Chargers vs. Packers: Full San Diego Game Preview
After a crushing loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football, the San Diego Chargers head to Green Bay to take on the undefeated Packers in Week 6.
San Diego (2-3) has not fared well on the road, losing consecutive games to Cincinnati and Minnesota. The Chargers were beaten by mere inches in a 24-20 loss to the Steelers in Week 5. With five seconds remaining and the ball at the 1-yard line, Le'Veon Bell took a direct snap from the Wildcat formation, somehow kept his balance in a pile at the goal line and reached out just enough for the ball to cross the plane for the game-winning touchdown.
Green Bay (5-0) has not lost a home game in the regular season since December 2013 against the Steelers. And the Packers won their 11th straight at Lambeau Field last Sunday, 24-10, over the St. Louis Rams. Aaron Rodgers threw two interceptions in the first half, only one of which the Rams converted into points. However, the Packers defense stepped up in the second half to force two turnovers and keep St. Louis scoreless through the final two quarters.
Sunday's game will be the first meeting in the regular season between the Chargers and Packers since 2007. They played one other time during the preseason in 2012.
For more on this matchup, click ahead.
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
Time: 1:25 PT
TV: CBS
Week 5 Results and Recap
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| AFC West Standings | Wins | Losses | Ties |
| Denver Broncos | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| San Diego Chargers | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Oakland Raiders | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1 | 4 | 0 |
The Chargers got off to a good start against the Steelers, forcing a punt on defense and then scoring a touchdown in five plays on the opposite end. But their next five drives of the half would come up empty.
Still, the Chargers played well enough on defense to possess a 7-3 lead at the break, but they stumbled in the third quarter with two turnovers. Melvin Gordon fumbled trying to pick up a 3rd-and-1, and Philip Rivers threw a pick-six to Antwon Blake.
San Diego regained the lead on the second touchdown thrown to Antonio Gates, but the Steelers needed just 20 seconds and one play to tie it up, as Mike Vick connected with Markus Wheaton for a 72-yard touchdown strike.
After Josh Lambo's 54-yard field goal put the Chargers ahead by three with two minutes and 56 seconds remaining, Vick led Pittsburgh on a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive capped off by Bell's go-ahead score.
News and Notes
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Rivers to Join Elite Club with Start Against Packers
Rivers is set to make his 150th consecutive regular-season start on Sunday, becoming just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to do so. Brett Favre (287), Peyton Manning (208) and Eli Manning (172) are the other three on that list, putting Rivers in elite company.
McCoy Not Questioning the Effort of His Players on Pick-Sixes
During the return that followed Blake's interception of Rivers, it appeared that center Trevor Robinson stopped short of making the tackle, which radio host Judson Richards discussed during the Chargers Power Hour on Fox Sports Xtra 1360. Richards, and others on social media, called out Robinson for loafing on the play, and in watching the replay over again, they might have a point.
Head coach Mike McCoy, however, told reporters during Tuesday's news conference (courtesy of Chargers.com) that he isn't questioning the effort of his players. And there are some, including Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune, who don't believe Robinson was in range to stop Blake from reaching the end zone.
Clock Error in Monday Night Game
NFL spokesman Michael Signora provided NFL media insider Ian Rapoport with this explanation for the clock error made in Monday night's game between the Steelers and Chargers:
"With 2:56 remaining in the fourth quarter, San Diego kicked off to Pittsburgh. The kick resulted in a touchback. By rule, the game clock does not start if the receiving team possesses the ball in the end zone and does not carry it into the field of play.
Because of an error by the clock operator, the game clock was incorrectly started before the Steelers' first play from scrimmage following the touchback. That first down snap came with 2:38 left to play instead of 2:56, a difference of 18 seconds.
"
Latest Injury News
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| Player | Position | Injury |
| King Dunlap | OT | Concussion |
| Chris Hairston | OG | Ankle |
| Stevie Johnson | WR | Hamstring |
| Craig Mager | CB | Hamstring |
| Manti Te'o | ILB | Ankle |
| Darius Philon | DE | Hip/Thigh |
| Chris Watt | C | Groin, Concussion |
| Tourek Williams | OLB | Foot |
| Orlando Franklin | OG | Ankle |
| D.J. Fluker | OG | Ankle |
| Kyle Emanuel | OLB | Shoulder |
(All injury information courtesy of Chargers.com.)
Dunlap, Hairston, Johnson, Mager, Te'o, Philon, Watt and Williams did not practice on Wednesday. Franklin, Fluker and Emanuel were limited.
