NFL Week 9 Picks: Why the Chargers Will Cool off Aaron Rodgers

No matter how great a statistical year someone is having, there will always be the proverbial stinker. Count on it. The competition at the NFL level is way too high for it not to happen. 

Steve Young had the Eagles in 1994. Peyton Manning completed just over 50 percent of his passes in an opening loss to New England in a record-setting 2004. Aaron Rodgers will be no different this year.

The Pack has too many deficiencies on defense to go undefeated, but their first loss of the season will come at San Diego. And why not? The Bolts are ranked first in the NFL against the pass and surrender a paltry 6.8 yards an attempt.

Not only can they keep up with the Pack receivers, they can tackle them if they do catch the ball, limiting the yards after catch, which have destroyed Packer opponents all year.

While Philip Rivers has struggled, running back Ryan Mathews has been stellar in his sophomore campaign. Despite a talented secondary, the Pack have the worst pass defense in football. That may have a bit to do with the early leads Rodgers has staked them to.

While the defense has been stout against the run overall, it still allows 4.6 yards per carry. Expect Mathews and the Chargers to find holes and keep Rodgers off the field for a while. Mathews could be the key to the Chargers’ defensive efforts.

If the offensive line can keep Rivers out of Clay Matthews’ cross hairs, he could take advantage of a porous secondary. Likewise, the Bolts will have to make Rodgers uncomfortable in the pocket and keep him from rolling out, where he may be the most accurate quarterback on the run in NFL history.