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1. Baltimore scoring more than 14 points is unlikely.2. Everyone tries to stuff LT.That said, I would still take the points and the home team. I think SD is slightly the better team, but Baltimore is too good not to be favored at home.
I think it's likely that the handicappers have a different view of the game than the casual fans. If you look at FootballOutsiders, for example, they have SD ranked #1 and BAL ranked #6 in their DAVE power rankings. (Not that the FO guys are handicappers, but the statistical analysis they do is similar to what pro handicappers would do.)
I didn't see the game here in NY, but a lot of people in the game thread were blaming Marty for the loss today.very good and unbiased preview imo. I agree with everything you said except the coaching staff.In one of the best match ups of the week, two unbeaten, and somewhat untested squads match up this week in a game with early playoff implications. Sheridan had the Chargers as 2 and 1/2 point favorites on the road. What's your take?Being the pessimistic Charger fan that I am I see it this wayefensive Front 7: Chargers > Ravens: Jamal, Shawne and the gang are a bit younger and quicker than Ray Ray's gangDefensive Secondary: Ravens >>>> Chargers: No contest, even with Reed questionableOffensive Line: Ravens >> Chargers: Ravens are more tested and provenTight End: Chargers >> Ravens: Gates is the best, but Heap's pretty good, Chargers second string TE's are better than the Ravens'Receivers: Ravens > Chargers: McCardell is banged up and probably not quite as good as Mason even at full strength the rest are pretty evenQuarterback: Ravens > Chargers: McNair winding down his career, Rivers just starting his up, sight edge to the seasoned vetRunning Back: Chargers >>>> Ravens: No contest LaDainian + Turner + Neal, no other running back combo sniffs 'emSpecial Teams: Ravens >> Chargers: Kaeding still can't kick deep very often and in what could be a field position battle that could make the differenceCoaching: Chargers >> Ravens: Marty, Cam and Wade may not have any championships, but they're still better than Billick and his staff (and his ego)I'm taking the Ravens on the moneyline in this one, I think going into Baltimore with the inexperienced Rivers is going to be tough sledding for the young Chargers.What say you all?
Marty tried to sit on a 6 point lead for an entire half by running LT into a wall. The guy is flat-out awful. He cannot win close games.I didn't see the game here in NY, but a lot of people in the game thread were blaming Marty for the loss today.very good and unbiased preview imo. I agree with everything you said except the coaching staff.In one of the best match ups of the week, two unbeaten, and somewhat untested squads match up this week in a game with early playoff implications. Sheridan had the Chargers as 2 and 1/2 point favorites on the road. What's your take?Being the pessimistic Charger fan that I am I see it this way
Rivers =
Until SD can move the ball through the air, they are no better than a .500 team.Not sure where you got this impression, but Baltimore gained an average of 3.9 yards/play compared to 4.4 for San Diego. San Diego was bad on offense, but Baltimore was even worse.Assani Fisher said:
I dunno, I got the sense that San Diego was more talented and played below their potential. Conservative (Reactionary? lol) play calling cost them as well--they kept handing it off on every play regardless of down and distance.They were -2.5 on the road, so they'd essentially be -5 vs. the Ravens on neutral ground.
Total Yards -- SD 302 / Balt 217It was a weird game. The Ravens were lucky to be down by only six at the half. In the second half, both teams got lucky and unlucky in various ways. The Chargers got lucky with two fumble recoveries and a dropped pass by Mason. The Ravens got lucky with two San Diego botched filed goal attempts and a botched punt.That said, Steve McNair played a brilliant second half, and the Ravens deserve a lot of credit for coming up with big plays when they had to.I agree with sterjs that it looked like the Chargers were the more talented team, but they played well below their potential (due in part to atrocious play-calling in the second half).Assani Fisher said:
I'd go along with the fact it was a weird game alright ... but you definately have to credit the Baltimore D with being something else ... Ray was outstanding ... for anything he's lost in speed he's adjusted for with smartsI thought McNair would spend the afternoon on his back ... NOT ... he stood in there all afternoon ... didn't wow anyone at all just made play's when he had too ... the Ravens looked like the 2000 edition ... if that was the objective ... why did they ever let Dilfer go ?
