Quarter Back:
Just a few years ago, Philip Rivers was in the discussion
when people talked about the “elite” quarter backs in the NFL, but for the last
2 years, the hype that Rivers seemed to receive wasn’t quite matching up to the
production on the field (53 TDs and 55 Turnovers). This year, however, Rivers is
back amongst the top QBs in the league. With 3,381 yards, 22 TDs and only 8
INTs (0 fumbles), Rivers is on pace for his best season (statistically
anyways). Andy Dalton, on the other hand, is on pace for his most yards (4,297)
and TDs (31) of his career, but he is also on pace for his most interceptions (22)
and overall turnovers (28) as well. In their last 3 games, Rivers has 5 TDs and
1 INT. Dalton has 5 TD and 8 INTS. I would like to say otherwise, but Rivers is
the better QB at this point in 2013.
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QB
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OL
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RB
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WR
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TE
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DL
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LB
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CB
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S
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K
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Coach
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Overall
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Advantage: Chargers
Offensive Line:
When it comes to protecting the quarter back, both lines do
a very good job. The Chargers have given up just 20 sacks in 11 games (4th
best) compared to the Bengals 26 (9th). In the run game, neither
team excels: the Chargers rank 17th in rushing ypg (110.8) while the
Bengals come in at 20th (107.9).
Though I don’t see this as a huge advantage, the Chargers are more
consistent across the board and the 2 game stretch where the Bengals gave up 10
sacks (Mia and Balt) is still very fresh in my mind.
Advantage: Chargers
Running Backs:
I had the Bengals as having the advantage here…until I
looked at the stats. While comparable, I have to give the nod to the Chargers
again. Ryan Mathews is healthy - for once - and being fairly productive (721
yards, 4.4 ypc, 3 TDs) and Danny Woodhead, like Bernard, gives the Chargers a
dual threat out of the backfield and has been one of the biggest weapons in
2013 (Run - 266 yards, 3.8 ypc, 2 TDs; Pass - 59 receptions, 469 yards, 5 TDS).
In total, Mathews and Woodhead have accounted for 1,550, 11 TDs and 71
receptions. For the Bengals, Bernard is a candidate for Offensive ROY, and like
Woodhead, provides a punch in both the running game and passing game (Run - 464
yards, 4.4 ypc, 4 TDs; Pass - 42 receptions, 345 yards and 3 TDs). However, BJGE
is having a down year (522 yards, 3.3 ypc, 3 TD) and contributes nothing to the
passing game (2 receptions, 9 yards). In total, the Bengals running backs have
accounted for 1,340 yards, 44 receptions and 10 TDs. While Bernard will be the
most dynamic and most all-around back on the field on Sunday, the weak season
of BJGE gives the Chargers the slight advantage here.
Advantage: Chargers
Wide Receivers:
After three relatively small advantages for the Chargers
(QB, OL and RB), here is where the Bengals have their first advantage, and it
is a big advantage. AJ Green is 3rd
in the NFL with 1,020 yards and the Bengals top 2 receivers (Green and Jones)
have accounted for 97 receptions, 1,466 yards and 13 TDs. Add in Sanu, and the
Bengals have gotten 133 receptions, 1,819 yards and 14 TDs from their top 3
receivers. The Chargers, on the other hand, are led by rookie Keenan Allen (50
receptions, 737 yards, 3 TDS) and veteran slot receiver Eddie Royal (34
receptions, 484 yards, 7 TDs). Though their numbers are ok, they lack that
dominant receiver like Green. As a group, the Chargers top 3 receivers have
accounted for 116 receptions, 1,555 yards and 11 TDs. Not bad, but not as good
as the Bengals.
Advantage: Bengals
Tight Ends:
Antonio Gates may go down as one of the best tight ends in
NFL history, and while he is still effective (59 receptions, 685 yards, 3 TDs),
he is 33 years old, has suffered a number of leg injuries and clearly is not
the player he once was. The once game-changing tight end is now big and slow
and has to rely on veteran savviness to
get open and is certainly capable of being covered by line backers and
safeties. The Bengals on the other hand, feature 2 tight ends both capable of
creating matchup issues for line backers and safeties, and while Gates numbers
alone nearly mirror those of the Bengals 2 tight ends combined (66 receptions,
725 yards, 3TDs), 1 slow 6’4” tight end is much easier to cover than 2 young
fast 6’6” tight ends…especially when you also have to worry about covering
Green, Jones and Bernard as well.
