MNF: Chargers Perspective

Players to Watch

RB Mike Tolbert - Ryan Mathews is likely out for tonight’s game so Tolbert will get the bulk of carries. In many ways he has been more effective than Mathews and is a touchdown machine with 7 already. He’ll be going up against the worst ranked rushing defense in the league, so expect big yards on the ground and a couple touchdowns for Tolbert.

LB Kevin Burnett - #99 is one of the more underrated linebackers in the league. He doesn’t excel at any one area, but his abilities are solid across the board. He seems to always be around the ball due to his quickness, which will be essential to make sure receivers are not gaining any yards after the catch.

QB Phillip Rivers- Not the most likable guy in the league, but he is putting up elite numbers for the 3^rd straight year. If the Chargers had a better record, he would be right at the top of the MVP conversation. Rivers likes to air the ball out and leads the league in average yards per attempt. The Broncos have some weaknesses in their pass defense, and Rivers will exploit them for another big game.

Key Matchup: San Diego Chargers vs. Themselves- San Diego’s biggest challenge this year has been themselves. Stupid penalties, costly turnovers, and lousy special teams have resulted in a losing record for a team with one of the best offenses and defenses in the league. If the Chargers limit their mistakes they can beat anyone, but they have not been able to do so with any constancy this year. If the Chargers can play disciplined football, they will win big tonight.

Why the Chargers Will Win- Dating back to last season, the Broncos have lost 10 of their last 13 games. Kyle Orton has been playing extremely well this year, but the complete lack of a running game and suspect defense have prevented this team from wins. The Chargers have more talent and a better game plan on their side, and they will have to make a lot of mistakes to end up losing this game. The Broncos did beat the Chiefs last week, but history tells us that win was more of a fluke and is not likely to continue. Phillip Rivers and Mike Tolbert are in for a big game and it will likely be over by halftime.

Prediction: Chargers 42, Broncos 10

MNF: Broncos Perspective

Players to Watch

QB Kyle Orton - Despite having the worst rushing attack in the NFL, Orton has put up MVP type stats, passing for 2,806 yards,16 TDs and only 5 interceptions. Orton will have to find a way to exploit the stingy Chargers defense which ranks first in the NFL.

WR Brandon Lloyd - Lloyd is probably the surprise player of the year. The former fourth rounder out of Illinois is in his 8th year in the league and on his fourth different team. Pretty much everyone wrote Lloyd off because he has done virtually nothing in the last 3 years, only starting 7 games. This year he already has 48 receptions for 968 yards and 6 touchdowns, all career highs and he has only started 7 games. Lets see if Lloyd can show off in front of a national audience.

LB D.J. Williams - Williams, who is the Broncos top linebacker, was benched last game after getting arrested for a DUI. He should be in the starting lineup tonight and we will see if he tries to rectify his off the field mistakes and has a big game. Williams has 74 tackles, 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and 4 pass deflections on the season.

Key Matchup: San Diego's rushing attack vs. Broncos run defense - The Broncos are one of the worst teams in the NFL at stopping the run but the Chargers have had some struggles running the ball themselves. If the Broncos can get the better of this match-up then they can focus on stopping QB Phillip Rivers. I think they have a good chance at beating Rivers tonight because of veterans like S Brian Dawkins and CB Champ Bailey. Bailey is still one of the best corners in the NFL but seems to be forgotten because of the emergence of CB Darrelle Revis and other young corners.

Why the Broncos Will Win- The Chargers wont be ready for the Broncos passing attack. The Chargers really have not faced a balanced passing attack like the Broncos possess this year. I think the Broncos are going to go out and not even attempt to run against the Chargers; they are going to go out and spread the Chargers defense out and try to attack them through the air. If you look at the Chargers schedule this year, they have played some pretty mediocre teams (other than the Patriots). Everyone is forgetting that the Chargers are a 4-5 team this year and they have not even gotten to the hardest part of their schedule. I think the Broncos are a very underrated team and have a good chance of pulling off an upset against the Chargers, who have found ways to lose games all year.

Prediction: Broncos 31 Chargers 28

San Diego Chargers 2010: Winning Without McNeill and Jackson?

Last Years Record            13-3

Wins:  Raiders (x2), Dolphins, Chiefs (x2), Giants, Eagles, Broncos, Browns, Cowboys, Bengals, Titans, Redskins

Losses: Ravens, Steelers, Broncos

Biggest Playmaker            Philip Rivers

QB, NC State, Drafted #4, 7^th Year

Philip Rivers has turned himself from an above average, trash-talking quarterback into one of the game’s best.  Rivers is coming off a pro bowl season in which he threw for 28 touchdowns to just nine interceptions and for 4,254 yards.  With LT Marcus McNeill and WR Vincent Jackson currently holding out, Rivers is going to have to step up and play better than ever. 

Impact Player            Antonio Gates

TE, Kent State, Undrafted, 8^th Year

Gates, a college basketball star, worked out as an undrafted free agent for the Chargers and the Chargers made one of their biggest signings of the decade.  Gates has been to the pro bowl the last six years and is a threat vertically from his tight end position.  Gates is a huge red zone target for Rivers, and can change a game very quickly.

