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Chargers ticket prices in December

Chargers Ticket Prices For December Games

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If the season ended today the San Diego Chargers would be one of two wild card winners in the AAFC, with the 5th overall seed in the playoffs. The 5th seed would earn them a rematch with the Indianapolis Colts, the team they knocked off on the road in the playoffs opening round a season ago. San Diego is currently a game behind the Denver in the division, but with Peyton Manning and the Broncos holding the tie-breaker, San Diego will have to make up two games on the Broncos in the final four weeks of the season in order to win the division.

Such an accomplishment is a tall task due to the Chargers remaining schedule and the presence of Peyton Manning at quarterback for Denver. San Diego has one of the most difficult remaining schedules, with two tough division games mixed in with two tough non-division matchups.

Here’s a look at the Chargers remaining schedule:

Sunday, December 7 vs. New England:
Get In: $300.00 | Average Ticket Price $426.00
The Chargers host Tom Brady and the Patriots this coming Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium in a game with major playoff implications. The Patriots were in the midst of a seven-game winning streak before they were knocked off by the Green Bay Packers this past Sunday. The loss to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers makes Sunday’s game vitally important for New England as they fight for the top overall record in the AFC. A win by the Chargers will keep pressure on the Broncos in the division race. You can purchase Patriots vs Chargers Tickets for Qualcomm Stadium.

Best Deal for tickets to the Patriots vs Chargers game for those on a budget? The Pats are by far the biggest game of the year and prices reflect it. The Chargers Tickets usually average about $120.00 per ticket so the 40% increase just to get in could be a bit high. For those who like to take chances the box office opens four hours prior to game time, its slim but worth trying to see if any last minute tickets come out. Since the game is at $5:30pm pst it also gives you time to check prices on that day.

Sunday, December 14 vs. Denver:
Get In: $202.00 Average Ticket Price $353.00
The Chargers have a rematch with the Broncos a week after the New England Patriots pay a visit. The two weeks combined may be the biggest back-to-back home games for the Chargers in years. The Chargers lost in Denver on October 23 by a score of 35-21. Since then the Broncos have gone through a rough patch and then, most recently, have committed to a more powerful ground game with CJ Anderson. The key to victory, as always, will be to limit Peyton Manning’s chances down the field. A season ago the Chargers laid out the blue print to defend Manning during their victory in Denver. If they can knock off the Broncos they’ll be in position to earn a division title.You can purchase Broncos vs Chargers Tickets for Qualcomm Stadium.

Saturday, December 20th at San Francisco:
Get In: $137.00 | Average Ticket Price $225.00
The tough season ending slate for the Chargers continues in San Francisco at Levis Stadium when they face Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers. San Francisco has taken a step back as an elite team, but still has an outstanding defense and is in the thick of the playoff race in the NFC. This season the 49ers offense has taken a step back as they’ve struggled to score points at home. In their last three home games San Francisco has scored a total of just 30 points. If the Chargers defense can contain the 49ers offensive attack, the Chargers should be in a good position to earn the victory. You can purchase Chargers vs 49ers tickets for Levis Stadium.

Sunday, December 28 at Kansas City:
Get In: $35.00 | Average Ticket Price $58.00
The Chargers wrap up the regular season when they visit the Kansas City Chiefs. After a five-game winning streak the Chiefs have lost consecutive games to Oakland the Denver. Offensively the Chiefs are very one-dimensional, relying on the rushing attack of Jamal Charles to ignite their offense. If the Chargers can limit the success of Charles they’ll be in a good position to outscore the Chiefs. Earlier this season the Chiefs upset the Chargers in San Diego, 23-20. You can purchase Chiefs vs Chargers Tickets for Arrowhead Stadium.

The Chargers have their work cut out for them in the final four games, playing teams with a combined record of 32-16. The key is to defend their home field and earn big victories versus San Francisco and Kansas City. If the Chargers can sweep their final four games they’ll be in a position to earn the first or second seed in the AFC. Use our Chargers tickets promo code to save on all your tickets for Chargers home games at Qualcomm Stadium.

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Can Philip Rivers win the NFL MVP?

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With a 2-1 record that could easily be 3-0 if not for a tight loss to the Arizona Cardinals, the San Diego Chargers have firmly established themselves as contenders to unseat the Denver Broncos in the AFC West. With impressive victories over the Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills, two teams whose only loss is to the Chargers, quarterback Philip Rivers is playing some of the best football of his outstanding career. Two years after many questioned the long term viability of Rivers as the Chargers quarterback, the Chargers veteran signal caller has established himself as a leading league MVP candidate. In a league where the top quarterback conversation typically involves a top tier of Brady, Manning and Rodgers, Rivers play and leadership has stood out this season.

