dragondawg
11-16-2006, 04:21 PM
The Chargers and Broncos meet for the first time this season and this game in Denver will give the winner sole possession of first place in the AFC West. In addition to playing on their homefield, the Broncos will have the advantage of not having to face a Chargers defense that includes linebacker Shawne Merriman, who is sitting out a suspension.
Here are eight key matchups:
Chargers RBs LaDainian Tomlinson, Michael Turner vs. Broncos OLBs Ian Gold and D.J. Williams
The Matchup: This is perhaps the most important matchup when it comes to establishing AFC West superiority. Tomlinson, left, is the best all-around player in the NFL and nobody realizes it more than Mike Shanahan. Tomlinson is a perfect blend of power, speed and instincts and the Broncos LB duo should be able to come close to handling Tomlinson’s speed, but they will have a difficult time with his power in the second half. Tomlinson is on his way to establishing a new record for touchdowns in a season. Turner is an explosive backup who would start for at least 10 teams. Gold, right, and Williams can both go from sideline to sideline as well as any linebackers in the game. The Broncos rank fifth in fewest yards allowed per rushing attempt while the Chargers are second in rushing yards per game.
Key stats:
Tomlinson -- 932 yards; 4.9 yards per carry; 16 TDs; 44 receptions; 377 yards; 2 TDs.
Turner-- 345 yards; 6.4 ypc; 2 TDs.
Gold-- 50 tackles; 2 pass defensed; 1 forced fumble.
Williams-- 47 tackles, 2 passes defensed.
Edge: Tomlinson and Turner
Chargers QB Philip Rivers vs. Broncos MLB Al Wilson
The Matchup: Chargers bided their time and groomed Rivers brilliantly for the job, and he is rewarding the foresight of general manager A.J. Smith with great leadership and accurate passing. Rivers does not have the best crew of wideouts, but he has a knack for putting the ball where his receivers can catch it and defenders can’t. Wilson may not get the notoriety of Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher, but he is nearly as good. Wilson has a quick first step, can drop back into coverage and conducts the Broncos defense as if he were Zubin Mehta leading the New York Philharmonic.
Key stats:
Rivers-- 182-of-274 for 2,085 yards, 13 TDs and 3 interceptions.
Wilson -- 67 tackles, 1 sack, 3 passes defensed.
Edge: Even
Broncos RB Tatum Bell vs. Chargers LBs Donnie Edwards and Shaun Phillips
The Matchup: Earlier in the season, Bell was getting some assistance from Mike Bell, but Shanahan left him as an inactive player last week against Oakland. Tatum Bell relies on his quickness at getting off the mark and knows how to read his blockers before accelerating into the open. Edwards, shown tackling Chad Johnson, has great instincts for diagnosing plays while Phillips is a big hitter who tries to put his helmet on the football when he gets the opportunity. The Chargers held Bell to 52 yards on 19 carries in the regular-season finale a year ago -- but Bell punched the ball into the end zone three times.
Key stats:
Bell -- 649 yards, 4.3 ypc, 2 TDs.
Edwards -- 72 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble.
Phillips --32 tackles, 7 sacks, 3 forced fumbles.
Edge: Edwards and Phillips
Broncos QB Jake Plummer vs. Chargers ILB Randall Godfrey
The Matchup: Plummer is in a very difficult position. No matter what he says, he knows he is keeping the seat warm until rookie QB Jay Cutler is ready. That won’t happen until the start of the 2007 season, but how can Plummer play his best football under those circumstances? Even when he does have a clear mind, Plummer tends to make mistakes in crucial situations, and that’s the primary reason Shanahan drafted Cutler last April. Godfrey is a wily veteran who will try to keep Plummer in his sights and not let him get to the outside where he can make plays on the run. Godfrey has had to step up his game due to the suspension of Shawne Merriman. He is not spectacular but he is all business on the field and rarely makes mistakes.
Key stats:
Plummer -- 137-of-248 for 1,595 yards; 10 TD and 10 interceptions.
Godfrey -- 31 tackles, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles.
Edge: Godfrey
Broncos QB Jake Plummer vs. Chargers ILB Randall Godfrey
The Matchup: Plummer is in a very difficult position. No matter what he says, he knows he is keeping the seat warm until rookie QB Jay Cutler is ready. That won’t happen until the start of the 2007 season, but how can Plummer play his best football under those circumstances? Even when he does have a clear mind, Plummer tends to make mistakes in crucial situations, and that’s the primary reason Shanahan drafted Cutler last April. Godfrey is a wily veteran who will try to keep Plummer in his sights and not let him get to the outside where he can make plays on the run. Godfrey has had to step up his game due to the suspension of Shawne Merriman. He is not spectacular but he is all business on the field and rarely makes mistakes.
