Is the Clock About to Strike Midnight for Cinderella Chargers

NFL Playoffs Divisional Weekend: San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers

When San Diego plays Pittsburgh on Sunday it will mark the first time in the NFL playoffs since Denver (top offense) faced Baltimore (top defense) in the 2000 AFC Wild Card round that a conference's top scoring offense goes against the top scoring defense.

Last week, RB Darren Sproles playing for an injured La Dainian Tomlinson produced the third-most combined yards ever in an NFL playoff game -- 328 -- including the winning 22-yard TD romp in overtime.

"We'll pack him in ice in the training room," kidded Chargers coach Norv Turner of the exhausted Sproles, who had 34 touches in the Wild Card on rushes, receptions, and punt / kickoff returns.

"We'll let him out Friday."

San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers - Sunday, CBS 4:45PM ET

Pittsburgh's No. 1 NFL defense will have to contend this Sunday with San Diego running back-kick-returner-punt returner DARREN SPROLES (nicknamed "Tank").

Sproles' 328-yard game plus his 139-combined-yard performance in the 2007 AFC Championship Game ranks him second all-time in combined yards (467) in a two-playoff-game span. He can move into first in the category with 173 combined yards against the Steelers.

Just in time for more cold!

And just in time for the defense that allowed the fewest points in the league (223) and ranked No. 1 in overall and pass defense. Pittsburgh did not allow a 100-yard rusher or 300-yard passer this season, let only one team (Tennessee) gain 300 yards and limited eight of its opponents to 10 or fewer points.

However, the Chargers defense has been impressive since Ron Rivera was given control as the Chargers defensive coordinator midway thru the season.

The Chargers have become very stingy since then, especially in the second half of games. Only two of the Chargers last eight opponents have scored more than seven points in the second half against their defense (Colts and Bucs). In last week's overtime playoff win, the Chargers held the Colts to 7-points in the second half. The 7 points came when Peyton Manning caught the Chargers defense off-guard and as a result quick-snapped to connect with Wayne for a 72-yard TD pass

Under Rivera, the Chargers are allowing just 18.1 points per game and 317.1 yards in the second half of the 2008 season, down from the 24.8 ppg and 371.6 ypg prior to his taking over. For the season, the Steelers allowed just 13.9 points per game and 237.2 yards per game.

"I think definitely through 17 games that's the toughest defense we faced," says San Diego's Philip Rivers, the lone QB to post a 100.0 passer rating this season (105.5), but who had his passer rating lowest of the year (44.4) against Pittsburgh when the Chargers lost to them 11-10 on November 16.

In that game, Philip Rivers was intercepted twice and completed just 15 of 26 passes for 164 yards. Following that game however, Rivers went on to post passer ratings of 96.0 or better in five of the Chargers last six games while leading San Diego into the playoffs.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger threw for 3,301 yards in 2008 and had five fourth-quarter come-from-behind victories in 2008.

Rivers (No. 4 overall) and Roethlisberger (No. 11) join Giants' Eli Manning (No. 1) as the top three quarterback picks in the 2004 NFL Draft who will be active on Sunday. Between them, they have two Super Bowl titles, four Championship Game appearances, and a 12-6 (.667) playoff record.

Roethlisberger is complemented by a balanced offensive attack as well which includes wide receivers Heinz Ward, Santonio Holmes and Nate Washington plus running backs Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore.

Ward finished the season with 81 catches for 1,043 yards (12.9 avg.). Holmes finished the 2008 regular season with a career-high 55 catches for 821 yards (14.9avg.) with five touchdowns. Nate Washington proved to be a very dangerous deep threat as he averaged a team-best 15.8 yards per catch and had three touchdowns, all of which are longer than 45 yards. On the year, Washington had 40 catches for 631 yards (15.8 avg.) with three touchdowns and had four receptions of over 25 yards.

