Monday night was a tough beat for the San Diego Chargers. They had to endure plenty of Steelers fans cheering from the stands of their home, Qualcomm Stadium, and were beaten by Michael Vick of all quarterbacks. Things don’t get easier for the Chargers when they travel to Lambeau Field in a Week 6 matchup against the red-hot Green Bay Packers.
Get some of the big inter-conference matchups of the week with the complete previews for the Ravens vs. 49ers and Redskins vs. Jets.
San Diego Chargers vs. Green Bay Packers Preview
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay
When: Sunday, October 18, 4:25 PM ET
Line: San Diego Chargers (+11) at Green Bay Packers (-11); total: 50.5 – view all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the San Diego Chargers (2-3)
San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers welcomed tight end Antonio Gates back in style after missing the first four games due to a suspension. Gates caught a 12-yard touchdown pass in the Chargers’ opening drive, and caught an 11-yarder for a go ahead score in the fourth quarter.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Gates finished with nine receptions for 92 yards and two scores. But the Chargers found themselves on the losing end of a 24-20 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night. Getting Gates going on the road at Green Bay may be more difficult. The Packers have one of the best passing defenses in the league, allowing just 186.2 yards per game (fourth in the league this season).
It’s also of no help that Rivers continued to throw interceptions after throwing a pick-six against the Steelers. He has thrown at least one pick in four of the Chargers’ five games this year. And take note: Green Bay is tied for second in the league with eight interceptions this season. That costly turnover aside, Rivers actually had a big game, completing a season-high 35-of-48 passes for 365 yards and two touchdowns on Monday night.
If the Chargers are to win the upcoming game against Green Bay, it’s going to be through Rivers’ arm. San Diego has struggled to gain some steam with its rushing offense, ranking just 24th in the league with 92 yards per game.
San Diego’s rookie running back in Melvin Gordon has rushed for his third-straight game of less than four yards per carry, as he ran for just 42 yards on 15 carries against Pittsubrgh. But he could be up for some solid gains against the Packers’ front seven, which ranks 28th in the NFL with 130.2 rushing yards allowed per game.
San Diego is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games against NFC North teams.
Betting on the Green Bay Packers (5-0)
Aaron Rodgers is human after all. The Green Bay quarterback threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-10 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday afternoon. But Rodgers also threw two interceptions, ending his streak of an NFL-record 587 pass attempts and 49 touchdown passes at home without an interception.
Rodgers shouldn’t be too worried against the Chargers’ defense, though. The only quarterbacks that San Diego has picked off have been Teddy Bridgewater, Michael Vick and Matthew Stafford – signal callers not exactly on Rodgers’ level.
The Packers have a very solid receiving corps too, which could help Rodgers unload his cannon of an arm against the Chargers. James Jones and Ty Montgomery caught touchdown passes of 65 and 31 yards against St. Louis. On the other hand, the Chargers have allowed eight touchdown passes this season, sixth-most in the NFL.
While Rodgers could have another big game, as it is already customary for him at Lambeau, the Packers may turn a little more toward running back Eddie Lacy against San Diego’s leaky defensive line. The Chargers are allowing a whopping 132.4 yards rushing per game, 29th in the league. San Diego’s 5.1 yards per carry allowed to opposing quarterbacks are also the most in the league this year. Lacy will be very determined to get a big game after rushing for less than 50 yards in three of his five games this year.
On the other side of the ball, the Packers have a very solid pass rush, which ranks second in the league with 20 sacks. Green Bay’s pass rushing duo of Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers — both have a team-high 4.5 sacks this season — should be licking their chops against San Diego’s patchy offensive line. San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers has been sacked 14 times this season, the seventh-most absorbed by a QB in the league.
Rivers could also be forced to a hurried throw into coverage, where the Packers could snatch an interception. Cornerback Quinten Rollins had two interceptions against the Rams in Week 5 (one of them was a pick-six), while safeties Micah Hyde and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix each had an INT as well.
Green Bay is a perfect 5-0 SU/ATS this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Rodgers and co. blow out the Chargers. Create a betting account now and win big on thrilling NFL action.
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