Monday Night Football Week 5: TV Schedule, Live Stream for Steelers vs. Chargers

Michael Vick-Philip Rivers might not be what the NFL had in mind, but it's what everyone gets on the Week 5 iteration of Monday Night Football between the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers.

If the league had to pick, though, Vick might top the list of backups to start under the bright lights of a national microscope. Despite sitting at .500, the Steelers look dangerous, especially with extra time to get the offense tuned to Vick's skill set after the team played on Thursday in Week 4.

Rivers and Co. don't need any tuning at home, but get a boost anyway with the return of surefire Hall of Famer Antonio Gates. The Chargers looked sluggish over their past three games, but a boost to a potent offense only makes things interesting.

Here's a look at Monday's must-see encounter.

Viewing Info

When: Monday, October 12, 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

Television: ESPN

Live Stream: NFL Game Pass

Tickets: ScoreBig.com

Betting Lines (via Odds Shark)

• Over/Under: 46.5

• Spread: San Diego (-4)

Team Injury Reports

Player	Position	Status
Cortez Allen	CB	Questionable
Ryan Shazier	LB	Out
Matt Spaeth	TE	Probable
Markus Wheaton	WR	Probable
Martavis Bryant	WR	Questionable

Player	Position	Status
Brandon Flowers	CB	Questionable
Jacoby Jones	WR	Questionable
Malcom Floyd	WR	Probable
Orlando Franklin	OT	Out
Stevie Johnson	WR	Questionable

Injury reports from ESPN.com.

Vintage Vick Time? 

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

The Steelers lost in Week 4, an overtime heartbreaker at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens, 23-20.

One has to wonder, though, what would have happened if the Steelers hadn't needed to turn around on a short week right after Ben Roethlisberger's injury.

It's what the Steelers seemed to focus on this week.

In fact, one of the team's biggest adjustments with its extra time off? Getting used to Vick's left-handed throws. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley spoke with ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler on the subject.

"The spin, the tilt of the football, there are a lot of different things that are different [about lefties]," Haley said. "It’s like breaking any other habit, it takes time and repetitions. That’s another thing having an extra day. They are getting to spend extra time between periods."

It sounds like a small detail, but it might go a long why in explaining why lead wideout Antonio Brown could only haul in five of his nine targets against the Ravens, or why Vick's best completion percentage came when passing to back Le'Veon Bell, helping his per-attempt average to sit at a woeful 4.8 yards.

In theory, extra time to iron out these details means good things for the Steelers. If it comes to fruition, it might seem like Monday Night Football stepped into a time machine and went back to 2005. 

Operating at Full Strength

Denis Poroy/Associated Press

It seems Rivers once again gets overlooked when it comes to superb quarterback play.

Through four games, he's completed 70.7 percent of his passes with 1,248 yards and eight scores to four picks. Last week in a 30-27 escape of the Cleveland Browns, Rivers had to do it all on his own while tossing three scores with no interceptions.

Now Rivers figures to become even more dangerous. Keenan Allen (33 catches, 387 yards, three scores) is one thing, but having Gates on the field puts things over the top. He spoke with the media about what Gates' return means, per ESPN.com:

"

It's great getting him back. He's fired up to be back. He made the comment how much he missed being here, missed just being around everybody, the camaraderie that comes with it. He felt left out those four weeks and hated he couldn't help and all those things but he'll be back in there rolling on Monday.

"

Good news considering Rivers has to compensate for a porous defense. The unit has allowed at least 24 points in every game thus far, including matchups with the sluggish offenses of Cleveland and the Minnesota Vikings.

While at home, Rivers will have to go all Philip Rivers to pull out a win Monday.

Prediction

Were this in Pittsburgh, it might be easier to weigh in favor of the Steelers.

It's not, though, and no amount of time off to prepare can help convince most that Vick can outperform Rivers, who has years and years of experience with this core and now gets back what might be his best, if not most reliable weapon.

Both of these defenses struggle, but when it comes down to it, Rivers can dictate the pace of this game with a short passing attack Pittsburgh won't be able to stop. This is a big step up in competition for the Steelers, easily the best since the team's Week 1 loss to New England.

Look for Rives to control this one and secure the home win.

Prediction: Chargers 21, Steelers 13

Statistics courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.