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Game info: 8:15 pm EST Sun Dec 28, 2008TV: NBC
The 2008 AFC West championship will be decided in prime time under the lights of San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday Night, Dec. 28 when the Chargers, winners of three-straight games and three of the last four AFC West titles, play host to their rivals from the Mile High City, the Denver Broncos.
Over the last five seasons (since 2004), the Bolts are 22-7 (.759) in AFC West play. They have won two straight division titles and since the NFL realigned the divisions in 2002, the Chargers are the only AFC West team to win back-to-back titles.
The Chargers will host the Broncos having won 13 games in a row in the month of December, including seven in a row at home. Coincidentally, San Diego’s last loss in December was a 23-7 season-ending loss to the Broncos at home in 2005.
The Chargers are in search of their third-straight AFC West title and their fourth in the last five years. A win would ensure the Bolts fourth playoff berth in five years (since 2004), most since the team went in five of six years from 1960-65.
If the Chargers win, they would become the first team since 1985 to win their division with a record of 8-8 or worse. Cleveland was the last to do so in 1985.
This is the Chargers’ fifth night game at home this season. The Bolts are 3-1 at home this season under the lights and are averaging 33 points a game.
San Diego is 5-2 all-time against Denver in national TV night games and has won two straight. The Bolts beat the Broncos, 23-3, on Christmas Eve in San Diego last season and 35-27 in Denver on Nov. 19, 2006 in an NBC SNF game.
The Chargers have won the last two West titles and outscored the Broncos 71-23 in winning the last two meetings in San Diego, and could have actually already won the division if not for a blown call in their game at Denver in Week 2.
In the final minute with the Chargers leading 38-31, the Broncos reached the San Diego 1 but, quarterback Jay Cutler fumbled the ball into linebacker Tim Dobbins’ arms. Referee Ed Hochuli blew his whistle when the ball came out, ruling it an incomplete pass.
Philip Rivers leads the NFL in touchdowns (32) and passer rating (104.0) and has been instrumental to the Chargers’ turnaround this month. He threw for 287 yards and a career-high four TD passes last Sunday, and has passed for 847 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception during the team’s three-game win streak.
The 2008 Chargers are only the third squad in team history (1981 and 2005) to feature a 3,500-yard passer, a 1,000-yard receiver and a 1,000-yard rusher. Rivers has thrown for 3,802 yards, while Jackson (1,051 yards) and LaDainian Tomlinson (1,014 yards) have both gone over 1,000 receiving and rushing, respectively.
Look for the Chargers’ defense to get stingy with the points in the second half. Only two of the team’s last seven opponents have scored more than seven points in the second half against San Diego’s defense (Indianapolis and Tampa Bay). Ron Rivera took the reins as San Diego’s defensive coordinator seven games ago. Under Rivera, the Chargers are allowing just 18.1 points per game and 317.1 yards, down from the 24.8 ppg and 371.6 ypg prior to his taking over.
Shaun Phillips continues his solid season, leading the team with 7.5 sacks, while also pacing the squad with 14 tackles for loss, recording his 13th last Sunday in Tampa.
http://chargers.com/news/headlines/game ... s-wk21.htm
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/preview;_yl ... 0081228024
