T1B

Jay in Phoenix wrote:Chargers vs. Broncos: Denver is favored by 10

Joe in PB wrote:The Chargers have one of the best run blocking olines in the league, & being able to run the ball is key to beating Denver.

Denver's two best defenders from a year ago, Elvis Dumervil & Von Miller are out.

Mikey wrote:Seems like every time I think the Chargers should win, they lose, and every time I think they should lose, they win.

So, this should be a good sign.

It also helps if I watch from my recliner chair with a scotch, instead of on the sofa with a beer.

Better yet, I should be listening to them on the radio while driving north on the 15 (but not in either direction on the 5 or the 76).

Actually they seem to play best if they're in the early game and I miss the first half at the 11:00 a.m. mass with my wife, and then come home and work out on my rowing machine while watching the second half.

Goober McTuber wrote:

I think you should be listening to them on the radio while driving north at 110 mph on the 15 drinking a quart of Scotch with your eyes closed.

Felix wrote:the key to beating Denver is to throw the underneath stuff, and put the receiver in space and force denver to tackle well.....

KC Scott wrote:It's gonna be fun watching all you fair weather Eggos melt Monday

KC Scott wrote:I did pick Dungver, yes.

Doinks will beat the Eggos and then you and your ilk will slink away from the NFL forum for the balance of the playoffs

Mikey wrote:

Goober McTuber wrote:

I think you should be listening to them on the radio while driving north at 110 mph on the 15 drinking a quart of Scotch with your eyes closed.

Have you tried that?

If it works it might be worth a shot. Or two.

Jay in Phoenix wrote:Well Mikey, clearly it has worked for Goober. Just look at the fine quality and ever so nice demeanor of his commentaries.

Makes you wanna slam back an entire gallon of hooch and take a spin, just so you can emulate his quality postings.


See how it's workin' out for him?

Playoff Teams Weakest Links - Matt Williamson ESPN

Wesley Woodyard, LB, Denver Broncos

Von Miller is out for the year, and while Danny Trevathan and Woodyard have very good speed, this linebacking unit (along with safety Duke Ihenacho) has struggled quite a bit in coverage against running backs out of the backfield as well as tight ends. Well, it just so happens that San Diego has backs and tight ends that can do plenty of damage.

The venerable Antonio Gates remains a very solid contributor, while his successor, Ladarius Green, is dripping with upside. Woodyard isn't a bad player but struggles against the size of such tight ends, which can be especially problematic in the end zone. Ronnie Brown is an accomplished, but not dynamic, receiving option and Ryan Mathews has improved in this area as well. But this could be a big Danny Woodhead game, as he has a massive advantage over the middle of Denver's defense, and Woodyard in particular.

It would not be surprising to see Woodhead operating out of the slot quite a bit or even out wide, where he could draw a linebacker out with him in man coverage.

Shareece Wright, CB, San Diego Chargers

The Chargers' defense was awful for much of the season. But after allowing just 10 points last week -- and making A.J. Green nearly invisible -- the Chargers average just over 16 points allowed over their past six games, winning five in a row while John Pagano has incorporated more creative blitz packages and a wide variety of coverages very effectively. Pagano's unpredictability has been a great asset for a defense that lacks high-end talent, especially in the secondary.

Such tactics caused the Broncos' offense major problems in the most recent meeting between these two teams, but San Diego's cornerbacks remain a concern. Starters Richard Marshall and Wright have been liabilities, and the depth behind them is poor, although things have improved once Marshall was inserted as the starter over Derek Cox. Safety Eric Weddle is the only member of this secondary who can be considered above average, and the Chargers will align him all over the defense.

Of course, Peyton Manning will learn from the last meeting and should target Wright without relent, as well San Diego's depth cover men.

Joe in PB wrote:
Von Miller is out for the year, and while Danny Trevathan and Woodyard have very good speed, this linebacking unit (along with safety Duke Ihenacho) has struggled quite a bit in coverage against running backs out of the backfield as well as tight ends.

