John Childress -> RE: RE:NFL News (12/7/2009 9:57:35 AM)
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MY PRESEASON AFC PICK quote:
The Chargers want to show they're not your father's Bolts. Rather than look at the narrow 30-23 victory in Cleveland with negativity, I look at it as an example of San Diego growing up. The Chargers built a 27-7 lead on a 27-degree wind-chill day, and even though San Diego likely won't face a frigid game in the playoffs, it's good to know the players can handle it if it comes. More likely, San Diego will find a road to the Super Bowl runs through Indianapolis. The Chargers would never say that makes them happy, but they don't have to. The stats say it. "I don't think that's a team Indianapolis wants to play,'' says Tony Dungy, who might know a thing or two about what Indianapolis wants. With the most recent game first, the past five San Diego-Indy meetings did not go well for the Colts. How they've gone: 2008 playoff, at San Diego: Chargers 23-17 (OT). 2008 regular season, at San Diego: Colts 23-20. 2007 playoffs, at Indianapolis: Chargers 28-24. 2007 regular season, at San Diego: Chargers 23-21 2005 regular season, at Indianapolis: Chargers 26-17 So let's see. The Chargers in 2005 beat the 13-0 Colts in Indy. The Chargers knocked the 13-3 Colts out of the playoffs in 2007 in Indy. The Chargers knocked the 12-4 Colts out of the playoffs in 2008 in San Diego. I sense a trend. The Chargers lead the league in matchup problems for defense. On Sunday in Cleveland, San Diego started two 6-foot-5 receivers, Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd, and two tight ends, 6-4 Antonio Gates and 6-2, 295-pound Brandon Manumaleuna. They subbed two more 6-5 wideouts, Legedu Naanee and Kassim Osgood. Smurfy Darren Sproles caught four balls. Gates had an eight-catch, 167-yard day. "Football is a game of matchups,'' Gates said from Cleveland. "Right now, our skill-position guys can match up well with defenses.'' Consider how the Chargers are playing in their seven-game win streak. They are scoring more than one unbeaten team, Indianapolis, in the past seven games, averaging 31 points during the win streak, and defending better than New Orleans, averaging 15 points allowed in their win streak. "Our maturity level is higher,'' Gates said from Cleveland. "We realize it's all about now. Forget what happened last week, forget what we've got next week. It's now that counts. We've also realized all that stuff about talent doesn't win games for you. Having talent doesn't mean you'll win in the playoffs, and going 14-2 doesn't mean you'll win. We just want to get to the postseason and be playing well when we get there.'' Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/peter_king/12/06/mmqb/index.html?cnn=yes#ixzz0Z1F5YgHm
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