The season is early, but the Chargers look to have staying power. While the team is sure to contend for a division title and second consecutive playoff berth, Rivers has an opportunity to earn his first NFL MVP.

Here are three reason Philip Rivers is the leader of the pack in the NFL MVP voting.

mvp philip riversHe’s thrived versus tough competition: The Chargers have faced three top five defenses in the first three weeks of the season, with Rivers excelling versus all three opponents. Arizona, Seattle and Buffalo are known for their physical fronts and ability to make it tough on opposing quarterbacks. As he has done his entire career Rivers has shown the toughness and ability to make big throws, even against extreme pressure. Heading into week four Rivers has six touchdowns and just one interception. The Chargers are a battle tested unit who look like they have staying power. The early season tough slate has the Chargers primed and ready to take on the Broncos.

He’s succeeded with a lack of a running game: Rivers has led an impressive offensive performance while the team has struggled running the football. Last week against the Buffalo Bills the team lost running back Danny Woodhead, a week after losing starting running back Ryan Mathews. Even with all the injuries the Chargers offense kept the Bills off balance all day long. It’s testament to the leadership and ability of Rivers to stay in the pocket, often against max pressure, and deliver the football. There are few quarterbacks in NFL history tougher than Rivers, who has made his mark throughout his career by his ability to take massive hits while still putting the football on the money.

Chargers QB philip riversHe’s doing it with less: MVP voters love a new storyline. Last season Peyton Manning was the deserving MVP due to his incredible numbers. Manning is re-writing the record book, behind one of the league’s best offensive line and an offense full of weapons that includes one of the league’s top receivers (Demaryius Thomas), an elite tight end (Julius Thomas) and a future Hall of Famer in the slot (Wes Welker). Not to undermine Manning’s remarkable performance, but he has a tremendous amount of weapons. Rivers, on the other hand, is not blessed with an elite offensive line or a receiving core that rivals what Manning has in Denver. It’s tough to quantify but the overall feeling is that Rivers is doing more with less, often in the face of intense pressure, with the Seattle game being the prime example. During the Seahawks game Rivers showed an incredible ability to evade pressure and fit throws into remarkably tight windows, often in the face of in intense pressure. It was an MVP performance, something Rivers has done time and time again over the past season and half.

It’s early, but right now Philip Rivers might just be this years NFL MVP.

Chris M

Chargers to open the preseason Aug 7th Vs the Dallas Cowboys

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Chargers Vs Cowboys TicketsBy all accounts it’s been a good early preseason for the San Diego Chargers. This past Friday they finished their ninth day of training camp with very few injuries. Saturday the team held their annual open to the public fan fest with a record 18,000 fans attending the event at Qualcomm Stadium. Although the 18,000 was dwarfed by the fan attendance for similar events in other NFL cities (67,000 in Green Bay!), the attendance is indicative of the excitement from the fan base and the progress that General Manager Tom Telesco and Head Coach Mike McCoy have made in the last two seasons to rebuild the Chargers franchise. Those attending Saturday got a glimpse of a Chargers team that should contend once again for the playoffs in a touch AFC West due to a solid offseason that saw continued improvement had problematic positions for the club last season, like cornerback.

Qualcomm StadiumThe Chargers open the preseason on Thursday, August 7th when they host the Dallas Cowboys at Qualcomm Stadium. The opener with Dallas, who has one of the most passionate fan bases in the NFL and trains north of Los Angeles, should create a fantastic atmosphere for the opener. The key for the Chargers in the upcoming season is keeping the momentum they finished the year in 2013. The Chargers won their final four regular season games to finish the season 9-7 and then defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card round before losing to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Playoff round. This offseason they improved the overall depth of the roster while keeping the veteran core intact.

Chargers Vs CowboysIt’s unlikely the Chargers face Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo on Thursday night in the preseason opener. After offseason back surgery the veteran Dallas Cowboys quarterback has slowly eased into the preseason, playing in roughly half of the practices. According to the Dallas Morning News the Cowboys plan to sit Romo in the first and last preseason games, limiting his chance for re-injury while giving him further time to recover. Even without Romo the Cowboys will bring a roster full of well known players, including receiver Dez Bryant, tight end Jason Witten and running back Demarco Murray.

Cowboys Vs ChargersFor Chargers the preseason opener will be an opportunity to see some of the new players the Chargers added via the draft and free agency in a game situation for the first time. This includes cornerback Brandon Flowers, a former Pro Bowler, who the Chargers signed after Flowers was cut by the Kansas City Chiefs for salary cap reasons. Flowers will be joined in the Chargers secondary by the Chargers first overall pick, Jason Verrett out of TCU. Verrett is a talented but undersized corner, who should find a home as the Chargers third corner. Offensively the Chargers will have solid cohesiveness heading into this season, with the offensive line and receiving core returning. Malcom Floyd will be back from injury this season and should start alongside Keenan Allen, the best rookie receiver in football last season. Donald Brown, who the Chargers acquired from the Indianapolis Colts in free agency, will give the Chargers quality depth at running back.

Chris M.

Who To Pick For Your 2014 Fantasy Football Draft

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FFThe NFL season is right around the corner and with that comes fantasy football. With many drafts fast approaching here’s a look at the top ten NFL fantasy draft targets for 2014. The annual running back versus quarterback debate is in full force once again. Although Peyton Manning put together the greatest passing season in NFL history, value in fantasy football is driven by running backs. Here’s a look at this year’s top draft targets:

1. Adrian Peterson: The best running back in the NFL is still the top overall running back and top overall fantasy pick. Although he didn’t replicate his extraordinary 2012 season, Peterson had nearly 1300 yards and ten touchdowns last season, with an outstanding 4.5 yards per carry. “All Day” has been Mr. Consistent during his NFL career, topping ten touchdowns in every NFL season and rushing for over 1200 yards in six of his seven NFL seasons. In an era of past-first offenses the Minnesota Vikings are a run-first organization. This season Peterson will get the opportunity to play for one of the top offensive coordinator minds in the NFL in former San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner. Look for Peterson to have another massive season in a deep NFC North.

ffdraft2. Jamaal Charles: The veteran Chief had a tremendous season in 2013 in his first season under new Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid. Charles didn’t carry the ball as much as previous seasons, but had as many touches as in the past due to his receiving ability in Reid’s west coast offense. Charles had 19 total touchdowns, 12 on the ground and 7 through the air. With a new contract and the threat of a holdout no longer in the offering, Charles should have another outstanding season via the rush and the pass.

3. LeSean McCoy: McCoy had a massive season in 2013 in his first season under Chip Kelly and there’s no reason to think the NFL’s leading rusher last season won’t repeat this coming season. To go along with his 1607 rushing yards McCoy had 11 total touchdowns. Under the innovative Kelly the Eagles will continue to put up points and feature McCoy, although there has to be some concern whether or not Nick Foles can repeat his surprising season from a year ago at quarterback. If Foles somehow struggles it could affect McCoy.

beerr_top_0_04. Eddie Lacy: The second-year Alabama running back is one of the fastest risers in fantasy football. Lacy had a solid rookie season that included 1178 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in a season where the Packers played nearly have the regular season without star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. With a healthy Rodgers back under center and the return of right tackle Bryan Bulaga and Randall Cobb from injury the Packers should once again have one of the top offenses in the NFL. Look for Lacy to have a massive season, topping both his 2013 totals in rushing yards and touchdowns. With 35 catches in 2013 Lacy also proved better than expected in the passing game and should have more receptions this coming season. If the Packers offense is as good as expected Lacy could be the top player in fantasy by the end of the upcoming season.

5. Peyton Manning: Conventional wisdom still makes drafting a running back the most sound fantasy draft decision due to the value of the position. From a sheer point scoring dominance though, Peyton Manning had one of the most remarkable fantasy seasons in history last year. Manning shredded the NFL record book with 55 passing touchdowns and should have another dominant season in 2014, even with the loss of wide receiver Eric Decker to the New York Jets. Manning will be hard pressed to match the 55 touchdowns he threw a year ago, but should lead the league in touchdown passes once again.

6. Aaron Rodgers: Rodgers had a frustrating 2013 season after going down with a broken collarbone and missing half the regular season. When healthy Rodgers is a proven fantasy performer whose led the NFl in fantasy points in the past. With a healthy Randall Cobb and the presence of Eddie Lacy the Packers offense should once again be one of the best in football. Look for Rodgers to have a big season throwing the football, with an outside chance for 40 touchdowns, as well as a two or three rushing touchdowns.

kcdo7. Matt Forte: The Chicago Bears standout has quietly been one of the best running backs in the NFL for the past several seasons. Last year, his first under head coach Marc Trestman, Forte has yet another outstanding season with nearly 2000 combined yards and 12 touchdowns. Forte is a true every-down back, with 74 receptions in 2013. With a healthy Jay Cutler the Bears offense should be dynamic once again, with Forte leading the way.

