San Diego Chargers host Atlanta Falcons as both teams look to remain unbeaten – NFL Preview
San Diego Chargers are hoping to get a 3-0 start for the first time in a decade as they host Atlanta Falcons in Week 3 game on Sunday, September 23, 2012, at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California.
Both teams enter this tie unbeaten, a rather good start for both of them in contrast to their respective starts of the 2011 season.
Falcons defence is in blistering form as they held elite quarterback Peyton Manning with three interceptions in a 27-21 victory on Monday night against Denver Broncos.
However, they are not as good as Chargers defence which has come out of oblivion this season under the new defensive coordinator John Pagano. The defence has only conceded 24 points during the first two weeks.
They also have the best record in the league in terms of giving away rushing yards. Chargers have allowed just 83 rushing yards during the games, while Falcons have given away 270 yards.
When it comes to the offensive side of the game, both teams are facing possibility of playing without many of their star performers.
Even though Falcons did not have much success in the running game during the first two weeks, they will possibly be even weaker in this position as their starting running back Michael Turner got arrested on Tuesday night, September 18, for drunken driving
charges.
Turner was released two hours later, but his availability for the game on Sunday remains in doubt. Head Coach Mike Smith has given no assurance about Turner’s possibility of playing against his former team.
In a post practice interview on Wednesday, September 19, Smith regarded his team as the one that is difficult to prepare against. Smith said:
“I think we are more difficult and a lot of it has to do with the players on our roster. We have a lot of good players. There is also the unknown of the two new coaches that are coordinating our offense and defence.”
Apart from running game, the offence is looking good for Falcons as their quarterback Matt Ryan is sitting with highest passer rating currently in the league with 117.6. Passing game has also impressed many with both of their starting wide receivers in sublime
form.
Meanwhile, Chargers offence has been surprising, to say the least. Even in absence of their top players like running back Ryan Mathews and tight end Antonio Gates, they have scored 60 points in two games.
It includes the 38-10 victory last Sunday against Tennessee Titans. The main reason behind this success is superb output from the backups.
Backup tight end Antonio Rosario managed to score three touchdowns in the last game. Chargers head coach Norv Turner is happy with the way things have gone this season. He said:
"The thing that is unique to me is how close they are. The number of new guys we brought in (are) the right types of guys -- (tight end) Dante (Rosario), (linebacker) Jarret (Johnson), (running back) Le'Ron (McClain). They feel the chemistry that's already
there."
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