Here we move on to NFL 2015-15 Week 5 Monday Night Football as the Steelers of Pittsburgh 2-2 (AFC North) playing at the Chargers of San Diego 2-2 (AFC West) with this Monday Night game being played at the Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California with kick-off scheduled for 8:35 PM ET and seen on ESPN TV.
For those that Bet on NFL football at an Online sportsbook like SBG Global the early odds have the Chargers favored at -3 -125 with the Over/under at 45 ½ an -180 on the Money Line, while the underdog Steelers are +3 and +160 on the Money Line.
As experience tells us the MNF games are always exciting during the NFL regular season, and this week’s match-up in no different as 2 strong offensive teams face off on the gridiron in San Diego, while the Steelers still remain without starting QB B. Roethlisberger for possibly another 3 weeks or more.
If you’re Chargers of San Diego fan, they say your team goes where QB P. Rivers with his great passing arm take them. In their last game against the Browns of Cleveland he demonstrated as he passed for 3 touchdowns and some 388 yards in their 30-27 win over the Browns, and that was without an interception in the game.
QB Rivers managed to distribute his pass attempts to some 8 different team receivers, with leader L. Allen have 4 receptions for 73 yards and 1 TD. The return of TE Am Gates, who was out with a 4 game suspension, but in 2014 he led the team in receiving with 12 touchdowns and 822 yards receiving.
As everyone talks about the Chargers air attack, they overlook the teams running game. Their duo in the backfield of RB D. Woodhead and rookie RB M. Gordon should be able to gain yardage against the Steelers defense, since the Steelers demonstrated some weaknesses in their front 7 in their Thursday night playing the Ravens as they allowed them 1 TD and 190 yards rushing with 38 carries with an 4.8 yards average on each carry in the game.
The Chargers are a team that get move with their passing game, while presently the Steelers struggle in the passing game with QB Roethlisberger out injured. Back-up QB M. Vick in the last game completed 19 of his 26 pass attempts for 125 yards and 1 TD in the 23-20 loss to Baltimore. For some reason QB Vick did not seem to relate well with the Steelers receiving corps. However, the Steelers don’t necessarily need a lot of air offense to beat the Chargers, because the San Diego defense has allowed their opponents this season to average 127 yard rushing each game.
In the running game the Steelers RB Bell can get the job done, as in week 4 he had 22 carries for 130 yards and 1 TD. Unfortunately in the OT of this game they did not give the ball to RB Bell when they need short yardage in the OT session to keep their offensive efforts alive.
In this Monday Night Football game the match-up between the Steelers and the Chargers, in the past the Steelers have had the winning hand, but this time around it likely will be different and the Chargers return TE A. Gates, a leading veteran TE who has played with the Chargers since back in 2003, and with QB Rivers since the 2006 season.
Thus it may be very tough for Steelers QB Vick in building a connection with the receivers, and therefore their passing game could be halted, and meanwhile the Chargers passing game will be on fire and seek the win. The Steelers still needs more time for their back-up QB Vick, although a veteran to get linked to the Steelers game plan.
The prediction in this AFC match-up appears that the Chargers and the -3 odds are a good pick as the Chargers beat the Steelers in this Week 5 Monday Night Football game.