8. Calvin Johnson: Megatron is head and shoulder above the rest of the receiving crop in the NFL. In a year where he battled multiple injuries Johnson still managed nearly 1500 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns. Although he was just the third ranked fantasy receiver in 2013, Johnson had arguably the worst luck of any NFL fantasy player last season, getting stopped at the one-yard line on numerous occasions. The league’s most talented receiver should have another massive season.

9. Marshawn Lynch: While Adrian Peterson and LeSean McCoy get all the headlines, Lynch has been the most productive NFL running back over the past three seasons from a scoring standpoint, with 35 total touchdowns. The defending Super Bowl champs are loaded once again and should have a big season, with Lynch leading the way.

ffr10. Drew Brees: The New Orleans Saints are loaded once again and Drew Brees should put together yet another massive season in 2014. The future Hall of Famer passed for over five-thousand yards for the 3rd consecutive season, en route to 39 touchdown passes and (5) thirty-point fantasy games. The resurgent Saints have a favorable schedule this coming season so look for Brees to put together yet another massive season. BY:

Who Is Your First Pick Your Fantasy Football Draft?

Chris M.


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Chargers Add Depth In Free Agency

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San Diego Football Chargers Tickets

San Diego

It’s been a quiet free agency period thus far for the San Diego Chargers when it comes to signing big names. The Chargers have resisted the urge to spend big on free agents, instead adding depth in running back Donald Brown, tight end David Johnson, linebacker Kavell Conner and quarterback Kellen Clemens. The four signings come on top of the Chargers re-signing Donald Butler, Darrell Stuckey and Chad Rhinehart.

Chargers general manager Tom Telesco struck a late night deal on Tuesday to bring in Brown from the Indianapolis Colts. The Chargers GM has familiarity with Brown from his time with the Colts, who drafted Brown with the 27th overall pick in the 2009 draft out of the University of Connecticut. Brown is coming off of the best season of his career in 2013 when he rushed for 537 yards on a 5.3 yard per carry average while catching 27 passes for 214 yards. The former Colt will give the Chargers solid depth in the backfield and a nice alternative to Ryan Mathews, who has battled injuries during his Chargers career. Brown is a sure-handed player with just two career NFL fumbles. Johnson, who played the last four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers is a capable backup who has played fullback as well as tight end. He’s known as a solid blocker who will give the Chargers versatility in the run game as well as an additional option in the passing game. Like in his acquisition of Donald Brown GM Telesco went with familiarity in signing Kavell Conner away from the Colts. Conner is a bit of a reclamation project after not starting a single game with the Indianapolis Colts during the 2013 season. With Donald Butler and Manti Te’o manning the inside linebacker positions the signing of Conner is more of a depth move. Conner is known for his ability to stop the run. Looking to add depth at the quarterback spots the Chargers opted not to re-sign Charlie Whitehurst and signed Kellen Clemens, recently of the St. Louis Rams. Clemens, a former starter with the New York Jets ended up starting a majority of the season in 2013 for the Rams. The former Oregon Duck should be a solid backup for veteran Philip Rivers. Clemens has started 21 games in his NFL career, with an 8-13 record.

SD Chargers Vs Raiders Tickets

Chargers Raiders

With only $5 million in available salary cap the Chargers were never going to be major players, like the Denver Broncos, in free agency this offseason. Instead Telesco has wisely added some depth players while holding on to some key contributors who were free agent eligible. The Chargers re-signed Donald Butler and special teams ace Darrell Stuckey. They also locked up Chad Rhinehart to a two-year contract, providing stability on the offensive line. Telesco also was able to get wide receiver Eddie Royal and linebacker Jarret Johnson to re-structure their contracts, giving the team additional flexibility. The key now is success in the draft, like in 2013 where three key starters were found in the first three picks.

The Chargers moves may not match the Super Bowl or bust attitude in Denver, but GM Telesco is wisely maintaining his depth and core while emphasizing continued growth through the upcoming draft. They may not compete with the Broncos for the top of the division but the Chargers should be solid wild card contributors once again.

Barry’s Tickets stocks Chargers Tickets for all home games at Qualcomm Stadium with no service fees or hidden charges.Chris Michaels

Broncos Get Home Field Advantage

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Denver Broncos

Broncos

Needing a win to take home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs the Denver Broncos went into Oakland and took care of business defeating the pitiful Raiders 34-14. The Broncos scored early and often, running out to a 31-0 halftime lead behind another incredible performance by soon to be MVP Peyton Manning. The Broncos veteran quarterback destroyed the NFL records for passing yards and touchdowns in a season, throwing four more touchdown passes in the Broncos victory. Manning finished the regular season with an incredible 5,477 yards passing and 55 touchdowns. As usual Manning spread the ball around, throwing two touchdowns to Demaryius Thomas and strikes to Eric Decker and Knowshon Moreno.

Payton Manning

Manning

Where the game was won: It was all Manning once again. The future Hall of Famer completed 25 of 28 passes, the highest completion percentage in his career in a game where he threw at least 28 passes. Oakland, playing out the string in yet another tough season, provided very little opposition in the game. The Broncos had 458 total yards en route to resting Manning for much of the second half. In addition to the huge game from Manning the Broncos had another game of balanced rushing with Montee Ball, Ronnie Hillman and Moreno combined for 129 yards rushing. The Broncos defense, without star passing rusher Von Miller, was huge early, only giving up two late garbage time touchdowns to the Raiders. After re-setting the record for touchdown passes on a season last week when Manning passed Tom Brady’s record, the Broncos quarterback passed Drew Brees’s record for passing yardage in a season. Manning’s passing efficiency rating of 113 was a full 16 points over his career average. Victory in hand the Broncos will wait to see who comes out on top in the AFC wild card round before they host a divisional round game in two weeks time. The Broncos will face the lowest ranked winner between the Bengals, Chargers, Colts and Chiefs.

Up next for Denver: Based on the wild card games the Broncos would likely prefer to face anyone but the Colts who beat them behind in Indianapolis two months ago. The Broncos swept the Chiefs this season, and split with the Chargers. If the Bengals win the Broncos cannot face Cincinnati since they are the third seed in the playoffs. The interesting matchup for Denver could be San Diego. The Broncos lost at home to the Chargers two weeks ago behind a big defensive performance for the Chargers. San Diego did the best job of slowing down the Broncos offense of any team Denver faced this season. If San Diego can manage to defeat the Bengals they’ll travel to Denver. If Cincinnati beats the Chargers the Broncos are guaranteed to play either the Colts or Chiefs. By: Chris Cabrera

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Broncos Look Super Bowl Bound

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Broncos

Broncos

The Denver Broncos won their 11th game of the season Sunday afternoon, initially falling behind the Tennessee Titans before roaring back for a 51-28 victory. The story was once again Peyton Manning who threw for nearly 400 yards and four touchdowns in the victory, leading a balanced attack. The win sets up a division game with the San Diego Chargers next week in Denver. Beyond the stellar play of Manning the highlight for the Broncos was Matt Prater’s 64-yard field goal, breaking the NFL record held by Tom Dempsey and former Broncos kicker Jason Elam.

Where the game was won: The Broncos were sloppy early, allowing the Titans to build a 21-7 lead. As in so many games this season the Broncos offense dominated the second through fourth quarters, scoring over fifty points for the fourth time this season. Manning was as efficient as ever, throwing touchdowns to four different Broncos receivers. Eric Decker, Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas and Julian Thomas all caught touchdown passes for the Broncos. Decker, coming off a career game last week, caught 8 passes for 117 yards. The former Minnesota Gophers star has caught sixteen passes for nearly 300 yards and five touchdowns the past two weeks. While Manning and his receiving crew were dominating through the air the combination of Knowshon Moreno and Montee Ball was effective on the ground. The duo combined for 155 yards rushing on 29 carries and a touchdown each. With 551 yards the Broncos outgained the Titans by nearly 300 yards. The Broncos offensive line was perfect once again, not giving up a sack while their future Hall of Fame quarterback lit up the Titans through the air.

Up next for Denver: Denver hosts their division rivals the San Diego Chargers next weekend at Invesco Field. The Broncos defeated the Chargers 28-20 in a November matchup in San Diego. The Chargers are still alive in the playoff race after thrashing the New York Giants 37-14 in San Diego on Sunday. At 6-7 the Chargers likely need to upset Denver to have any chance at earning a wild card in the AFC. San Diego has an efficient, ball-control offense, but struggles defensively. Look for the Chargers to put points on the board behind Philip Rivers and the offense but the Chargers defense is unlikely to have much success stopping the Broncos. The win will put the Broncos one game closer to a division title and will keep them on top in the race for home field advantage in the AFC.

Prediction: Manning throws for over 300-yards once again as Denver manages a convincing victory over the Chargers. The Broncos earn their 12th victory of the season with a 41-31 victory over the Chargers. Broncos Vs Chargers Tickets are still available for the Dec 12th game at Invesco Field.
By:Chris Michaels

Is Mike McCoy the Right Coach for the San Diego Chargers?

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At the end of the 2012-13 NFL Football season the San Diego Chargers decided to part ways with Norv Turner. The relationship with Turner and the Chargers fan base had been severed as many felt as if Turner walked into a very talented team left behind by Marty Schottenheimer. Schottenheimer was fired after winning 14 games and being one game away from the AFC Championship game. During the first few seasons Turner was in San Diego the Chargers won the division and went to the playoffs. As years moved on Turner saw his record get progressively worse and the Chargers ended up missing the playoffs for several years in a row. When Turner was let go many Chargers fans were left wondering what the front office of the Chargers would do. That question was answered very quickly when they hired the offensive coordinator from the Denver Broncos, Mike McCoy. Today, many Chargers fans are left wondering if this is the right coach for the job.

Mike McCoy’s Background

Mike McCoy has been an offensive guy since becoming a coach. He spent many years with the Carolina Panthers with Jake Delhomme before moving to the Denver Broncos. Interestingly, prior to one season with Peyton Manning most would agree that the Denver Broncos did not have the best offense in the AFC. Some would argue the Denver offense was downright bad. So much so that they had to start Tim Tebow at quarterback and win games with their defense. Even though this was the case the San Diego Chargers felt as if he was the man for the job.

AJ Smith was the general manager for the San Diego Chargers through the rise and fall over the last decade. Many felt as if AJ was way too controlling of the team. When he interviewed a coach that wanted to control a certain part of the organization AJ went another way. In fact, he was actually nicknamed the “Lord of No Rings” because he was able to spot amazing talent such as Antonio Gates and Philip Rivers but he was never able to put a full team and coach staff together that could win a Super Bowl. After the Norv Turner debacle the San Diego Chargers let AJ Smith go as well.

The fact that AJ Smith would not be doing the interviewing for the new San Diego Chargers head coach position made many feel as if they would go out and get a coach that wanted to control certain aspects of the team. A common name that kept coming up was Jon Gruden. When all was said and done they went with Mike McCoy who does not seem like a coach that wants to run the entire organization. We are still waiting to see if this is good or bad. I personally feel as if the San Diego Chargers need a more controlling coach like Bill Parcells or Jon Gruden. The Chargers have had a very weak team over the last few years. There is not much intensity and they tend to get pushed around. Some people relate this to the overall atmosphere of the city of San Diego and the fans. I have been to several games in San Diego and the fans are not the best. They have other options like plenty of beaches and golf. To get Qualcomm Stadium full during any game on Sunday there has to be some fans from the away team in attendance. This filters through to the organization and some of the players on the field. This is not the atmosphere that Pittsburgh or Green Bay has when it comes to the NFL team in each town.

Mike McCoy did not start his coaching career with a team that had a strong football history. The Carolina Panthers were a newer organization and fans in Charlotte were still learning about the team. The Denver Broncos have a much stronger football tradition as they won Super Bowl championships with John Elway. It will be interesting to see how Mike McCoy tries to change the culture of the San Diego Chargers. Interestingly, Philip Rivers is a very emotional guy that has a passion for the game of football. Even when I was in college I could see Philip change the atmosphere of a team that was not known for winning. I have quite a bit of knowledge about Mr. Rivers as we were very good friends at NC State in the early 2000s.

Mike McCoy and Philip Rivers

Philip Rivers is one of the most emotional quarterbacks in the NFL. In fact, some would argue that his emotions sometimes get the best of him. While at NC State from 2000-2004 ACC fans knew that Philip was going to talk the talk but, most of the time, he backed it up. He holds many ACC passing records and still holds the most touchdowns in a career at NC State and in the ACC. During his first two years in the NFL he sat behind Drew Brees and learned from watching. As soon as he got a chance to start he was immediately successful. He went to the playoffs his first few seasons in the NFL and he was throwing for 300 yards a game what seemed like every game. His first season as a starter the Chargers went 14-2 and won the AFC West division.

Unfortunately, after that season Marty Schottenheimer was let go. Not only was Schottenheimer let go but offensive coordinator Cam Cameron was let go as well. The Chargers brought in another offensive mind as head coach in Norv Turner. During Turner’s first few years in San Diego Philip Rivers thrived. He made the Pro Bowl and led the NFL in passing yards. Unfortunately, the San Diego Chargers front office let many of his favorite wide receiver targets go. It was also the case that the Chargers running game disappeared as LaDainian Tomlinson was getting old. This allowed defenses to focus on Philip Rivers and his stats started to suffer. He threw way too many interceptions and the Chargers found a way to lose games in the 4th quarter. This was the main reason Norv Turner was let go and Mike McCoy was brought in.

Some have wondered if Mike McCoy would help Philip Rivers get his confidence back. Through the first few weeks of he NFL season Philip Rivers has played much better but the Chargers are coming up just short when it comes to winning games. In all the early season games the Chargers have had a chance to win in the 4th quarter but they have only been victorious versus the Philadelphia Eagles. In all reality, the Chargers were better than the Tennessee Titans and the Houston Texans but they did not get the wins. Philip Rivers is not throwing as many interceptions and he is back to his old self when it comes to throwing for 300 or 400 yards a game. This is interesting because the Chargers still do not have a dominant wide receiver in which Rivers can go to in a crucial situation.

The Chargers Playoff Chances

Unfortunately, the San Diego Chargers are in the same division as Peyton Manning. When Peyton Manning came to the Denver Broncos most Chargers fans knew it was going to be tough to win the AFC West. The Broncos offense looks amazing this year and they are already a few games ahead of the Chargers. Unless the Chargers start winning these close games or Peyton Manning has his arm fall off it is unlikely the Chargers are going to win the AFC West in the 2013-14 season. Most San Diego Chargers fans do not expect this team to win the Super Bowl this season. That said, they would like to see this team improve and not lose games in which they are more talented than the other team.

Once of the big arguments against Norv Turner was that he lost games in which the Chargers had better players than the opponents. He was also known for losing games early in the season and having to go on long winning streaks at the end of the season just to have a winning record. While the Chargers have not started the season great in 2013 they are still playing better than they did under Norv Turner at the outset of the season. Having been a Chargers fan long enough I have become accustomed to the Chargers playing very bad at the beginning of the season and putting themselves in a terrible position.

I have also noticed that the Chargers are not turning the ball over as much this year. Philip Rivers threw way too many interceptions in the past two years and the running backs often fumbled in key situations. If the Chargers can play fundamental football and live up to their potential Mike McCoy might be just the right guy for the coaching job.

Week 5 for the San Diego Chargers

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Norv Turner and the San Diego Chargers head in to week 5 sitting atop the AFC West with a three and one record. The Chargers head to New Orleans to take on the Saints in a game that has a lot more on the line for the Saints then the Chargers. So the Chargers will need to play a balanced game while looking for a big game out of Philip Rivers.

The Chargers have gotten off to a great start with two of the three wins coming against division rivals the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs. In order for a team to win the division they have to take care of the teams in that division. That is exactly what the Chargers has done this season. In week 1 Philip Rivers threw for 231and 1 touchdown while Nate Kaeding added 5 field goals to beat the Raiders 22-14. After taking care of the Tennessee Titans in week 2 38-10 the Chargers would find themselves in a tough match-up against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons would be to much and the Chargers would fall 27-3. The team would rebound in week 4 defeating the Chiefs as Rivers threw for 209 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception while the running game added 104 yards and a touchdown. The Chargers would benefit from 3 interceptions from Matt Cassel and 3 loss fumbles in the running game. The Chargers beat the Chiefs 37-20 to move to 3-1 on the season.

Now next up is the Saints where Drew Brees has a chance to pass Johnny Unitas in the all-time consecutive games throwing a touchdown record and they also look for the first win of the season. This match-up will be difficult as the NFL has allowed suspended head coach Sean Payton the chance to attend the game due to the record. This will give the Saints some inspiration and will come out ready to play.

In week 6 Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos will come to town in a divisional match-up. This game will be an intense game as both teams have goals on winning the division. This is only the first of two between the two teams as they also square off in week 11 as well. The Chargers will need to find a running game down the stretch if they want to win the division while the Broncos look for Peyton to lead them to the post-season.

