Packers at Chargers
THE STORY: Philip Rivers’ nightmare season hit rock bottom Monday night. Now, he and the San Diego Chargers have the unenviable task of trying to end a two-game skid at home against the undefeated and well-rested Green Bay Packers. Rivers threw two more interceptions in a crucial 23-20 overtime loss to AFC West rival Kansas City on Monday night. His biggest miscue, however, was botching a snap with the Chargers in position to take the lead late in regulation. While Rivers has stumbled through the season's first month, Aaron Rodgers has been nearly flawless while leading the Packers, who have won a franchise-record 13 straight, to their best start since 1962. Rodgers and the Packers will try to end the Chargers’ eight-game November winning streak.
TV: FOX, 4:15 p.m. ET. LINE: Packers -5.5, O/U 51
ABOUT THE CHARGERS (4-3): The Chargers avoided their annual first-half swoon, but San Diego continues to sputter in the red zone. Nick Novak kicked four field goals in the loss to Kansas City. The $64,000 question continues to be ‘What is wrong with Philip Rivers?’ The three-time Pro Bowler’s quarterback rating of 80.7 is the lowest of his career and he has thrown an NFL-high 11 interceptions – four shy of his career high set in 2007. The running game is also a concern. With oft-injured RB Ryan Mathews and third-string RB Curtis Brinkley (concussion) likely out, Mike Tolbert (hamstring- questionable) will have to carry the load.
ABOUT THE PACKERS (7-0): The Packers still lead the league in scoring (32.9 ppg). Rodgers (2,372 yards, 20 TDs, 3 INTs) has posted a quarterback rating of at least 110 in each of the last seven games, tying Steve Young’s single-season mark set in 1994. The Packers’ defense is giving up yards (391.0 ypg – 28th in league), but Green Bay is tied for second in the league in interceptions (13) and ninth in scoring defense (20.1 ppg). CB Charles Woodson is tied with San Diego S Eric Weddle for the league lead in interceptions (5).
EXTRA POINTS:
1. “You blow it on a play that never should have happened.” – Rivers, on the fumbled snap Monday night.
2. Rodgers is the first QB in NFL history to throw for more than 2,300 yards and at least 20 touchdowns in the first seven games of a season.
3. This is the first of three games in a 10-day stretch for San Diego, which hosts Oakland on Nov. 10 in the first Thursday night game of the season.