Biggest Offseason Addition            Ryan Mathews

RB, Fresno State, Drafted #12, Rookie

With the loss of record holding RB Ladanian Tomlinson, the Chargers needed a feature back.  They have incredible confidence in Mathews, as they jumped 16 spots to grab him at #12 in the first round.  Mathews will be immediately inserted into the starting lineup and may carry the ball around 300 times this year, according to HC Norv Turner

Biggest Offseason Loss            Jamal Williams

NT, Oklahoma State, Drafted 2^nd Round (Supplemental Draft), 13^th Year

Jamal Williams is aging (34), but made the pro bowl three straight years from 2005-2007.  After missing all but one game of the 2009 season with an elbow injury, Williams was cut by the Chargers and signed by the Broncos.  However, the Chargers may lose production here, as they list Antonio Garay as their starter and Rookie Cam Thomas as the backup at the ever-important 3-4 nose tackle spot.  Garay has appeared in 16 games since being drafted in 2003 (signed off the Jets’ practice squad last year) and Thomas may well end up starting, as a true steal in the fifth round. 

Biggest Draft Steal            Cam Thomas

NT, UNC, Drafted #146, Rookie

Thomas, standing at 6’3” and roughly 330 addresses a need of the Chargers with the departure of Jamal Williams and could push for a starting spot early on.  He was projected by many experts to go in the second round of the draft.  This draft was deep at defensive tackle, and grabbing Thomas in the 5^th round was definitely a steal. 

Biggest Draft Reach            None

The Chargers had a very solid draft overall.  They may have jumped a bit higher than they needed to take Ryan Mathews in the first round, but he will be a big factor in the Chargers’ offense from day 1 and proved he can be a feature back at Fresno State.  In addition, the Seahawks very likely could have taken Mathews at 14.  Second round ILB Donald Butler is out for the season with an achilles injury.

Offseason Grade            B

The Chargers had a good draft, filling needs with Mathews, Thomas and SS Darrell Stuckey from Kansas.  They gained depth at CB after the departure of Antonio Cromartie by signing Nathan Vasher and Donald Strickland.  Right now, their biggest concerns are two of their best players on offense, Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill.  Both could hold out well into the season, possibly not returning until week 10 (when they must return to accrue a season towards free-agency) or beyond.

X-Factor            Jackson and McNeill

The Chargers must have players step up in place of Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill during their holdouts.  I don’t believe they have anyone on their roster capable of their production (maybe Malcolm Floyd at WR) but replacing these two is crucial if the Chargers are going to contend in the playoffs.

Name You Should Know            Shaun Phillips

OLB, Purdue, Drafted #98, 7^th Year

Somehow Shaun Phillips is not a well-known playmaker.  He has been very consistent for the Chargers and has been overshadowed by fellow OLB Shawne Merriman.  He has recorded 41.5 sacks in the last five seasons and plays a crucial role opposite Merriman.

Rising Star            Malcolm Floyd

WR, Wyoming, Undrafted, 7^th Year

Malcolm Floyd may be a bit old to be considered a rising star, but when he was finally given the chance as the #2 receiver in 2009 he caught 45 balls for 776 yards, an average of 17.2 yards per catch.  If Vincent Jackson does not play this year, Floyd will be a go-to guy for Rivers.  He is an outstanding deep-threat with the ability to catch the ball with ease over smaller defenders. 

Offensive Outlook            B+

Insert Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill into the starting lineup and the Chargers offense receives an A.  However, they are not there, and the Chargers are likely left with Legedu Naanee as their 2^nd receiver (1 career start) and former undrafted free agent Brandyn Dombrowski at left tackle.   The Chargers also have an untested rookie RB, but they do have the ever-consistent Antonio Gates at tight end and Rivers at quarterback. 

Defensive Outlook            B

The development of a consistent, dominant nose tackle is vital for the Chargers.  Shawne Merriman recently returned from a holdout but simply must regain his 2007 (and earlier) form.  Stephen Cooper and Kevin Burnett will be solid inside, with the secondary composed of Quentin Jammer, Antoine Cason, Eric Weddle and rookie Darrell Stuckey

Special Teams Outlook            A-

Little Darren Sproles has been electric as a return man since he entered the league.  Nate Kaeding has the best field goal percentage in NFL history…in the regular season.  He has been sub-par in the playoffs, missing three field goals in the Chargers ‘playoff loss to the Jets.  Punter Mike Scifres is very good at what he does.

Projected 2010 Record            10-6

The Chargers are currently missing two important pieces in their WR and LT, but they have a lot of weapons on both sides of the ball.  If Merriman can return to his pro bowl form the Chargers’ pass rush will take a lot of heat off of the secondary, and the Chargers must be productive at the NT spot.  The Chargers are putting a lot on the shoulders of rookie RB Ryan Mathews, while Malcom Floyd and Antonio Gates will continue to be deep threats in place of Vincent Jackson.    However, the Chargers will need to run the ball far more efficiently than a year ago, averaging 3.3 yards per carry.  All that said, the Chargers have a pretty clear path to an AFC West title.