After week 6 the Chargers get a bye before getting three games against teams they should beat the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. These three games will be key as the next four games comes against the Broncos, Ravens, Bengals and Steelers. All four should be tough down to the wire games with the Chargers needing at least 2 wins in those 4. The match-ups against all four of the AFC North teams will be defensive battles with the team winning making the fewer mistakes. The Chargers finish up taking on the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets and the Raiders. This gives them a chance to win the last three games and lock up the division.

The Chargers will need to continue to stop the run and play good defense while Rivers needs to throw touchdowns and not turn the ball over. This is a big season for the Chargers and Turner with high expectations on the line.

Steelers look to avenge last season

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Steelers to avenge last season

Steelers to avenge last season

The ending to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2011 season was tragic at best. The Steelers were one of the three favorites to win the AFC title going into the 2011 season having come off a defeat by the Packers in Super Bowl XLV. The team played well throughout the season battling the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North’s top spot. However, Week 14 was the beginning of the end for the Steelers’ season. While playing the Cleveland Browns, Ben Roethlisberger suffered a high ankle injury while scrambling out of the pocket. Instead of deciding to heal the ankle Big Ben decided to start the next game against the San Francisco 49ers in order to clinch a playoff birth in Week 15. Roethlisberger was noticeably limping during the game and ultimately had to sit out. Charlie Batch started the next two games for the Steelers, eventually clinching a Wild Card playoff spot. The Steelers were heavily favored in the Wild Card game against the miracle Denver Broncos and Tim Tebow. In shock and amazement to everyone in the world, the Broncos were successful in passing the football against the top defense in football. With a single overtime play of 80 yards, the Steelers were sent packing home and left scratching their head. With the collapse of the 2011 season behind them, what will the 2012 Pittsburgh Steelers bring to the table?

The 2012 Steelers will be quite a bit different from the Steelers of the past five years. Due to the new collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and its players, the Pittsburgh Steelers found themselves with salary cap problems during the 2012 offseason. Player casualties from front office decisions were the releasing of veteran Steelers players such as Hines Ward, James Farrior, Aaron Smith, and Max Starks. An analyst once said that the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t have backup players but “starters in waiting” and there has been no other time more important for those “starters in waiting” to play at the same level of standard that the Steelers fans are accustomed to than during the 2012 season. Other veteran Steelers players have restructured their contracts to also help the organization in its salary cap problems.

The historic franchise has done its best in trying to replace its cap casualties by signing back Max Starks, resigning Jerricho Cotchery, and signing Leonard Pope. The Steelers also addressed its offensive line disasters through the draft, using its first two picks in selecting two offensive linemen, David DeCastro and Mike Adams. The Steelers have also drafted several other weapons to develop as “starters in waiting” as is the Steelers way. Electric running back Chris Rainey looks to be a change of pace back on third down situations and the primary kick and punt returner, Sean Spence will be developed into a Steelers future middle linebacker, and Alameda Ta’amu looks to replace nose tackle Casey Hampton in the future.

The Steelers have also dealt with disgruntled wide out Mike Wallace. Mike Wallace has demanded a long term contract with money equivalent to one of the top players in the league. Not giving into the demands of Wallace, the Steelers prepared to play the season without him and rewarded second year standout wide receiver Antonio Brown with a five year contract extension. Wallace and company finally decided to sign the restricted free agent tender offered to him by the Steelers and report to the team with only two weeks away from the start of the 2012 season.

The Steelers have always had one of the best defenses year in and year out. With Dick LeBeau still in command of the defense and some younger players being inserted into the starting roster, it looks like the Steelers will continue its dominant defensive tradition. The offense on the other hand might need some time to adjust to new offensive coordinator Todd Haley’s offensive system. It’s no secret that Ben Roethlisberger loved Bruce Arians’ offense the past couple of seasons but with a changing of the guard and Pittsburgh native Haley in command of the offense, the Steelers may struggle early on in the season.
All in all, the Steelers have an elite defense and playmakers on offense. They may struggle for the first month, trying to learn the new personnel changes but they will once again be a heavy favorite in the AFC rivaling the Patriots, Ravens, and Texans for top honors. The first test will be against the same team that sent them home last season, in the same building, however Tim Tebow is no longer running the team, that job now belongs to Peyton Manning. We will see how prepared the Steelers are to redeem its 2011 season right from Week 1.