The Stats:
Regular Season Record: 14-2
Last Six Games: 6-0
All-Time Playoff Record: 7-13
Chargers' Previous Playoff Results
The Team:
Team Colors: Navy Blue, White, and Gold
Head Coach: Marty Schottenheimer
Owner: Alex Spanos
Location: San Diego, California
Offensive Rankings:
Run: 2nd (161.1 ypg)
Pass: 16th (203.9 ypg)
Overall: 4th (365.0 ypg)
Points Per Game: 1st (30.8 ppg)
Key Player: Philip Rivers
Obviously LaDainian Tomlinson is the best player on this team, if not in the entire NFL, but you know what kind of effort you're going to get from him on a week-to-week basis. Rivers doesn't need to put up great numbers for this team to succeed, but he has to manage the game well and avoid the turnovers. Despite the Chargers' 6-0 finish over the last month-and-a-half of the regular season, Rivers play was a little inconsistent, and he needs to tighten that up a little in the postseason.
Defensive Rankings:
Run: 7th (108 ypg)
Pass: 13th (208 ypg)
Overall: 10th (301.6 ypg)
Points Per Game: 7th (18.9 ppg)
Key Player: Shawne Merriman
The Chargers made a habit of falling behind early in games when Merriman was out for four games for violating the league's steroid policy, which stemmed somewhat from the inconsistent pass rush the defense applied in his absense. The attention other teams must commit to Merriman because of his great pass-rushing skills opens things up for other guys like fellow linebacker Shaun Phillips.
Turnovers:
Give Aways: 32nd (15)
Take Aways: 15th (28)
Outlook:
The Chargers ended the regular season with the best record in the NFL... and for good reason. They are simply the best team in the league. They run the ball as well as any team not named the Falcons, and they are 7th in the league at stopping the run. That is a great formula for success.
Add in the fact that they possess arguably the best player in the league and a quarterback who has demonstrated an ability to get hot at times, and this is a very dangerous team. I'm not sure how they could be considered anything but the favorites to not only get to Super Bowl XLI, but to win it.
Chargers Roster:
Offense
17 - Philip Rivers QB
7 - Billy Volek QB
6 - Charlie Whitehurst QB
41 - Lorenzo Neal RB
34 - Andrew Pinnock RB
43 - Darren Sproles RB
21 - LaDainian Tomlinson RB
33 - Michael Turner RB
82 - Greg Camarillo WR
80 - Malcom Floyd WR
11 - Az-Zahir Hakim WR
83 - Vincent Jackson WR
87 - Keenan McCardell WR
81 - Kassim Osgood WR
88 - Eric Parker WR
85 - Antonio Gates TE
89 - Ryan Krause TE
86 - Brandon Manumaleuna TE
84 - Aaron Shea TE
50 - David Binn C
61 - Nick Hardwick C
63 - Scott Mruczkowski C
65 - Cory Withrow C
71 - Cory Lekkerkerker OT
73 - Marcus McNeill OT
72 - Roman Oben OT
68 - Kris Dielman OG
79 - Mike Goff OG
75 - Leander Jordan OG
70 - Shane Olivea OG
Defense
74 - Jacques Cesaire DE
99 - Igor Olshansky DE
98 - Derreck Robinson DE
97 - Ryon Bingham DT
93 - Luis Castillo DT
91 - Brandon McKinney DT
76 - Jamal Williams DT
47 - Phil Archer LB
54 - Stephen Cooper LB
51 - Tim Dobbins LB
59 - Donnie Edwards LB
58 - Randall Godfrey LB
92 - Marques Harris LB
56 - Shawne Merriman LB
95 - Shaun Phillips LB
52 - Carlos Polk LB
57 - Matt Wilhelm LB
25 - Antonio Cromartie CB
29 - Drayton Florence CB
24 - Cletis Gordon CB
28 - Steve Gregory CB
23 - Quentin Jammer CB
42 - Clinton Hart S
27 - Bhawoh Jue S
48 - Terrence Kiel S
20 - Marlon McCree S
Kicker/Punter
10 - Nate Kaeding K
5 - Mike Scifres P
