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NFL Picks: San Diego Chargers at Baltimore Ravens

Written September 19, 2009 by Rock Henderson

A key AFC matchup will go off this Sunday when the Baltimore Ravens make the cross country flight to take on the San Diego Chargers. Considered by most to be a favorite to reach the Super Bowl this season, San Diego looked nothing like a team that will challenge for the Lombardi Trophy after a 24-20 victory at Oakland. The offensive side of the ball was the story for the usually defensive minded Ravens in Week 1. QB Joe Flacco moved the ball at will on a weak Kansas City defense and led Baltimore to a 38-24 win. The lined opened with San Diego as a 3.5 point favorite and has currently moved the Chargers being favored by a field goal.

Baltimore relied heavily on running the football and playing strong defense in 2008 and that formula eventually led to the AFC Championship game with rookie QB Joe Flacco at the helm. Flacco looked like a savvy veteran in the opener of his second year throwing for 307 yards and 3 touchdowns which were all career highs. RB Ray Rice was named the starter during the preseason and did not disappoint in his first NFL start running for a team high 108 yards on 19 carries. Ray Lewis and the Raven defense were their usual selves against the Chiefs. The 24 points scored against the stingy defense did not tell the whole story. Baltimore held Kansas City to 188 total yards and 7 of the 24 points came on a blocked punt recovered for a touchdown. Surprisingly, the Ravens did not force a turnover after forcing a league leading 34 last year.

LaDainian Tomlinson heard all off season that the running back was no longer considered one of the top backs in the NFL due to his 30 year old age. 55 yards rushing and a sprained ankle didn’t exactly prove the doubters wrong in the opener. Backup Darren Sproles was on the field when the Chargers made their final drive and scored the game winning touchdown with 18 seconds left. Philip Rivers was efficient completing 67% of his passes for 252 yards and a touchdown to Vincent Jackson. The Chargers are glad to be back at home as they are 20-4 there since 2006, while the Ravens have dropped seven of their last 8 road openers.

The injury report will play a key role in this matchup that will be physical from the start. The Chargers lost two offensive linemen in their game against the Raiders as Center Nick Hardwick went down with an ankle injury and Guard Louis Vasquez was bothered by a knee. Both are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. DT Jamal Williams did not participate in practice on Wednesday because of an elbow injury and Tomlinson was held back from practice with his sprained ankle. The Ravens got out of Week 1 seemingly unscathed besides a concussion suffered by Pro Bowl LB Terrell Suggs.

This game is virtually a pick em’ with San Diego receiving the unwritten rule of a home team getting 3 points in the NFL. I really liked how the Ravens looked on both sides of the ball in their opener and was unimpressed with San Diego. Teams seem to struggle with the long flight and time zone change but I don’t think it will effect a class organization like Baltimore. Play: Baltimore +3

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