Here’s your look around the country at what football experts are saying about the Chargers vs. Ravens match-up:
ESPN NFL Experts: ESPN’s experts are split down the middle. Six chose the Ravens, six chose the hometown Bolts.
NBC’s ProFootball Talk: Michael David Smith says it will be Ravens 20 Chargers 16. Mark Florio also picks the Ravens, 24-20.
Yahoo! Sports: Two of three experts picked the Ravens, only Yahoo! sportswriter Jason Cole picked San Diego.
NFL Network’s ‘Around The League’: Four of the five experts went with the birds, only analyst Dan Hanzus chose the Bolts.
Amanda’s Take: Surprisingly, the Chargers aren’t quite the underdogs around the country you might think they would be after their last couple of games to teams NOT named the Chiefs.
But with guard Tyrone Green doubtful and the loss of left tackle Jared Gaither, although honestly he hasn’t done much to talk about for the team this season, quarterback Philip Rivers will be dealing with an even more makeshift offensive line than he has been.
SportsWrap
The top sports headlines of the day
If Rivers can manage to stay calm in the pocket and his line gives him reason to trust them, we might just see some of the old Pro-Bowl status out of him. But that would mean Rivers would also have to block the ghosts of the last weeks, and that’s asking a lot.
I think it’ll be close, and because I believe this team has the intangible ‘fight’ to beat the statistics, I’m going with the home team.
Amanda’s Pick: Chargers 20 Ravens 17.