I was wrong in that it ended in a TD instead of a FG and Jammer actually played very well most of the game, but in the end McNair is just rock solid as a leader and has played in big games before. As much as it hurt watching one of my favorite players fail to wrap up and tackle to make for an exciting ending(Donnie Edwards he didn't catch the ball in the endzone.... the game isn't over because Heap caught the ball!) you really have to admire the resillience displayed by McNair. If McNair/Lewis/Reed are all healthy heading into the playoffs look out.
Hard to move the ball through the air when you don't call passing plays. Rivers only threw the ball 4 times in the 2nd half until the last drive with 30 seconds left.Rivers =
Maybe that's why they didn't get blown out? By limiting Rivers' exposure to making critical mistakes, it kept the game close. However, in the end, the team needed more offense/points to get it done....and they weren't there. McNair led his team to a win, something that comes with experience....experience that Rivers lacks.cstu said:
Marty has Rivers on a short leash, partly due to Marty, partly due to Rivers. Do you think Marty would have let Brees throw more in this game if he were still QB? Not trying to irk you, just looking for an honest opinion.
Well I think we're really just having a semantic disagreement here. To me Marty limiting the playbook because he's not comfortable with his players when it seems to me he has every reason to have faith in them and let them make plays is all on Marty and has nothing to do with Rivers. It seems you're saying Rivers' lack of experience, which Marty is overemphasising to the point of crippling the playbook, is a problem with Rivers. The bottom line is, even though I'm pretty certain at this point that Rivers will be good and can handle the NFL, Marty doesn't seem to believe it yet. And I won't put words in your mouth so I'll try and state this in a non-targeted kind of way - you have to find out at some point whether this guy can be THE guy, you have to allow him to play when it matters, you have to give him an opportunity to play unfettered, full tilt when it matters or you'll never have a chance to be great. The decision to do that, or to not do that is all Marty's, and as such I put the full portion of the blame on Marty. Maybe it turns out Rivers CAN'T handle it, maybe it turns out Rivers isn't that good - but you at least have to find out. In a way I'm agreeing with you - Marty should have let Rivers play it just the way he would have let Brees play it. The failure to do that was Marty's - it's one of the major factors (along with John Elway) in why Marty has never gone to, let alone won, the big one. So that's why I said anyone who pinned this loss on Rivers is 100% wrong, Rivers never had a chance to lose the game - Marty lost it for them.
They ran into the same problems in close games last year. The handcuffing of the offense isn't due to Rivers, it's Marty Ball, and it happened with Brees too.
Excellent response, as expected. I agree with the bolded section the most. My least favorite phrase is "letting a QB manage a game and not lose it" which is complete BS. At some point, a QB must execute with a game on the line, because the games are usually too close each week for any other option.
Exactly. I've been a "management" proponent to some extent, but this week was inexcusable. At the climax, they basically needed 1 first down, 1, (nevermind that if he'd given the offense a bit more leeway througout the game they wouldn't have even been in that position) and he wouldn't even let Rivers try to pick it up. That's not asking for 400 yards passing or anything like that, just let him try to pick up one lousy first down, and Marty wouldn't do it. Disgusting.
7 passes after the 1st quarter isn't gonna win a lot of games...
It was the most disappointing play calling since '02(Marty's first season with the Chargers) when SD got an early lead on a very good STL Ram team and went into the turtle offense that ended up losing the game. Not many will remember that game but it's one of the few where I've really felt the "Marty-ball" label was accurate.As much as I hate to agree with HK(remember his prediction that Gates AND TOMLINSON were going to have down year because of Rivers???? Tomlinson is on pace for 1600rush/400rec/16td) it did appear the coaches didn't have the confidence to let Rivers play much of a role in the outcome of that game. Rivers has played well thus far but he did miss a wide open WR crossing the middle that would have gotten a first down and might have iced the game for SD. Rivers did have a chance to win the game for SD, but wasn't afforded many opportunities.
SD is the better defense, and has a better offense.
