Chargers Face Must-Win on Monday Night

Defense needs to make a statement

I’m never one to be overly dramatic and call any game a “must-win.” In reality, the only games that are actually must-wins are elimination games. You lose, you go home. Then and only then does the phrase hold true.

But the Chargers really need to win this week. And it’s not just because they are falling behind some of the AFC’s power teams (New England – even without Brady, Pittsburgh, and Denver are all 2-0.)

It’s more of a mental thing. I think we can agree that the Jets will not come into San Diego on Monday Night Football and run the Chargers off the field. There’s too much talent. Knowing that, if the Chargers do lose it will more than likely be in a close game, decided at the end, and quite possibly in the final seconds. And losing another game like that could effectively destroy the psyche of a team that already has looming questions. It might raise doubts in the players' and coaches' minds why they can’t do what it takes to get over the hump. It might make them doubt the preseason mindset that “this is our year.”

The Jets (hey, did you hear that Brett Favre is playing for them this year? I just got the memo) haven’t exactly lit the league afire to this point either, and all things being what they are, San Diego should win. Yes, LT has missed the last two days of practice nursing his injured toe, but the Mighty Mite Darren Sproles has proved to be a more than adequate replacement. Philip Rivers is playing some of the best ball of his career, and the receiving corps is making big plays. The offense will be fine.

Truth is, the defense needs to make a statement on Monday. It needs to rush the passer, it needs to tackle better, it needs to actually cover someone. (I know Denver’s Brandon Marshall is a great receiver, but him catching 18 balls last week is absolutely unacceptable. And the secondary knows this.) If the D can get back to dominating the line of scrimmage, force a few three-and-outs and force a few turnovers (hopefully ones that will actually be called turnovers), then I think the Chargers win and win big.

But as we’ve seen this year, strange things are-a-brewing with this club. If Brett Favre gets the ball with two minutes left, down by four points, Chargers fans should be worried. After all, he’s Brett Favre. When he’s involved, 50-yard Hail Marys at the end of the game just seem to find the hands of the receivers more than not. And besides, San Diego can’t lose another game like that, right? Right? Anyone? Bueller?

They won’t. The defense will step up, limiting the Jets' red-zone opportunities. LT will have his best game of the year. Rivers will be solid, yet unspectacular. After all, it’s a must-win.

Prediction: San Diego 31, New York Jets 16

Eric Yates, much like the rest of the city, isn’t a native San Diegan. He’s been here for the past eight years and has adopted the Padres and Chargers as his own. Serving as a full-time and freelance sportswriter while in San Diego, he’s covered the beat for both the Padres and Chargers. A sports fanatic, his crowning achievement as a fan was appearing on the ESPN game show Stump the Schwab and coming within one question of toppling the big guy.

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