Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers were on the way to a devastating home loss to the Detroit Lions. But a fantastic comeback had them finishing as 33-28 victors in Week 1 of the 2015 NFL Regular Season. The Chargers now have to high-tail on the way to Cincinnati, where the Bengals are waiting after a dominant road victory at Oakland.
Can’t get enough of football? There’s plenty more games for your pleasure with primetime games in the Seahawks vs. Packers for Sunday Night Football and the Jets vs. Colts on Monday night.
[sc:Football ]San Diego Chargers vs. Cincinnati Bengals Preview
Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati
When: Sunday, September 20, 1:00 PM ET
Line: San Diego Chargers (+3.5) at Cincinnati Bengals (-3.5); total: 45.5 – view all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the San Diego Chargers
That’s how you justify an $84 million, four-year contract! Quarterback Philip Rivers overcame two interceptions to beat Detroit 33-28. He completed 35 of 42 passes for 404 yards and two touchdowns. It was Rivers’ seventh 400-yard game in his career, and the most passing yards in a season opener in Chargers history.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Rivers had plenty of help from receiver Keenan Allen, who finished with 166 yards on 15 catches including a 20-yard catch and run on third-and-19 with just under four minutes left. Stevie Johnson and Ladarius Green each caught one of Rivers’ scoring passes. The Bengals defense was excellent against the pass in Week 1, limiting Oakland to just 183 yards. But they weren’t exactly facing quarterbacks of Rivers’ level in Matt McGloin and Derek Carr.
Running back Melvin Gordon had a serviceable game, rushing for 51 yards on 14 carries. Veteran running back Danny Woodhead did the scoring rushing adding 42 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. The two could give the Chargers some balance, especially with one of Rivers’ key weapons in the receiving corps, tight end Antonio Gates (team-high 12 touchdowns last season), suspended for three more games.
On the other side of the ball, the Chargers have a couple of difference makers who could take advantage of Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton’s miscues. Patrick Robinson and Kyle Emmanuel each had an interception in Week 1. If they can help lock down Cincinnati’s receivers, then they could take a crucial pick to give them an advantage. Dalton threw 19 touchdowns to 17 interceptions last season.
The Chargers are 3-3 in their last six games on the road, going 2-4 against the spread.
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Betting on the Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals couldn’t have a better start to the season, taking a 33-13 blowout against Oakland on the road. Quarterback Andy Dalton was highly efficient, going 25 for 34 for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He wasn’t sacked and didn’t throw any interceptions.
Dalton did his best to get tight end Tyler Eifert back into the groove. Eifert caught nine of 12 targets for 104 yards and two scores after ending his season with a dislocated elbow in Week 1 of 2014. Wide receiver A.J. Green was also solid, adding 63 yards on five catches. Having the two playmakers gives Dalton a couple of weapons that could exploit which allowed 233 yards through the air in Week 1.
Running back Jeremy Hill helped the Bengals build a 24-0 lead in the first half with scoring runs of three and two yards. But he could have a better game after gaining just 3.4 yards per carry. Backup Giovanni Bernard did an excellent job backing up the second-year player, rushing for 63 yards on eight carries. The two will need to work harder against San Diego, though. The Chargers allowed just 69 yards in their Week 1 victory over Detroit.
Cincinnati’s pass rush could help force the Chargers’ quarterback Rivers into making some mistakes. Defensive linemen Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap both had sacks in Week 1. Of the two, Dunlap looks to carry over an excellent 2014 campaign leading the Chargers with eight sacks. Establishing a pass rush could help the Bengals force Rivers to throw into coverage for a possible interception.
The total has gone over in five of the Bengals’ last six home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Rivers leads the Chargers (+3.5) to another victory.
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