Advantage: Bengals
Defensive Line:
Like the Browns two weeks ago, the Chargers go with a base
3-4 defense. Unlike the Browns, the Chargers 3-4 defense is nowhere near as effective.
The Chargers defense is ranked 29th overall (389.5), 28th
against the pass (276 ypg) and 17th against the run (113.5
ypg). That is music to the Bengals ears.
The Chargers have only 29 sacks (T-16th) and of those 29 sacks, just
10 have come compliments of the DL. The Bengals come into San Diego ranked 7th
overall (313.1 ypg), 6th against the pass (211.1 ypg) and 10th
against the run (102 ypg). The Bengals are T-6th with 34 sacks, and
of those 34, 25.5 are compliments of the DL…or 2.5 times as many sacks as the
Chargers DL. The strength of the Bengals defense is their DL. The strength of
the Chargers is not their DL.
Advantage: Bengals
Line Backers:
The Chargers 4 starting line backers have accounted for 4.5
sacks, 0 INTs and 1 FF. The Bengals 3 starting line backers have accounted for
6 sacks, 3 INTs and 1 FF. The Chargers 4 starting line backers have a combined
total of 118 tackles… Vontaze Burfict alone has 118 tackles. What I am trying
to say is that the Bengals, just as they do at the DL position, have a big
advantage at the LB position as well.
Advantage: Bengals
Corner Backs:
The Bengals lost their top corner back (Hall) for the year,
but have been holding up just fine with Newman, Jones and Kirkpatrick – ranked
6th against the pass (211.1 ypg) and 5 INTs from their corner backs.
Meanwhile, the Chargers are giving up a whopping 276 ypg through the air (28th),
have less INTs (6) than all but 2 teams (Jacksonville – 5, Houston – 4) and
have as many INTs from their DL (2) as they do from their CBs. Throw on top of
that the fact that the Bengals feature the 2nd most dynamic passing
attack the Chargers will have seen all year – Denver, who ripped them for 330
yards and 4 TDs – and this is not a good matchup for the Chargers. While the
Bengals certainly don’t have Manning at QB, Green, Jones, Sanu, Hawkins,
Bernard, Gresham and Eifert certainly present as many, if not more, issues for a
weak Chargers secondary.
Advantage: Bengals
Safeties:
While the Charger’s safeties have a lot more tackles than
the Bengals safeties (129 to 87), that is not a good thing. The safety is the
last line of defense and therefore it is not good when your safety has a lot of
tackles. The Charger’s safeties rank 1st and 3rd on the
team respectively in tackles – not good. While the Bengals safeties do not show
up huge as far as play-making goes, they also don’t surrender a lot of big
plays either. Nelson and Iloka have been very solid this year (a pleasant
surprise) and actually have been a strength of the Bengal’s 2013 defense. The
Chargers safeties could also find themselves at a big disadvantage if matched
up in coverage – Weddle and Gilchrist stand 5’11” and 5’10” respectively and
could find themselves covering Green (6’4”), Gresham (6’5”), Eifert (6’6”),
Sanu (6’2”) or Jones (6’2”).
Advantage: Bengals
Kicker:
Nick Novak is one of the better kickers in the league and is
22/25 (88%) in 2013. Mike Nugent is not having a good year - 15/19 (78.9%).
Advantage: Chargers
Coach:
I am shocking myself with the amount of times I am giving
Marvin the advantage over his counterpart, but with 10+ years of experience as
a head coach and an overall 86-84-1 record (.506), I have to give Lewis the
advantage over a rookie coach like Mike McCoy who is 5-6 in his rookie year and
has 1 year of NFL Offensive Coordinator success – 2012, the year he had Peyton
Manning. In 2010, McCoy’s offense was ranked 13th; in 2011 23rd;
then he gets Manning and his offense is ranked 4th and he gets a HC
gig? All I can say is that if I was an OC with Peyton Manning as my QB, I too
would look good (and therefore get a HC gig)…because Manning is the OC. Mike
McCoy ought to be sending very nice Christmas gifts to Peyton Manning.
Advantage: Bengals
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