On the ground, Willie Parker finished 2008 with 791 yards on 210 attempts (3.8 avg.) and rushed for over 100 yards four times. Running back Mewelde Moore did an excellent job of filling in for the injured RB Willie Parker and often split time in the backfield when Parker played. Moore was second on the team with 588 yards rushing on 140 carries (4.2 avg.) with five touchdowns and caught 40 passes for 320 yards (8.0 avg.) with one touchdown. In four games replacing Parker as the starter in the backfield, Moore had 360 yards rushing on 80 carries (4.5 avg.) with five touchdowns and 16 catches for 89 yards (5.6 avg.) with one touchdown.

Series: Pittsburgh leads 20-8

The Pittsburgh Steelers own a 20-8 all-time record against the Chargers. The Steelers lead 20-6 in regular season games while the Chargers have lead 2-0 in postseason games. The Steelers have won six of the past seven regular-season games versus the Chargers.

In regular season games, the Steelers are 13-0 versus the Chargers at home. Oddly enough, the Chargers have won both playoff confrontation in the "Steel City."

Following the 1982 regular season, the Chargers defeated the Steelers 31-28 in a Wild Card game. In the 1994 AFC Championship Game, the Chargers defeated the Steelers 17-13, sending the Chargers on to Super Bowl XXIX. Both wins occurred at Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium. Pittsburgh is just 3-3 in playoff games played at Heinz Field.

The Steelers won the most recent matchup earlier this season (November 16, 2008), 11-10, at Heinz Field. It marked the first game in NFL history to end with an 11-10 final score. The Steelers outgained the Chargers 410-213 in that game as QB Ben Roethlisberger finished with 308 yards passing, RB Willie Parker had 115 yards rushing and WR Hines Ward finished with 124 yards receiving.

The Steelers gave up a fourth quarter lead for the third consecutive home game, but unlike the previous two, they were able to rally in the game's final minutes and secure an 11-10 victory over the San Diego Chargers on a 32-yard field goal by K Jeff Reed with 11 seconds remaining in regulation. Pittsburgh improved to 7-3 on the season, and a perfect 13-0 all-time in the regular-season against the Chargers in Pittsburgh. The Chargers fell to 4-6.

LaDainian Tomlinson's three-yard touchdown run gave the Chargers a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, the Steelers pinned San Diego deep in their own territory. The Steelers defense scored when linebacker James Harrison sacked Philip Rivers in the end zone and forced a fumble. Chargers offensive tackle Marcus McNeill recovered, but was then tackled in the end zone by Harrison for the safety which made it a 7-2 game.

The Chargers drove to Pittsburgh's 17 yard line in the final two minutes of the first half, but a Harrison interception ended the Chargers' chance for another score. Ben Roethlisberger drove the Steelers 54 yards to set up Reed's 21-yard field goal, making it 7-5 at halftime.

The Steelers took their first lead of the game when they took the opening possession of the second half and drove 54 yards in 14 plays, with Reed making his second field goal of the evening, this time from 41 yards away, giving the Steelers an 8-7 advantage.

The Steelers opened the second half with a 14-play, 54-yard drive but only mustered a 41-yard kick. Reed's field goal gave the Steelers their first lead of the day at 8-7. The Chargers responded with a drive of their own to Pittsburgh's 24, but came up short after a 41-yard Nate Kaeding field goal sailed wide right.

After another stop by the Chargers' defense, Rivers led the Chargers on their longest drive of the season in terms of plays (17), but that drive resulted in only a 22-yard Nate Kaeding field goal to put the Chargers back up by a score of 10-8 with 6:41 remaining in the game.

After a penalty on the ensuing kickoff trapped Pittsburgh deep inside their own territory, QB Ben Roethlisberger led his squad on a 13-play, 73 yard drive down to the Chargers 14-yard line, where Reed's third field goal gave the Steelers an 11-10 victory. Roethlisberger was 6-for-6 for 62 yards passing on the game-winning drive, his 15th career regular-season come from-behind fourth-quarter victory.

Ben Roethlisberger had one of his strongest performances of 2008 by finishing 31-of-41 for 308, his sixth career 300-yard passing peformance.

