I have to admit, watching the Chargers win yesterday brought me great joy. Almost as much joy as that hilarious head of Eli Manning a Charger fan brought out against the Giants. Seeing my hometown team get a playoff victory, with a rookie head coach, on the road in cold weather was not an expectation of mine before the season started. More like a 7-9 team was my thinking.
Never the less the Chargers are on the road again heading for another epic match-up against Peyton Manning at the new mile high. All Charger fans know that Peyton doesn't play well against San Diego and all sports fans know that Peyton doesn't play well in cold weather when the stakes are high.
Again in this game the Chargers will have nothing to lose. They can play loose knowing they aren't expected to win and that Peyton Manning has the weight of the football world on his shoulders if he fails again in the playoffs. Especially given the fact that he has had statistically the best season ever at the quarterback position!
With the Charger win all the fair weather San Diego fans will come out of the wood works. The fans that 3 weeks ago said the Chargers were a joke are now suddenly ecstatic about having their Sunday get together.
But you know what?.....I'll take that. Its good to see that everyone is excited. The Chargers will bring people together for one more weekend and given the the teams history against Peyton Manning....it should deliver.
Keys to the game for the Chargers
Possession: The Chargers must control the tempo of the game. Something they were able to do successfully in Denver last month. The Chargers are #1 when it comes to long scoring drives and they will need to continue to convert short 3rd downs to keep drives going. It will also help if the offensive line continues to block like they are and let Ryan Matthews and Danny Woodhead do their work.
Red Zone Touchdowns: The Chargers must convert those long time wasting drives into touchdowns instead of field goals. Denver will score points so the Chargers have to be efficient. If their is a lot of Novak the Chargers will be going home. Denvers offense is just too potent.
DEFENSE: The defense is hitting a stride and getting healthy at the right time of the year. Mantai Teo is playing better in his rookie campaign, the defensive line has been stout, and getting Johnson and Ingram back as the outside pass rushers has turned this defense around. The Bengals felt the wrath of this defense and they are on a roll going into Denver. They will not be intimidated by Denver's offense.
Keys to the Game for Denver
Peyton Manning: To choke or not to choke? That is the question.........It seems like this comes up every year. Will Peyton Manning overcome his post season woes or add to his list of playoff failures. The talent and legend is undoubted but he has to show up and put this Charger team away. Peyton has all the weapons he could ever want and home field advantage so there is no excuse.
Broncos Defense: In their last meeting they allowed the Chargers to walk up and down the field. They were beaten up in the run game and worn down as the game went on. Their steady pass rush wasn't even a factor. In this one they have to stop Mathews and Woodhead on early downs and put the Chargers in long 3rd downs.The Chargers are vulnerable when Rivers has to hold the ball longer in the pocket.
Score first and fast: If the Broncos score quick and often it will put the Chargers out of their game plan. The Chargers cant afford to run the ball 40 times and go on long drives if they are down by two touchdowns. In their first meeting of the season this is exactly what happened and the Chargers could not keep pace. The Broncos are certainly capable and will want to bury the Chargers early.
In the end I think history repeats itself and the Broncos go down at home. Peyton doesn't play well in the cold and has repeatedly choked in the big games. Also, I heard a crazy stat that the last 4 super bowl winners beat the Eagles in the Eagles home opener. This year that would be the Chargers. The Chargers remind me of the Giants super bowl team a few years back. They have a good team, are hot at the right time, and have nothing to lose being the under dogs. 34-28 Chargers.
BOLT UP!
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