Dunlap has missed the last two games with the concussion he suffered in Week 3. His replacement at left tackle, Hairston had to come out in the second quarter of Monday's game with an ankle injury and was seen wearing a protective boot afterward.
Watt, too, was injured against the Steelers, suffering a concussion in the third quarter. He's already had to deal with a lingering groin injury for much of the season.
Franklin returned to practice, although limited, for the first time since injuring his ankle on Sep. 27 against Minnesota. And Fluker continues to grind away at right guard despite still feeling the effects of the high-ankle sprain he suffered in the season opener.
If Dunlap, Hairston and Watt are forced to sit out Sunday's game, Joe Barksdale would start at left tackle and Kenny Wiggins at right tackle. Trevor Robinson is likely to start at center with Watt sidelined by multiple injuries, and who starts at left guard is still unknown. J.D. Walton finished the game there on Monday after Watt went out, but his career has been spent at center. Franklin, meanwhile, is still working his way back from injury.
Hamstring injuries to Johnson and Mager are not being rushed. Johnson missed his first game on Monday and Mager has been absent for the last two. Dontrelle Inman received more playing time with Johnson out against the Steelers, and that should be the same plan if he misses again.
Te'o was in and out of Monday's game with an ankle injury. Should he be unable to play against the Packers, second-round draft pick Denzel Perryman would earn his first career start. The rookie linebacker has seen his snap counts increase over the last two games, and the Chargers will need a thumper up the middle to defend against big-bodied running back Eddie Lacy.
Key Matchups
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Chargers Secondary vs. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers, the reigning MVP of the league, is without a doubt the best quarterback San Diego will go up against this season. And through five games, he's looking like he might take home the MVP trophy again this year.
Rodgers has thrown a league-best 13 touchdowns to just two interceptions despite injuries to Green Bay's receiving corps. And on Sunday, the Packers are hoping to get back deep-ball threat Davante Adams from an ankle injury he suffered in Week 3. The second-year receiver is listed as a limited participant in the team's injury report on Packers.com.
The Chargers used Jason Verrett to clamp down on Steelers All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown, who was held to three catches for 45 yards last Monday. Markus Wheaton, meanwhile, beat Brandon Flowers for a touchdown, the fifth time that's happened to him in four games.
Chargers Offense vs. Packers Defense
Rivers and the Chargers offense know full well what they're up against in Green Bay's defense, which has allowed the third-fewest points per game (16.2) and recorded the second-most sacks (20). Said Rivers during Wednesday's news conference (courtesy of Chargers.com):
"They have our respect. I don’t know what due they get on the outside. I know they have ours here (when) we watch them on tape…They’ve had this defensive system in place now for some time. They don’t necessarily have the same guys they’ve had for a long time. They’ve brought in different pieces. But it’s a defense you can tell knows what they’re doing. There’s very few guys running open and free (against them). There’s nothing easy; they make you earn everything.
"
Third-down conversions will be especially tough to come by with Green bay holding opponents to 37.3 percent. Against the Steelers, San Diego was 4-of-14 on third downs.
Matchup X-Factor
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Chargers X-Factor of the Week: Melvin Gordon
Sunday's game against the Packers will be a homecoming for Gordon, who attended Wisconsin and grew up in Kenosha. And if there's one weakness in Green Bay's defense, it's definitely against the run. Dom Capers' unit is allowing five yards per rush and 130.2 yards per game.
The effort by Gordon on every run is there, but without a good offensive line, he continually finds himself getting hit in the backfield or being met by a handful of defenders at the line of scrimmage. On 71 attempts, Gordon is averaging 3.8 yards.
But in his first trip back to Wisconsin as a member of the Chargers, Gordon has a favorable matchup to do well on the ground. And how special would it be for him to get his first career touchdown in front of family and friends at historic Lambeau Field?
Prediction: Packers 30, Chargers 20
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The Chargers are 9.5-point underdogs against the Packers, according to OddsShark.com. And with how dominant they've been at home the last couple of years, it's no wonder the Packers are favored.
San Diego is 1-9 all time against Green Bay, with its lone win the series coming in 1984.
I'll say confidently the Packers will beat San Diego on Sunday, but wouldn't it be just like the Chargers to win a game they have no business winning? Past wins against good teams such as Seattle in 2014 and Denver in 2013 serve as reminders that the Chargers can play with the best of them, but they lack consistency in doing so.
Either way, fans will be treated to quite the passing display from quarterbacks of back-to-back draft classes. The Chargers selected Rivers fourth overall in 2004, while the Packers picked Rodgers with the 24th pick in 2005.
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