• - SD 1 6:46 Tomlinson 3 run (Kaeding kick) 6-59; 3:30 0-7
• - PIT 2 14:46 McNeill tackled by J. Harrison in end zone for safety —; — 2-7
• - PIT 2 0:00 Reed 21 FG 8-54; 1:23 5-7
• - PIT 3 8:41 Reed 41 FG 14-54; 6:19 8-7
• - SD 4 6:41 Kaeding 22 FG 17-78; 7:34 8-10
• - PIT 4 0:11 Reed 32 FG 13-73; 6:30 11-10

Chargers & Steelers in 2008 Regular Season Comparison

 

San Diego Chargers Game Notes

• - Chargers aim for their 3rd straight playoff win against Steelers
• - Including postseason, Chargers aim for 6th win in row
• - Chargers have won 2 of past their 3 divisional playoff games
• - Head coach NORV TURNER is 4-2 (.667) in postseason as head coach
• - In past 5 straight wins (including Wild Card playoff), QB PHILIP RIVERS has completed 100 of 157 passes (63.7 pct.) for 1,271 yards with 11 touchdowns vs. 2 interceptions & 106.9 passer rating. In only divisional round appearance (1/13/08 against Colts), Rivers completed 14 of 19 passes (73.7 pct.) for 264 yards with 3 touchdowns vs. 1 interception & 133.2 passer rating. Team is 2-0 when Rivers has TD pass in postseason play
• - RB DARREN SPROLES' 328 total yards last week (105 rush, 45 receiving, 72 PR, 106 KR) were 3rd-most in postseason history. Sproles aims for 3rd straight game with 100-plus rush yards. In past 2 (including Wild Card), Sproles has totaled 572 yards (220 rush, 62 receiving, 88 PR, 202 KR).
• - RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON has 4 rush touchdowns in 4 career games against Steelers. Tomlinson has 7 rush touchdowns in past 6 games, including Wild Card vs. Colts
• - RB MICHAEL BENNETT averaged 6.0 yards per carry in Chargers' debut last week (4 attempts, 24 yards)
• - Chargers are 9-0 when TE ANTONIO GATES has 2 or more TD receptions. Gates had postseason-high 8 receptions last week. Gates has 2 TD receptions in past 3 against Steelers
• - In 4 career postseason games, WR CHRIS CHAMBERS averages 83.7 receiving yards per game (335 total). In past 2 road playoff games, WR VINCENT JACKSON is averaging 93 receiving yards per game (13 receiving, 186 yards) with 1 TD
• - CB ANTONIO CROMARTIE has 2 career postseason interceptions in past 3
• - LB STEPHEN COOPER had 4 interceptions in past 5 in 2008
• - LB SHAUN PHILLIPS aims for 4th straight game against Steelers with at least 0.5 sack
• - DE JACQUES CESAIRE recorded 2 sacks in last game vs. Steelers
• - P MIKE SCIFRES had NFL postseason record with 6 punts inside 20-yard line last week & his 52.7 average was 3rd-highest in playoff history.

