CHARGERS (1-1) VS. COLTS (0-2)
SUNDAY, 4:25 P.M. ET, LUCAS OIL STADIUM, INDIANAPOLIS uTV: CBS, DIRECTV 715
Announcers: Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon About the Chargers: After squandering a 24-3 lead in their season opener and losing in overtime to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Chargers made sure it didn’t happen again Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In its home opener, San Diego opened a 21-0 lead at halftime but kept its foot on the pedal and led 35-0 after three quarters before winning 38-14. However, the win came with a price seven days after WR was lost for the season to a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Sunday, versatile RB injured a knee, and S broke a collarbone. Of Allen and Woodhead, QB
said, “Two of our most dynamic players, and that’s really an understatement.” But positives abounded: RB rushed for 102 yards and another touchdown, the defense limited the Jaguars to two thirddown conversions in 11 tries and OLB Ingram had two sacks.
About the Colts: After giving up 39 points in the season-opening loss to the Detroit Lions, the Colts allowed another 34 in a loss at the Denver Broncos, but the defense can’t shoulder all of the blame. The Broncos had two defensive touchdowns, showing that some of the offensive line woes that surfaced last season remain. RB was held to 44 yards rushing, while QB dinked and dunked to a measly average of 4.9 yards per attempt. Luck was sacked five times and hit another 11 while completing 21 of 40 passes for 197 yards with a passer rating of 64.3. Most discouraging was the loss of more players in the secondary. CB
was injured in the preseason, while The Chargers got needed production from wideout Tyrell Williams in Week 2.
CB and S were inactive after being injured in Week 1. Against San Diego, CBs (shoulder) and (hamstring) joined the injured list along with CB
It’s difficult to envision the Colts slowing Rivers and the Chargers’ big-play capability. Said WR
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
who had six receptions for 115 yards against Jacksonville and two touchdowns, “With our personnel and the things we do on offense, we can’t be stopped.”
With Allen out for the season, the 6-4, 205-pound undrafted free agent will be counted on to contribute big plays. Sunday, he had three catches for 61 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown.
Career average per catch for Williams. He caught two passes for 90 yards with an 80-yard touchdown last season, and in the season opener he had two receptions for 71 yards.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Battling the war of attrition. With the way Rivers can fill the air with footballs, the Colts’ battered secondary will be challenged. Coach Chuck Pagano said after the loss to Denver, “We’re beat up. We’ve got to get some guys back. We lost some more guys today, but nobody is going to feel sorry for us.”
Yes, this sounds like beating a dead horse, but even with the game in Indianapolis, it has all the makings of a bad matchup for the Colts. In addition to Rivers, the Colts also will have to find ways to slow San Diego’s running game.
3. Control the tempo: The goal for the Colts will be to keep the ball away from the Chargers. They will try to run successfully, but that hasn’t happened yet with RB totaling 103 rushing yards on 27 attempts the first two games. Luck has attempted 87 passes.
Howard Balzer