Time: Sun. 4:45 PM ET
Weather: High: 25, Low: 24, 30% chance of snow showers, estimated 13 mph cross wind
Favorite: Pittsburgh by 6
Pittsburgh might have the league’s #1 defense, but this week they draw the unenviable task of trying to contain the league’s hottest quarterback. It’s no mistake San Diego’s resurrection from 4-8 to the Divisional Round happened to coincide with Philip Rivers’ terrific play. Since week 12, River has thrown 13 TDs and only two INT, playing the seven-week span to an average QB rating of 107.55. When it’s counted the most, Rivers has been at his best this season. When the two teams met on November 16, Rivers played his worst game of the year (0 TD, 2 INTs, 44.4 QB rating) and San Diego still only lost by a point, 11-10.
Both teams have one major injury of note. Pittsburgh’s quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is still recovering from a pretty severe concussion suffered two weeks ago in the regular season finale against Cleveland, but is expected to play. He had this to say Wednesday, “I had a little bit of a headache from putting the helmet on because it’s so tight. We’ll deal with it and move on.”
For the Chargers the news is not so good. LaDainian Tomlinson is expected to miss the game with what is being described as a torn tendon in his groin. LT, who was clearly limited in last week’s Wildcard win over Indianapolis, was clearly distraught about the injury when talking to the media Wednesday:
"It feels like something is tearing away from my leg. That's how I know that it's messed up because before, when I've had groin injuries, I haven't felt that. Whenever you feel a popping or like it's tearing, that's usually not good."
Without LT or Shawne Merriman, the task will be large for Norv Turner’s Chargers. But if last year’s 21-12 AFC Championship Game loss to New England showed us anything, it’s that this team travels well to the Northeast in January. Instead of being intimidated, San Diego fed off the Foxboro crowd during that game. Expect the same Sunday, in the last, and probably best, matchup of the weekend.
PREDICTION: San Diego 20 Pittsburgh 16
Both teams have one major injury of note. Pittsburgh’s quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is still recovering from a pretty severe concussion suffered two weeks ago in the regular season finale against Cleveland, but is expected to play. He had this to say Wednesday, “I had a little bit of a headache from putting the helmet on because it’s so tight. We’ll deal with it and move on.”
For the Chargers the news is not so good. LaDainian Tomlinson is expected to miss the game with what is being described as a torn tendon in his groin. LT, who was clearly limited in last week’s Wildcard win over Indianapolis, was clearly distraught about the injury when talking to the media Wednesday:
"It feels like something is tearing away from my leg. That's how I know that it's messed up because before, when I've had groin injuries, I haven't felt that. Whenever you feel a popping or like it's tearing, that's usually not good."
Without LT or Shawne Merriman, the task will be large for Norv Turner’s Chargers. But if last year’s 21-12 AFC Championship Game loss to New England showed us anything, it’s that this team travels well to the Northeast in January. Instead of being intimidated, San Diego fed off the Foxboro crowd during that game. Expect the same Sunday, in the last, and probably best, matchup of the weekend.
PREDICTION: San Diego 20 Pittsburgh 16
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment