Chargers vs New York Giants Preview

On Sunday November 8th the San Diego Chargers will face the New York Giants at Giants Stadium.   Chargers and Giants share a draft pick that forever changed their histories.  In 2004 rookie QB Eli Manning refused to play for the San Diego Chargers, who held the first pick in the draft that year.  This was as big controversy, since Hall of Fame QB John Elway refused to play for the Baltimore Colts back in 1983.  Chargers GM A.J. Smith refused to grant Eli’s wishes and drafted the QB anyway.  Chargers then traded the rights for Manning over to the New York Giants for QB Phillip Rivers and the rest is history.  There is still a great debate over who the better player is.  Eli holds only one thing over Rivers and that is a Super Bowl ring.  Statically this year it's not even close Rivers is a better QB.  Posting 11 TD’s and 2,036 passing yards to Manning’s 13 TD’s and 8 key interceptions.  This game is a must win for both teams.  Giants who have had the easiest opening schedule in the league are (5-3) and have lost three straight games. San Diego, who have won two straight games are looking to build momentum on their (4-3) record.  CBS will be airing this game at 10am Sunday morning.  Tune in football fans and enjoy watching the Chargers take down the Giants. Final will be Chargers 35 Giants 20.

Fantasy Corner

Fantasy football has grown in popularity over the last couple years that it is estimated that more than 27 million players participate in it every year.  Fantasy football players range from the casual player, who does it just to have fun with their friends of draft day, to the borderline obsessive player who checks their lineup ten times a day hoping to be the first to hear about a potential player to put on his team.  I, unfortunately, am the latter and I am proud to say it.  Fantasy football is any easy game to learn to play, select the best players to fill your team and let them go out and get you more fantasy points then your opponent.  It sounds easy…but it’s not.  Trust me I spent five years getting beat before finally figuring out how to play this game right.  Each week I’m going to give you my top three players with dream fantasy matchups for the week followed by three players with nightmare matchups.  After that we’ll take a look at our Chargers’ game from a fantasy perspective.
 

DREAM MATCHUPS

Matt Hasselbeck vs. Detroit

     I don’t really like Hasselbeck on a regular basis since he has a horrible running game and a patchwork offensive line, however this week he plays the Lions.  You don’t have to be an avid football fan to know that the Lions are not that good.  The Lions are giving up 252 yards through the air and have allowed the fourth most points in the National Football League.  I also expect the Lions to somewhat hang in there in this game so there probably won’t be a reason for them to abandon the passing game.  What to Expect: 235 yards, 3 TDS.

Ryan Grant vs. Tampa Bay

     Ryan Grant is now a marginal starter, in other words if you got a better matchup, don’t go with him.  This week he goes up against the Bucs who give up the third most rushing yards per game (162 yards per game).  The Packers will rattle rookie QB Josh Freeman, who is making his first start, and late in the third quarter they should begin running the clock out.  What to Expect: 150 yard, 2 TDs.

Mike Sims-Walker vs. Kansas City

     If you own Sims-Walker then you know he isn’t completely trustworthy just yet.  He went on a stretch of four games where he had a minimum of 5 catches.  But at the same time he’s had two games where he did not break ten yards receiving, and that doesn’t include the game that he got benched Sunday morning for break a team rule.  This week against a KC team that can’t stop the pass he should find enough open field to catch a bunch of passes.   What to Expect: 7 receptions, 98 yards, TD

NIGHTMARE MATCHUPS

Knowshon Moreno vs. Pittsburgh

     Moreno is one of the up and coming young running backs in the league.  However, this week I don’t like him for two reasons: 1) The Pittsburgh D is number one against the run and 2) Correll Buckhalter is still getting a good number of carries. What to Expect: 39 yards 0 TDs

Tony Romo vs. Philadelphia

     If you would have asked me two weeks ago about Romo I would have told you to dump him like Jessica Simpson.  He has become a viable option, but if you have him in your league I definitely advise you to look for a better option.  The Eagles’ defense have been complete monsters allowing less than 200 yards in the air, and have cause 21 turnovers (14 interceptions and 7 fumbles) in seven games.  What to Expect: 205 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 1 Fumble

