The San Diego Chargers (1-1) and New Orleans Saints (1-1) meet for the first time since reigning Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees avenged his departure from Southern California in London nearly two years ago. Brees played five seasons with San Diego before he was let go as a free agent in favor of current Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. The Saints won that last matchup 37-32 overseas and enter this meeting as a small favorite at -3 with the total set at 43.5. With the line hovering around the key number of 3, if you are betting this game always make sure you are getting the best number. View our pro football odds page to compare lines from the offshore sportsbooks.
Rivers and Brees combined to throw for 780 yards and six touchdowns with one interception in that high-scoring affair and could take part in another shootout on Friday, especially following Thursday’s two preseason games that averaged 77 points. Six of the last seven meetings between the teams have gone OVER the total, and New Orleans has averaged 31 points in splitting two games so far. Meanwhile, San Diego scored two touchdowns in a 16-14 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys last week after an impressive offensive performance in a 25-10 win over the Chicago Bears in the preseason opener.
Chargers head coach Norv Turner said his starters will play well into the third quarter against the Saints, and his teams have gone 8-2 in the last two weeks of the preseason over his career making them worth a good look as an NFL pick. Linebacker Shawne Merriman (Achilles) will not play and still has not seen any action this preseason after ending a contract dispute with the team the day before the opener. Wide receiver Vincent Jackson continues to sit out without a new contract, and San Diego apparently has no interest in trading him coming off his first Pro Bowl season.
Regardless of Merriman’s absence, the Chargers have still played very well defensively in two preseason games, allowing a combined three touchdowns to the Bears and Cowboys. Of those three touchdowns, only one was scored in the second half. The bigger concern is on the offensive line, where former Pro Bowler Tra Thomas decided to retire after being signed to fill in for Marcus McNeill, yet another Charger who is sitting out without a new contract.
The brightest spot for San Diego though has been the impressive play of rookie running back Ryan Mathews, who has rushed 21 times for 103 yards. Mathews had his nose cauterized earlier in the week to help eliminate nosebleeds he has suffered from over the years and is expected to play against the Saints. His nose started bleeding again on a hit by the Cowboys near the goal line last week, prompting him to take care of the issue once and for all.
New Orleans lost another running back this week when P.J. Hill was placed on injured reserve with a partial tear of his triceps. Hill follows Lynell Hamilton (knee) as the second reserve in the offensive backfield to go down for the season due to injury. The Saints let Mike Bell go as a free agent in the offseason and signed Ladell Betts to fill in for Hamilton, who suffered his injury two weeks ago. Undrafted rookie Chris Ivory has rushed 26 times for 96 yards and a touchdown in two games so far and could win the third-string job behind Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush.
