NFL Preseason: Chargers at Saints Preview and Pick

The San Diego Chargers hit the road in week three of the preseason and travel to New Orleans to take on the reigning Super bowl Champs.

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CBS is televising what should be an entertaining game between two teams that have legitimate chances to go to Super bowl XLV.

The Saints are fresh off a 38-20 win over the Houston Texans. The Saints offense looks like they are in mid-season form as they were able to score easily and execute flawlessly on offense. With that in mind Drew Brees may only play in the first half of this game. Usually in the third preseason game the coaches play their starters into the third quarter if not deeper, but the Saints are set on the first string, and the real questions are at second string quarterback.

Quarterback Patrick Ramsey is battling for the second string spot and he will get some playing time with the starters. The young quarterback out of Missouri, Chase Daniels, looked extraordinary in the last game against Houston throwing for three touchdowns and driving for another one. The quarterback battle between Ramsey and Daniels for the second spot will be one of the more intriguing battles to watch.

The Chargers offense needs a boost after the poor performance against the Dallas Cowboys. Phillip Rivers and Ryan Matthews look to provide that boost. The starters will play into the third quarter for the Bolts and then after that Billy Volek and Jonathan Crompton will get a turn at quarterback.

The Chargers are approaching this game against the Saints as they would if it were regular season. They have simulated crowd noise for team drills during practice, and are treating this game with a focus on defeating the New Orleans Saints.

Rivers emphasized how important this game is to get ready for the regular season.

“We’ve got to take that same focus and approach this week,” Philip Rivers said. “… On the road, the noise and managing that will be key. We all know how the last preseason game is and how much (the starters) play, and then we go to Kansas City (for the season opener), and it’s going to be as loud and as crazy. So this will be the one time we get to go out there and have those situations.”

Prediction and Pick:

The Saints are at home but this game is more about finding the right depth on the team and not winning. Running back P.J. Hill was lost for the season in the game against the Texans and now the Saints will give Chris Ivory and LaDell Betts a shot at shoring up the third string spot.

Patrick Ramsey will get some playing time with the first team offense but he has not played with a first team offense in over four years.

Ryan Matthews is a stud at running back and the Chargers have struck gold by drafting the youngster out of Fresno St. The Chargers approach this game with an aggressive attitude, and will gamble and go for it more on fourth down than they have in the past.

This game will be close but in the end the Chargers win it on the field.

Pick: San Diego Chargers +3

This will be a high scoring game between two teams that will be entertaining to watch and will hold over any die-hard fan until kick off of the regular season.

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