Pittsburgh Steelers Game Notes

• - The Steelers have a 28-19 (.596) postseason record and are 16-9 (.615) at home in playoffs
• - Steelers are 13-8 (.619) in divisional round playoff games, including 10-2 (.833) record at home
• - Pittsburgh has won 4 straight regular-season games against Chargers
• - Club clinched AFC North title for 2nd straight season under head coach MIKE TOMLIN
• - QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER has 5-2 (.714) postseason record & has completed 118 of 189 passes (62.4 pct.) for 1,547 yards with 12 touchdowns vs. 11 interceptions & 85.1 passer rating. Including postseason, Roethlisberger has 29-10 (.743) career record at home. Including playoffs, team is 29-2 (.935), when Roethlisberger has 100-plus passer rating. Roethlisberger has 2-1 (.667) record vs. Chargers
• - In last postseason game (Super Bowl XL), RB WILLIE PARKER totaled 93 rush yards (9.3 avg.), including 75-yard TD run (longest run from scrimmage in Super Bowl history). Parker gained 115 yards (4.6 avg.) on 25 attempts in last game against Chargers. Club has 4-0 record with Parker in postseason
• - WR HINES WARD ranks 2nd among active players with 896 postseason receiving yards (REGGIE WAYNE, 963) & needs 104 yards to become only 8th player since 1970 to record 1,000 career postseason receiving yards. Ward aims for 3rd straight 100-yard receiving game in playoffs (123, 135) & aims for 5th playoff game in row at home with 100-plus receiving yards (104, 105, 109, 135). Ward (1,043) posted 5th season with 1,000 receiving yards in 2008. Ward registered season-high in receptions (11) & receiving yards (124) in last meeting against Chargers
• - In 5 playoff games, TE HEATH MILLER has 15 receptions for 192 yards (12.8 avg.) with 2 touchdowns
• - Defense ranked 1st in NFL allowing 13.9 points per game in 2008
• - Pro Bowl LB JAMES HARRISON set franchise record with 16 sacks. Harrison has 2 interceptions in past 3 against Chargers
• - LB LA MARR WOODLEY posted 2 sacks in only career postseason game (1/5/08)
• - Pro Bowl S TROY POLAMALU totaled career-high 7 interceptions in 2008, including 1 interception vs. Chargers.

PREDICTION: San Diego Chargers 17 Pittsburgh Steelers 9

Riding a four-game winning streak, the Chargers are currently the NFL's hottest team amongst the remaining contenders. But, the Steelers boast the NFL's best defense, are armed with an effective offense and have homefield advantage on their side.

Am I confused between the NFL Playoffs and college basketball's NCAA Final Four by predicting losses for each conference's two-seeds (Cardinals at Panthers) this week? Perhaps, but there maybe something to my January madness.

Rivers has a knack for bouncing back

Road game or home game the Chargers have no fear and they will be effective on offense. The Steelers defense will contain Darren Sproles this week. In other words, don't expect Sproles to rack up 328 all-purpose yards. What the Steelers defense may not be able to do is contain Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. They did stop him last time as Rivers was intercepted twice and completed just 15-of-26 for 164 yards for a passer rating of 44.4. Rivers went on to post passer ratings of 96.0 or better in five of the Chargers remaining six games.

Last week against the Colts in the AFC Wild Card round, Rivers was 20-of-36 with 1 interception for 217 yards and a passer rating of 61.9. Expect Rivers to bounce back from last week's sub-standard performance.

Still, the Steelers defense is easily capable of stopping both Rivers and Sproles. Plus, the Chargers may not be able to utilize LaDainian Tomlinson to his fullest extent due to his groin injury.

So, if the Steelers contain Rivers and Sproles and Tomlinson is ineffective or unable to play, how can the Chargers still win? In this case, containing means that the Steelers will limit the Chargers to 17 points. Which means the Steelers offense will need to outscore the Chargers which they won't be able to do.

First, let's take a step back to the 2008 regular season matchup.

Five of the Steelers points were generated compliments of their defense -- a James Harrison safety and a Reed field goal started by a River's interception in the first half. Then a missed 41-yard FG by Nate Kaeding and a Chargers 17-play drive that produced a field goal. Give credit to the Steelers defense for that victory. They did their job.

Now, this Sunday's matchup.

Ben Roethlisberger's concussion will not keep him out of the game. He eas even listed in the NFL's latest injury report under the "Full Participation in Practice" category despite the listed concussion. In short, Big Ben will be more of a care-taker than a play-maker or game-breaker on Sunday.

A solid defense and an extraordinary special teams play will make the difference for the Chargers. But Sproles won't be the star on special teams this week. Instead, that honor will go to Chargers punter Mike Scifres. Scifres will make it difficult for the Steelers offense and in turn provide better field position to the Chargers.

In a close game the Chargers win. After all, they've been in playoff for 6 weeks.

 

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NFL Playoffs - Is the Clock About to Strike Midnight for Cinderella Chargers | NFL 2008