Bolt up! Chargers Vs Broncos 2014 Playoffs

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!

Watch Football in HD or Reality?

Living in San Diego it is not hard to get to tickets to a Charger game.  A privilege not shared by many fans in other big cities around the country.  In fact it is not uncommon for Charger games to be blacked out due to NFL rules because of the lack of ticket sales. 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000289334/article/san-diego-chargers-vs-cincinnati-bengals-blacked-out

Maybe its just that in San Diego there are so many other things to do: go to the beach, hit up one our famous breweries, got to wine country, go shopping in mission valley in the beautiful weather, go golfing, you name it, that people choose to not to watch.  Plus our team has never seriously been a Superbowl threat since 1995.

The truth is there are many fans who just prefer to watch the games in brilliant HD from the comfort of their homes. Why is that?

Watching at home is cheaper.  Lets face it, going to a game is expensive.  For two to go to a game it costs. $200 for decent seats, $15 to ride the trolley to the stadium, $100 for beers and snacks (Could be more the way I roll at the games), and another $40 for food before we get to the stadium. That's $300-$400 just to go to the game live and I know a lot of people spend more.

At home you have your comfy couch, your beautiful big screen, lots of friends, great food, and play by play for those who aren't as good at following the game.  And if your like me you probably have 4 other games going on your laptops, tablet, and computers because your a huge fantasy football nut. Watching from home just make sense.

The buzz of the stadium on NFL game day is something hard to explain but is definitely evident.  It is an experience you definitely don't feel when watching from home.  High fiving the random person next to you after a touchdown comes natural and brings people together.  You can walk around the outside of the stadium meeting people tailgating, have some drinks, and watch other games before you go to your seats.  The music is loud and the intensity is high providing a fun experience.

But what about the bad? 

This NFL is always trying to make the fan experience at the stadium better.  In my opinion though there is not much they can do.  Alcohol rules have become far too strict, you cannot bring your own snacks into the game which makes the games un-affordable, and the very sport/gang vs gang mentality of football causes for a lot of angry drunk fools looking to fight.  Not exactly the type of environment you want to take you son or daughter to for some Sunday sports fun. I'm sorry NFL but putting free wifii in the stadiums just isnt enough to lure the coach potatoes away.  Plus I HATE being patted down like the TSA to go into a sporting event (Click here for new stadium rules).  There is going to have to be more.

I will continue to go to games live but I am not exactly going out of my way to go either.  If a group of people insists or I get my family's season tickets I am always game but in the end........I prefer mi casa.

What do you guys think or prefer? At home in HD or their live?

Chargers Vs. Bengals 2014 Playoffs: Keys to the Game

Everyone that knows me will tell you I am a huge Charger fan and have been so since I started following the game of football at a young age.  So when Sunday's game against the Cheifs ended the way it did you can imagine how my heart feels.  I no doubt have a little hometown bias but who doesn't.  Here are my thoughts on the match-up.

The way the Chargers played didn't show much of the country that they deserve to be in the playoffs (Just ask the Steelers what they think).  The Chargers are a team with some talent but has lacked consistency (especially on the defensive side of the ball) and the ability to close out games.  The offense is still potent and will have to keep their foot on the gas pedal going forward against the Bengals.

The Bengals are a solid team on both sides of the ball.  They have a stout front 7 that can stop the run and get to the quarterback.  Their secondary has been beat up but if Terrance Newman, Leon Hall, and Pacman are all available they can certainly cover San Diego's receivers.  On offense they can pack a punch as well with Andy Dalton, sensational rookie Giovanni Bernard, and the All Pro A.J. Green.

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014010500/2013/POST18/chargers@bengals?icampaign=GC_schedule_rr#menu=gameinfo&tab=preview


I was at Qualcomm for their match-up earlier in the year in week 13.  The Bengals prevailed in that game 17-10.  It was a close game that in the end was determined in my mind by turnovers by Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates.  The first drive of the game saw the Chargers march up the field just outside of the redzone where Rivers connected a pass to Gates in which he fumbled while diving to the ground.  The play was reviewed but upheld on what really was a fantastic play by the Bengals safety.  Dalton didn't play great but also didn't shoot himself in the foot and the Bengals defense held up on the road.

In the playoffs I expect another good game.  Don't expect the Chargers to play like they did last week against the Cheifs. Both teams will be playing in the cold and need to protect the ball and force long 3rd down passing downs.

Keys for the Charges:

Generate some sort of pass rush

A huge weakness of the Chargers all year has been their ability to get pressure on the QB.  Injuries to Larry English, Dwight Freeney, and Melvin Ingram certainty haven't helped but somehow they have to have it against the Bengals.  Ingram is now back and should have his legs back under him so he will be a key player to watch on the Chargers D.  The Chargers cannot let Dalton sit back in comfort and throw the ball to AJ Green.  They must test Dalton to see if he is truly elite or just an average QB on a good team.

Ryan Mathews and the run game

Down the stretch Ryan Mathews has been a work horse stringing together 100yd games.  His productivity will have to continue in this one.  The Bengals are a tough team to run on but the Chargers must stay disciplined a give Mathews a chance to soften the Bengals front 7 up.  This will open opportunities for Rivers in the play action game and keep San Diego's defense on the sideline.

3rd down conversion

Woodhead!  The Chargers have struggled in recent games converting on 3rd down.  For the Chargers to win they must control the clock and keep the defense on the sideline.  3rd and 4 will be a common sight in this game and the offense must be able to deliver.  Look for Gates and Woodhead on 3rd down.

Keys for the Bengals:

Andy Dalton

In his first 3 seasons Dalton has been great. Unfortunately he has not wowed either.  This is a big chance for him to prove his worth against the Chargers and advance the Bengals in the playoffs.  In their week 13 meeting with the Chargers Dalton completed 14 of 23 passes for only 190 yards throwing 1 touchdown and 1 interception.  With the chargers secondary playing so atrocious he will definitely have to be better and be a key factor if the bengals are going to win.

Giovanni Bernard

Bernard was abnormally quiet in their first match-up.  He is an explosive player and a nice saftey net for Dalton in the passing game. Hopefully for the Bengals Bernard hasn't hit a rookie wall going into the 18th week of the season. If Bernard is playing well the Chargers are in trouble.

Bengals front 7

The Bengals D has been solid all year and now that the playoffs are here look for them to step up again.  Burfict, Hayes, Harrison and all the others will be after Rivers and the run game all day.  If they can create turnovers like in game 1 the Chargers don't have a chance.



What's the outcome?

I think the Chargers go on the road in cold weather and pull off then upset.  They are riding an emotional high, have played in lots of tight games, and are playing well on offense.  The Bengals are a solid team but have not shown a killer instinct that they should have to knock out an inferior team.  It will be a game decided on the last drive: 24-20 Chargers.

Good luck to all the teams and fans and enjoy the wild playoff games!