SPORTS:
After 15 days of rest, the Chargers will be playing against the Broncos on Monday Night Football. Damn those Broncos! Like many people, I thought that with a new defensive coordinator, a new head coach, Brandon Marshall’s pre-season suspension, and Little-Play-Orton taking the snaps, that Denver was going to go up like a house of cards built over a vat of gasoline. I’m still not sure if I was wrong. Yes, they are 5/0, but look at who they have played. They barely beat Cincinnati, and won from a one in a million freak fluke play. Cincinnati has sucked for the last several years, oh, but wait a second… the Bengals are now 4/1. THEY are playing much better also. They beat Cleveland and that is a given. Denver beat Oakland – okay, but who doesn’t? Kansas City doesn’t, that’s who! The Broncos beat Kansas City too. Then they beat the Cowboys, but are the Cowboys any good this year? Dallas no longer has Terrell Owens, and they had a hard time beating Kansas City. The Chiefs are probably the worst team in the NFL. Last week the Broncos also beat New England. We all can agree that the Patriots are not the Patriots of 2007. That game last week went into overtime, but the Broncos finally bucked them off.

So, what is going to happen in the AFC West? I thought that the Chargers would still make it to the playoffs with a record of 9/7, and at this point in the season they would be 1/3. They are currently 2/2, BUT, if Denver beats them twice they will only end up with a record of 8/8. If Denver continues to do well, they will represent their division in the playoffs, and all I will be able to do is hope for the Chargers to win a Wild Card spot.

The battle comes down to these two teams. Monday will be VERY important. Denver looks great on paper, but I haven’t seen them play yet. San Diego is favored by 3 1/2 points, and the game will be played in San Diego. The Bolts’ defense is ranked 26th!!!??? Denver’s is ranked 2nd. San Diego’s offense is ranked 10th, and the Broncos’ are ranked 6th. San Diego has 7 injured players with only 1 that will definitely miss the game. Denver has 2 injured players with only 1 that will definitely miss the game. Rivers has thrown 1,245 yards in 4 games and Orton has thrown 1,236 in 5 games. Rivers has also thrown 3 interceptions, while Orton only has 1 pick. Rivers averages 296 yards thrown per game, and Orton averages 238. However, Rivers’ completions are 59%, and Orton’s are 63%. San Diego has a pathetic running game of 54 yards each Sunday. Denver has an admirable average rush of 139 each week. San Diego averages 25 points a game, and Denver averages 20. San Diego allows their opponents 26 points a game, but Denver only allows 9! 13 of the 21 experts that I consult are picking the Chargers, and one of the experts has a win/loss record of 58/18, which is the best record of them all. God I hope he is right this week!

LEISURE: