Week 2: Chargers vs Ravens

It's a short week for the Chargers coming off their Monday night game against Oakland...at least they are at home this week...

And in come the Baltimore Ravens, a team that went toe-to-toe last season with the Steelers in the AFC Championship, playing them much tougher than the Chargers were able too. The Ravens, though, resembled the Chargers in week 1...playing a supposedly inferior Kansas City team that was lacking it's starting quarterback but the Chiefs, a team that exhibited little offensive or defensive punch last season was able to effectively move the ball and got into a shoot-out with the Ravens in week 1 ... something I don't think anyone expected.

The Ravens lost their defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan, and the core of their defense, Ed Reed and Ray Lewis, haven't gotten any younger and you then add in the performance from a formerly inept Chiefs offense against them, by first glance this may be the beginning of the end for the dominant Ravens defense we have been accustomed to seeing from them.

The Chargers, though, have a banged up and battered offensive line that had troubles stopping the Raiders 4 man rush which frequently got to Rivers last game. Add in that the offensive line for the Chargers also was unable to provide any significant run blocking for the Chargers backs the Ravens defense may not need to be up to post-season quality to give the Chargers problems. Tomlinson not only fumbled the ball for the first time in almost 1,000 touches ended up getting hurt, was wearing a boot this week and may not be playing this weekend. Losing Tomlinson is become an all to frequent occurrence of late so the Chargers shouldn't be affected too much by his absence, but the question then becomes how much of a toll will this take on Sproles? Many Charger homers are quite 'high' on Michael Bennett because of his preseason performance...me, not so much. Bennett has been a career backup and is 1 year older than Tomlinson. Sure, there is less wear and tear on Bennett but that is for a reason...he has never proven to be a premiere back in the NFL and when he was, he was often injured. Also, Bennett's performance in preseason came against 3rd and 4th string defenses, something that won't be playing this Sunday. If the offensive line plays like it did last week, though, it really won't matter who is in the backfield, they will have their work cut out for them...

Last week the Chargers didn't seem to have much of a pass rush and had only 1 sack and that sack was from a backup player...none of the big names (Merriman, Castillo, Phillips, Williams) even had a touch on the QB. The Raiders, though, did keep most of their players back to protect Russell, but regardless, a good defense needs to get the proper schemes and personnel in place to get pressure on the quarterback regardless of what the offense is doing. The secondary was respectable for the Chargers except for one play...unfortunately that one play almost cost the Chargers the game...that needs to be tightened up immediately or else the Chargers may not be so fortunate enough to end the game with a win.

On the offensive side of the ball the passing game looks to be clicking fairly well...it seems as if teams are still trying to make Rivers beat them and lucky for the Chargers he is. I'm interested to see if Chambers is able to make a contribution this game or is it maybe time he gets some sideline duty and let Floyd or Naanee take his place...they are younger and they sure do seem quick. Also, as I mentioned above, the offensive line needs to improve...if the Chargers are unable to even produce any sort of running game time management in the game will be out of their control.

It is only game 2 of the NFL season but it is a home game for the Chargers and those are games you really want to win ... your fans get excited and the atmosphere is great for the team and the momentum gained from an early home win against a (seemingly) quality opponent is a good confidence builder for the team.