 3 games for the Chargers this year and he connected of 4 of 5 field goals (80%) and he also has made all 8 of his extra points good for 20 points.  The Chargers didn’t need Brown anymore with Nate Kaeding back in action, but he did do a good job.

The Chargers dominated this game last night.  Philip Rivers was very efficient last night in completing 15 of 24 passes for 233 yards with 4 TD passes and 1 INT.  Punter Mike Scrifes completed his only pass attempt on a 4th and 14 and it was good for 28 yards.  Mike Tolbert was outstanding last night for the Chargers with 111 yards rushing on 25 carries (4.4 ypc) with 1 TD carry.  He also caught 2 passes for 42 yards (21.0 avg).  Darren Sproles pitched in with 5 carries for 14 yards (2.8 ypc) and he has also caught 5 passes for 60 yards with a TD grab.  Jacob Hester pitched in with 3 carries for 7 yards (2.3 ypc) and he also caught 5 passes for 9 yards (1.8 avg) with a TD grab.  WRs Patrick Crayton (3 rec, 105 yards, TD) and Malcolm Floyd (2 rec, 24 yards, TD) led the way through the air for the Chargers last night.  The Chargers finished up with 147 yards rushing on 38 carries (3.9 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 26 passes for 253 yards as they had possession of the ball for 34:19.

CB Antoine Cason (9 tackles, 3 passes defensed and 1 interception) and LB Kevin Burnett (8 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) led the way for the Chargers in this game.  LB Shaun Phillips was also busy with 3 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 2 QB hits and 2 sacks.  The Broncos finished up with 63 yards rushing on 15 carries (4.2 ypc) and they also completed 24 of 38 passes for 172 yards.  The Chargers are now back to .500 on the year at 5-5.

The Chargers have won 2 games in a row and they are coming off their bye week.  The Broncos snapped a four game losing streak last week punishing the Chiefs 49-29 in Denver.  This is a big game for both teams as the Raiders & Chiefs are both sitting atop the AFC West with 5-4 records.  Here’s a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Chargers have the ball:  The Chargers are likely getting Malcolm Floyd back for this game which is bad news for the Broncos.  The Chargers have a lot of WRs and TEs who have stepped up due to injuries which will give Philip Rivers a lot of options when he drops back to pass against a Broncos’ D that is allowing 229.8 yards passing per game.  The Broncos are also giving up 143.1 yards rushing per game and 4.4 yards per carry so look for the Chargers to also try to get the running game going.

When the Broncos have the ball:  The Broncos love to air it out and they might have to again if they want to keep this game close.  Kyle Orton  will make some plays if he has time to throw the ball as the Chargers have 27 sacks this year already.  Orton has a lot of solid targets to throw to in Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney, Eddie Royal and Demaryius Thomas.  Knowshon Moreno woke up last week against the Chiefs but he’s going to find tough sledding against a Chargers’ D that is allowing only 89.4 yards rushing per game and 3.6 yards per carry.

PREDICTION:  CHARGERS 30, BRONCOS 21

The Chargers have signed 27-year old safety Pat Watkins.  Watkins played in 13 games last season for the Cowboys in which he had 29 tackles.  In his first four years in the NFL, Watkins has played in 49 games in which he has 124 tackles, 10 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles and 4 interceptions.  The Chargers waived 29-year old WR Gary Banks to make room on the roster for Watkins.  Banks played in 2 games for the Chargers this year and he caught 1 pass for 2 yards. 

23-year old undrafted rookie WR Seyi Ajirotutu and 31-year old TE Randy McMichael stepped into the roles of Malcolm Floyd & Antonio Gates last week and they were outstanding.  Ajirotutu has played in 3 games for the Chargers so far this year and he has caught 9 passes for 185 yards (20.6 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He will have a role going forward for the Chargers even when they start to get their wounded WRs back.  Randy McMichael has played in 9 games this year for the Chargers and he has caught 7 passes for 84 yards with 2 TD grabs (both last week).

28-year old QB Philip Rivers just seems to keep getting better for the San Diego Chargers.  He has played in 9 games so far this year and he has completed 215 of 329 passes (65.4%) for 2,944 yards with 19 TD passes and 8 INTs (102.9 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 17 times for 26 yards (1.5 ypc) so far this year.  It doesn’t seem to matter who goes out for passes for Rivers as he was without Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd and Legedu Naanee and he still played a great game.  Rivers has now played in 77 games in his 7 years with the Chargers and he has completed 1,422 of 2,243 (63.4%) for 17,895 yards with 125 TD passes and 53 INTs (96.9 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 156 times for 236 yards (1.5 ypc) with 2 TD runs in his career.  Rivers seems to have no ceiling as he just seems to keep getting better.