With just three weeks remaining before the start of the NFL season, teams are ratcheting up their preparations ahead of the upcoming season. Preseason games, whether you like it or not, provide teams valuable live action ahead of the meaningful games, and in Week 2 of this NFL sideshow, an intriguing matchup will take place as quarterback Philip Rivers and the rest of the San Diego offensive machine face off with the defending champions Seattle Seahawks and its Legion of Boom defense.
Read on for a complete preview of this game. Also check out our respective team previews of the Seahawks and the Chargers as the start of the NFL season draws ever closer, and get a sense of all the Week 2 storylines with our comprehensive preview of the Week 2 preseason action.
[sc:Football ]San Diego Chargers vs. Seattle Seahawks Betting Preview
Where: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington
When: Friday, August 15, 10:00 PM ET
Line: San Diego Chargers (+5.5) at Seattle Seahawks (-5.5); total: 38.5 – see all NFL lines
Why This Game Matters
[sc:NFL240banner ]Philip Rivers and co. were dominant against the Cowboys in their opening preseason game but it will be interesting to see how they will fare against a much better defensive unit in the Seattle Seahawks led by Richard Sherman and the rest of the Legion of Boom.
The focus of this game, as with all preseason games, will be the secondary units, as these two teams are confident in their playmakers and will focus on filling in the depth chart behind the players that made both of these winners last season.
Betting on the San Diego Chargers
The Chargers provided a flawless offensive performance in their preseason debut against the Dallas Cowboys and will be looking to do the same against the Seahawks on Friday night.
As expected, quarterback Philip Rivers played just a little, completing 4-of-4 passes for 61 yards in his only series of the game while backup Kellen Clemens went a step further and completed 5-of-5 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown as the Chargers totally overwhelmed the Dallas Cowboys 27-7. In fact, the Chargers completed 14 of 16 passes for 243 yards in the entire game as they ran roughshod over the Cowboys defense.
Much of the credit should be given to head coach Mike McCoy and new offensive coordinator Frank Reich. McCoy has worked wonders with starting quarterback Philip Rivers as the 32-year-old revitalized his career last season, setting career highs in completions (378), completion percentage (69.5%) and QB rating (105.5), while earning Comeback Player of the Year honors.
Reich, on the other hand, has placed a premium on the fast-paced, no-huddle offensive approach this season and it worked like a charm against the Cowboys. That system, though, will be put to the test when they next face the defending champions Seattle Seahawks.
The Seahawks’ vaunted defense allowed a meager 172.0 opposing yards per game which was the best in the NFL. Rivers, who led the Chargers to the fourth-best passing attack last season at 270.5 yards per game, will have to contend with Seattle’s Legion of Boom led by the outspoken Richard Sherman.
Rivers, who connected on passes to running back Danny Woodhead, Eddie Royal and Ladarius Green in their preseason debut against the Cowboys, will have to find ways to stretch the Chargers’ offense even further to counteract the aggressive secondary defense of the Seahawks.
Betting on the Seattle Seahawks
For head coach Pete Carroll and the rest of the Seahawks, the most important game is the one at the end of the season. When you get there, you better win it. They managed to pull that feat last February at Super Bowl XLVIII and they will be looking to do it again this coming season.
For that reason, it’s hard to imagine the Seahawks are much concerned about anything other than the deepest depths of their depth chart in this exhibition action.
There are some areas of concern, though, for the Seahawks entering their preseason clash with the Chargers. Officials were trigger-happy in giving away yellow flags in their clash with the Broncos as both teams were penalized a combined 25 times that resulted in a messy and sloppy game.
It brings to light the NFL’s new emphasis on illegal contact and defensive holding. The new rule states that defenders can be physical with a receiver in the first five yards after the line of scrimmage but must let the receiver “run free” after that, meaning no more initiating contact by the opposing defender.
Some say it’s a response by the league to the Seahawks’ physical style of play, particularly their Legion of Boom defense, which saw their secondary push, pull, tug and shove opposing wide receivers on their way to the Super Bowl title season. And yet, of the 13 penalties called against them in their first preseason contest, none were for the supposed re-emphasis on the illegal contact rule.
The Seahawks led the league in pass-interference penalties last season and it will be interesting to see how the Seahawks’ defense will adjust with the new regulations. While they may not be concerned with the outcome of this game, they will be concerned with ensuring their defensive backs get comfortable amidst the new refereeing agenda the league has in 2014.
Star cornerback Richard Sherman has already said on record that the league’s new guidelines “will have very minimal impact on our game and how we play it.” When the undisputed leader of the Legion of Boom talks, the rest of the Seahawks listen and it will be fascinating to see how that vaunted Seattle defense will handle QB Philip Rivers and the rest of the Chargers’ offense which has flourished ever since head coach Mike McCoy took over last year.
Writer’s Prediction
The Seahawks (-5.5) won’t disappoint their home fans as they’ll notch their first win of the preseason. Create a betting account now and make some money with the NFL preseason games.
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