Nate Washington vs. San Francisco

     Washington has been a popular waiver-wire addition in many leagues and has served as a decent #3 receiver.  Even though San Francisco ranks towards the bottom of the league in passing defense, I still don’t trust Vince Young and I like how San Francisco contained Peyton Manning.  What to Expect: 4 receptions, 45 yards, 0 TDs

Chargers vs. Giants

DREAM MATCHUPS

Philip Rivers (SD)- If the Chargers are going to win this game it’s going to be through the air. Expect Rivers to successfully pass a lot against a depleted Giants secondary.

Vincent Jackson (SD)- This year V-Jax has been very reliable.  He has 0 drops this season and always seems to make the big catch when it comes his way.

Nate Kaeding (SD)- The Chargers will move the ball and when the drive stalls, they’ll be in field goal range.

Brandon Jacobs (NY)- The Chargers’ defensive line has been allowing a lot of big runs up the middle, just where Jacobs likes to run.

NIGHTMARE MATCHUPS

Eli Manning (NY)- Let’s be honest, he’s hurt and he has been playing poorly since the injury.  The Chargers D is much improved and will be in his face all day long

Steve Smith and Mario Manning ham (NY)- They’re good route runners but can they get off the line cleanly?  I say no.

Giants Defense (NY)- The Chargers will score a ton of points and gain massive amounts of yards. 

LaDanian Tomlinson (SD)- This matchup favors Sproles a lot more.  LT might be able to get a score but I think he’ll be stuffed by the Giants linebackers

Lou's Week 9 Pro Picks

Tennessee over San Fransisco

Vince Young is back and it doesn’t matter with Chris Johnson running more like a demi-god than a mere mortal man.  San Fran’s Alex Smith is also back, but has looked simply average in his first two games of the season.  The Niner’s are on a 4 game skid and with no relief as I predict Alex Smith will return to his getting sacked and fumbling ways.

Philadelphia over Dallas
This is a huge game for both teams, tied at 5-2 with the winner taking control of the NFC East.  Donovan McNabb and the Eagle’s D have the kryptonite for Tony Romo’s recent superhuman efforts of eight touchdowns and an uncharacteristic zero interceptions in the last three games.  Historically, Romo has one good game and one bad game per season vs. Phili.  With the Eagles starting the season with an insane +12 turnover ratio, this will be Romo’s dose of reality.

Atlanta over Washington

Arizona over Chicago

Baltimore over Cincinnati

Indianapolis over Houston

New England over Miami

Green Bay over Tampa Bay

Jacksonville over Kansas City

New Orleans over Carolina

Seattle over Detroit

San Diego over NYG

Pittsburgh over Denver

Taking Care of Business

On November 1st 2009 the San Diego Chargers fans were given an after Halloween treat with their 13th straight victory over the Oakland Raiders 24-16.  San Diego came out of the gate on defense and CB Antonio “Crime Time” Cromartie intercepted a pass from Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell.  Given excellent field position the Bolt’s took advantage completing a 65-yard bomb from QB Phillip Rivers to wide out Malcolm Floyd to set up a red zone opportunity.  Chargers ran the wildcat formation, with Running Back LT taking the direct snap from center and running it in for a quick six.  In the second quarter Oakland came back and tied the score on a 3-yard run from Justin Fargas.  Chargers responded once again by finding  the end zone on a nice 8-yard pass from Rivers to wide out Vincent Jackson to make the score 14-7.  With 0:54 seconds in the second quarter LaDanian Tomlison scored on a 10-yard run for his second TD of the game.  Raider kicker Sebastian Janikowski added a field goal before the half to make the score 21-10.  Oakland in the second half went on to kick two more field goals and the Chargers added one of their own, before the Bolts pulled out the win 24-16.  This was an important win for the home team, because it puts them at 4-3 and only two games back from division leader Denver.  Next up off to New York to battle the Giants.