Chargers vs Giants: Previews and Predictions
Los Angeles Chargers (0-4) vs. New York Giants (0-4)
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Sunday 1:00 PM (CBS: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn [field reporter])
Series History
Chargers lead all-time series 6-5
Chargers Injury Report
Out: Running back Branden Oliver (hamstring), wide receiver Mike Williams (back)
Questionable: Offensive lineman Joe Barksdale (foot), linebacker Jatavis Brown (ankle), tight end Sean McGrath (foot), wide receiver Tyrell Williams (neck)
Giants Injury Report
Out: Running back Paul Perkins (ribs), offensive lineman Weston Richburg (concussion)
Questionable: Offensive lineman John Jerry (hamstring), defensive end Avery Moss (shoulder), defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder/knee), defensive end Olivier Vernon (ankle)
When the Giants have the ball
Eli Manning’ performance in the last two games is lost in the talk of how they ended. After throwing for 406 yards and one touchdown in the first two games, No. 10 has thrown for 654 yards and five touchdowns in the last two. Odell Beckham Jr.’s return certainly helped out Manning’s numbers, in spite low reviews on the Brandon Marshall experiment thus far. The rookie tight end, Evan Engram, has quietly shined. Engram leads all rookie tight ends in receptions (19) and receiving yards (200).
With Perkins out, Orleans Darkwa and rookie Wayne Gallman will share the rushing duties. Gallman injected some life into the Giants’ offense in last week’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will get more time to show what he can do.
The Giants will use yet another offensive line combo due to the absence of Richburg. This is not good news as the Chargers have a hellacious pass rush headlined by defensive ends Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa. The Chargers will probably elect to have Ingram lined up against Ereck Flowers and Bosa lined up against Bobby Hart. Hart is coming off an ankle injury.
The good news is that the Giants haven’t allowed a sack in the past two games. They also haven’t faced a tandem like Ingram and Bosa all season.
When the Chargers have the ball
The Chargers have lost nine consecutive games dating back to last season. With a team like the Chargers, their record has to be thrown out the window. Eighteen of their last 22 games have been decided by one score.
The Chargers have a quarterback in Philip Rivers that can pick a defense apart if he has time to sit in the pocket. The Giants pass rush has seen better days as Jason Pierre-Paul hasn’t played to his potential and his running mate Olivier Vernon is injured and may not play Sunday.
Like the Giants’ offense, the Chargers’ offense is underachieving. Rivers has been a target all year. He’s been sacked four times, hit another 22 times, and pressured 24 times. If the Giants can get to Rivers and disrupt his rhythm, it can be a long day for the Chargers.
Who will win the game?
The Giants are supposed to win this game. After all, the offense is playing better and they’re going up against a West Coast team playing an early (10:00 AM PT) game in the Eastern Time Zone.
Then, I remember the Chargers haven’t exactly been getting blown out during their latest losing streak. Their first two games were ultimately decided by faulty play from the placekicker.
This will probably be the final time Rivers and Manning face off, barring a Super Bowl appearance (which is extremely unlikely). Both quarterbacks have put up historic numbers (Manning is seventh all-time in passing yards and touchdowns while Rivers is 11th in yards and eighth in touchdowns) but Rivers is 2-0 against the team who jilted him and the quarterback they wanted instead.
Rivers plays the game with a boulder-sized chip on his shoulder while Manning attempts to treat every game like it’s the same. Of course, this is not true. The Chargers are one of two teams Manning has never beat.
This game would be featured more prominently if both teams weren’t looking for their first win. We have two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks going at it for perhaps the last time and it’s been relegated to an afterthought because the teams are winless.
The Giants are supposed to win this game…but after getting sucked into the preseason Super Bowl hype and getting thoroughly disappointed, I don’t have any faith that they will win a game that my brain is telling me they should win.
Chargers-20 Giants-17
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