Chargers Continue Winning Ways

For the second straight week the Chargers did not turn the ball over, jumped to big first half leads, scored over 30 points and as a result, won both of their games to go to 3-2 on the season. This past victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars may be the confidence boost the Chargers need to keep the momentum going for the rest of the season. Even short-termed, I think the Chargers match-up well against their next 4 opponents - at Atlanta, at Carolina, Oakland and New Orleans. I think Atlanta is over-rated (as is Mike Vick), Carolina is certainly not looking like the team of last year and is injury plagued, Oakland's 2 wins have been against the Bills and Tampa Bay, a combined 1-8 record as of right now, and New Orleans is sub-500 at 2-3 and just got beat buy the previously winless Bucs. I think realistic expectations would be the Chargers to go 3-1 over those next four games and no worse than 2-2. Anything less will show that the Charger team is still inconsistent. After the bye the Chargers will start what will no-doubtedly make or break their playoff chances... they play at Oakland, at Kansas City and then host the Broncos.

But before we look too much further down the road, let's reflect back on the Jacksonville win and what went right...

First, the Chargers again jumped out to a 21-0 nothing lead...but before the half, the Charger defense gave up a Jacksonville TD to only lead by 2 scores, 21-7. Leftwich had an incredibly poor pass intercepted in the first half which aided the Chargers scoring. The Charger defense effectively shut down the Jacksonvilled running game forcing the Leftwich to prove he could get the job done through the air...and it wasn't until the game was put away after a 41 yard Jesse Chatman touchdown run, that Leftwich was able to do that, with the Chargers clearly playing a 'soft' defense.

The Chargers pass rush looked less effective than the first half of the Tennessee game the week prior, but it did appear as if there was some pressure throughout most of the game. But this is still an area where the Chargers do need to improve upon.

Ladainian Tomlinson had a score and over 130 yards of total offense but with the Chargers lead at 20 points in the third quarter, he was done for the day. He aggrevated a groin muscle earlier in the week and although he could have continued, Marty Schottenheimer decided to keep Tomlinson out as a precautionary measure. Jesse Chatman came in and lit the place up...11 carries for 103 yards and the previously mentioned 41 yard touchdown run that iced this game for the Chargers.

Antonio Gates had another good outing, 8 catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns...he continues to show good speed and good hands. Teams will have to divert some of their defensive schemes to insure he is covered or the Chargers will continue to make them pay for not doing so.

The most impressive thing that the Chargers and namely Drew Brees have done these past 2 weeks is not turn the ball over. Brees, who has often displayed irratic passing, has not been picked off over the past two games...plus his overall passing has looked very good.

The Chargers looked good against the AFC South, going 3-0 so far...but they have yet to play Indianapolis, which they will do December 26th... if both teams continue to look good, this should be a good game.