Key stats:
Plummer -- 137-of-248 for 1,595 yards; 10 TD and 10 interceptions.
Godfrey -- 31 tackles, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles.
Edge: Godfrey
Chargers TE Antonio Gates vs. Broncos SS Nick Ferguson
The Matchup: The powerful Gates is the Chargers' most dangerous receiver and an outstanding red-zone weapon who can also go down the seam and make a big play. Gates gets off the line quickly and can run by the linebackers into the secondary and then use his big body to wall off defenders and make the catch. Ferguson is a smart player who will have problems matching up with Gates. Ferguson, 5-11 and 201 pounds, simply does not have the strength to control the 6-4, 260-pound Gates. This could be a huge edge for the Chargers if the game is on the line in the final minutes.
Key stat:
Gates -- 39 receptions for 475 yards, 4 TDs.
Ferguson --32 tackles, 3 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble.
Edge: Gates
Broncos WR Javon Walker vs. Chargers CB Quentin Jammer
The Matchup: The Broncos needed a big-play wideout, and Walker has given them the ability to strike from anywhere. His three-TD performance in Week Nine against the Steelers demonstrated the Walker was at the top of his game. He will need to be if he is going to be successful against Jammer. The physical corner will press Walker early on and make him earn every catch. Jammer can get burned because he will take chances, but if he can play with a physical edge early in the game, he could take Walker out of his game.
Key stats:
Walker -- 41 receptions for 731 yards; 6 TDs.
Jammer -- 43 tackles, 2 interceptions, 4 passes defensed.
Edge: Even
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan vs. Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer
The Matchup: Shanahan is perhaps the best strategist in the business while Schottenheimer is an outstanding teacher and motivator. Shanahan excels at putting his best talent on the field at key moments in the game and putting his players in a position to succeed. He is only limited by the mistakes his quarterback makes far too frequently. Schottenheimer has a reputation as a stubborn run-oriented general, but he has given Rivers the opportunity to throw with greater frequency over the last four games and he has been rewarded..
Edge: Shanahan, slightly
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15612258/?pg=1#anc_spt_NFL_matchup
Here are eight key matchups:
Chargers RBs LaDainian Tomlinson, Michael Turner vs. Broncos OLBs Ian Gold and D.J. Williams
The Matchup: This is perhaps the most important matchup when it comes to establishing AFC West superiority. Tomlinson, left, is the best all-around player in the NFL and nobody realizes it more than Mike Shanahan. Tomlinson is a perfect blend of power, speed and instincts and the Broncos LB duo should be able to come close to handling Tomlinson’s speed, but they will have a difficult time with his power in the second half. Tomlinson is on his way to establishing a new record for touchdowns in a season. Turner is an explosive backup who would start for at least 10 teams. Gold, right, and Williams can both go from sideline to sideline as well as any linebackers in the game. The Broncos rank fifth in fewest yards allowed per rushing attempt while the Chargers are second in rushing yards per game.
Key stats:
Tomlinson -- 932 yards; 4.9 yards per carry; 16 TDs; 44 receptions; 377 yards; 2 TDs.
Turner-- 345 yards; 6.4 ypc; 2 TDs.
Gold-- 50 tackles; 2 pass defensed; 1 forced fumble.
Williams-- 47 tackles, 2 passes defensed.
Edge: Tomlinson and Turner
Chargers QB Philip Rivers vs. Broncos MLB Al Wilson
The Matchup: Chargers bided their time and groomed Rivers brilliantly for the job, and he is rewarding the foresight of general manager A.J. Smith with great leadership and accurate passing. Rivers does not have the best crew of wideouts, but he has a knack for putting the ball where his receivers can catch it and defenders can’t. Wilson may not get the notoriety of Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher, but he is nearly as good. Wilson has a quick first step, can drop back into coverage and conducts the Broncos defense as if he were Zubin Mehta leading the New York Philharmonic.
Key stats:
Rivers-- 182-of-274 for 2,085 yards, 13 TDs and 3 interceptions.
Wilson -- 67 tackles, 1 sack, 3 passes defensed.