Such tactics caused the Broncos' offense major problems in the most recent meeting between these two teams

KC Scott wrote:I can see Mikey buying one of these

Here Comes Trouble - SI Peter King

1. San Diego making it a game in Denver - I guess I’m not surprised that the Chargers are a heavy underdog this weekend in Denver, but I will be surprised if the Broncos rout them. As I’ve written this week, in their two meetings this season, Denver has outscored San Diego by a point, 48-47. San Diego has outrushed Denver, 308-102 in their games, Denver was held under 400 yards in both games against San Diego this year—and had more than 400 in every other game. San Diego has the strength of Manning’s 2012 offensive coordinator, Mike McCoy, as its head coach now, and McCoy has the kind of institutional knowledge sure to have some bearing on this game.

2. The curse of the AFC top seed - I find this startling: Since the NFL went to the 12-team playoff in 1990, the top seed in the AFC is only 13-10 in the divisional round. The 14-2 Patriots fell to the Jets in 2010; the 13-3 Broncos got taken down in the second overtime by Baltimore last year. Thus, uneasy the Broncos will sleep Saturday night before their late game against the Chargers Sunday. For comparison’s sake, the NFC top seed is 19-4 in the divisional round.


Smarter Stats: NFL divisional round preview, by the numbers - SI Doug Farrar

....the Chargers put together a brilliant game plan when they gave Denver its only home loss of the season on Dec.12. The Chargers ranked dead last in FO’s defensive metrics in 2013, but they used their offense to play defense against the Broncos by rolling the game clock down to single digits on every play and holding the ball for 38 minutes and 49 seconds. San Diego led the AFC in average time of possession per game this season (32:47; only the New Orleans Saints averaged higher at 32:48), and while that stat isn’t always revealing, it’s relevant to this game.

Denver set an NFL record this season with 606 points, and it had the ball an average of 30:01 per game. Of course, for San Diego to repeat its success, drive efficiency will be key. The Chargers converted six of their 12 third downs in that game. That’s well over their average on the road. San Diego converted 6.2 third downs per game this season, which led the league, but only averaged 5.3 on the road.

Philip Rivers wasn’t prolific in that game, but he was ruthlessly efficient when he had to be, as was his primary scoring target. Rivers completed just 12 of 20 passes for 166 yards but threw for two touchdowns and no interceptions. Both touchdowns went to rookie receiver Keenan Allen, and those were Allen’s only two catches of the day. It was an atypical performance from an efficiency perspective, which should give Denver’s defense pause. In December with that Broncos game removed, Rivers averaged 21 completions on 32 attempts for 233 yards, two touchdowns and 0.75 picks per game.

Also in that game, Ryan Mathews became the first back to run for over 100 yards against Denver’s defense in 2013. That stat was more a function of Denver’s opponents having to abandon the run just to play catchup. Mathews ran for 534 yards in December, and when Rivers has play-action to deal with, he’s just about unstoppable. In fact, one wonders why the Chargers don’t use it more often. Rivers completed 54 of 74 passes out of play-action in the regular season for 755 yards, six touchdowns and one pick. That’s 10.2 yards per attempt, as opposed to 7.9 without play-action. Rivers was 3-for-4 for 64 yards with play-action in the Chargers’ wild-card win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

poptart wrote:LOL

The NFL has become such a fucking joke.

NE with 40+ pts -- with 9:00 left in the game.

Now if Denver wins we can look forward to another Brady/Manning *CLASSIC* -- with a final score of something like 53-47.


Playoff football.

Truman wrote:Goddamn-no-fight-faggot-Chargers. What a bunch of sackless fucks.

Truman wrote:Goddamn-no-fight-faggot-Chargers. What a bunch of sackless fucks.

R-Jack wrote:

Truman wrote:Goddamn-no-fight-faggot-Chargers. What a bunch of sackless fucks.

Sudden Sam wrote:But he doesn't cuss.