Edge: Even
Broncos RB Tatum Bell vs. Chargers LBs Donnie Edwards and Shaun Phillips
The Matchup: Earlier in the season, Bell was getting some assistance from Mike Bell, but Shanahan left him as an inactive player last week against Oakland. Tatum Bell relies on his quickness at getting off the mark and knows how to read his blockers before accelerating into the open. Edwards, shown tackling Chad Johnson, has great instincts for diagnosing plays while Phillips is a big hitter who tries to put his helmet on the football when he gets the opportunity. The Chargers held Bell to 52 yards on 19 carries in the regular-season finale a year ago -- but Bell punched the ball into the end zone three times.
Key stats:
Bell -- 649 yards, 4.3 ypc, 2 TDs.
Edwards -- 72 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble.
Phillips --32 tackles, 7 sacks, 3 forced fumbles.
Edge: Edwards and Phillips
Broncos QB Jake Plummer vs. Chargers ILB Randall Godfrey
The Matchup: Plummer is in a very difficult position. No matter what he says, he knows he is keeping the seat warm until rookie QB Jay Cutler is ready. That won’t happen until the start of the 2007 season, but how can Plummer play his best football under those circumstances? Even when he does have a clear mind, Plummer tends to make mistakes in crucial situations, and that’s the primary reason Shanahan drafted Cutler last April. Godfrey is a wily veteran who will try to keep Plummer in his sights and not let him get to the outside where he can make plays on the run. Godfrey has had to step up his game due to the suspension of Shawne Merriman. He is not spectacular but he is all business on the field and rarely makes mistakes.
Key stats:
Plummer -- 137-of-248 for 1,595 yards; 10 TD and 10 interceptions.
Godfrey -- 31 tackles, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles.
Edge: Godfrey
Broncos QB Jake Plummer vs. Chargers ILB Randall Godfrey
The Matchup: Plummer is in a very difficult position. No matter what he says, he knows he is keeping the seat warm until rookie QB Jay Cutler is ready. That won’t happen until the start of the 2007 season, but how can Plummer play his best football under those circumstances? Even when he does have a clear mind, Plummer tends to make mistakes in crucial situations, and that’s the primary reason Shanahan drafted Cutler last April. Godfrey is a wily veteran who will try to keep Plummer in his sights and not let him get to the outside where he can make plays on the run. Godfrey has had to step up his game due to the suspension of Shawne Merriman. He is not spectacular but he is all business on the field and rarely makes mistakes.
Key stats:
Plummer -- 137-of-248 for 1,595 yards; 10 TD and 10 interceptions.
Godfrey -- 31 tackles, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles.
Edge: Godfrey
Chargers TE Antonio Gates vs. Broncos SS Nick Ferguson
The Matchup: The powerful Gates is the Chargers' most dangerous receiver and an outstanding red-zone weapon who can also go down the seam and make a big play. Gates gets off the line quickly and can run by the linebackers into the secondary and then use his big body to wall off defenders and make the catch. Ferguson is a smart player who will have problems matching up with Gates. Ferguson, 5-11 and 201 pounds, simply does not have the strength to control the 6-4, 260-pound Gates. This could be a huge edge for the Chargers if the game is on the line in the final minutes.
Key stat:
Gates -- 39 receptions for 475 yards, 4 TDs.
Ferguson --32 tackles, 3 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble.
Edge: Gates
Broncos WR Javon Walker vs. Chargers CB Quentin Jammer
The Matchup: The Broncos needed a big-play wideout, and Walker has given them the ability to strike from anywhere. His three-TD performance in Week Nine against the Steelers demonstrated the Walker was at the top of his game. He will need to be if he is going to be successful against Jammer. The physical corner will press Walker early on and make him earn every catch. Jammer can get burned because he will take chances, but if he can play with a physical edge early in the game, he could take Walker out of his game.
Key stats:
Walker -- 41 receptions for 731 yards; 6 TDs.
Jammer -- 43 tackles, 2 interceptions, 4 passes defensed.
Edge: Even
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan vs. Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer
The Matchup: Shanahan is perhaps the best strategist in the business while Schottenheimer is an outstanding teacher and motivator. Shanahan excels at putting his best talent on the field at key moments in the game and putting his players in a position to succeed. He is only limited by the mistakes his quarterback makes far too frequently. Schottenheimer has a reputation as a stubborn run-oriented general, but he has given Rivers the opportunity to throw with greater frequency over the last four games and he has been rewarded..
Edge: Shanahan, slightly
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15612258/?pg=1#anc_spt_NFL_matchup