St Louis (4-2) at San Diego (4-2)
| SCOUTING REPORT |
Chargers must bounce backAfter another promising start, the Chargers' season is falling apart. The defense, so impressive earlier in the season, suddenly doesn't look so tough. OLB Shawne Merriman is expected to be out for the next four weeks after a NFL substance abuse suspension. OLB Shaun Phillips (6 sacks) has a calf injury and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. DE Igor Olshansky is out with a knee injury.
The Chargers are regarded as one of the deepest teams in the NFL and we will see this week how deep they really are. The Rams are coming off their bye week. They are one of the best kept secrets in the NFL and continue to fly under the radar. |
· Full Scouting Report 
|
| Matchup |
| | W-L | PF | PA | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF |
| STL | 8-8 | 367 | 381 | 4-4 | 4-4 | 2-4 | 6-6 |
| SDG | 14-2 | 492 | 303 | 8-0 | 6-2 | 5-1 | 10-2 |
| · Complete Standings |
| St. Louis Passing | | | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | | Bulger | 56.7 | 1469 | 5 | 6 | | Boller | 55.7 | 899 | 3 | 6 |
| | San Diego Passing | | | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | | Rivers | 65.2 | 4254 | 28 | 9 | | Volek | 64.5 | 231 | 1 | 1 |
|
| St. Louis Receiving | | | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | | Avery | 47 | 589 | 12.5 | 5 | | Gibson | 34 | 348 | 10.2 | 1 |
| |
| TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS |
| TEAM OFFENSE | TEAM | PER GAME AVERAGE |
| Total Yards | STL | 360.0 |
| SDG | 365.0 |
| Yards Passing | STL | 247.6 |
| SDG | 203.9 |
| Yards Rushing | STL | 112.8 |
| SDG | 161.1 |
| TEAM DEFENSE | TEAM | PER GAME AVERAGE |
| Yards Allowed | STL | 335.1 |
| SDG | 301.6 |
| Pass Yds Allowed | STL | 189.7 |
| SDG | 200.8 |
| Rush Yds Allowed | STL | 145.4 |
| SDG | 100.8 |
| HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001) |
| Series tied 1-1 |
| Nov 10, 2002 | STL 28, @SDG 24 |
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St Louis (4-2) at San Diego (4-2) Sunday 4:05 pm EST
SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- The St. Louis Rams no longer are "The
Greatest Show on Turf." However, they still have plenty of
offensive firepower that could pose a problem for the San
Diego Chargers on Sunday.
Ranked first overall in total defense by allowing just 241.2
yards per game, the Chargers' depth will be severely tested
by the Rams.
San Diego could be without linebacker Shawne Merriman, the
NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Year who is facing a
four-game suspension for reportedly violating the league's
steroids policy. Merriman is second on the team with 5 1/2
sacks.
The Chargers definitely will be without linebacker Shaun
Phillips, who leads the team with six sacks, due to a calf
injury. He is expected to miss four to six weeks.
No longer relying solely on the pass like they did when Mike
Martz was coach, the Rams are now more run-oriented under
first-year coach Scott Linehan. St. Louis ranks eighth in
total offense.
The primary beneficiary of Linehan's approach has been Steven
Jackson, who has rushed for 521 yards and two touchdowns. He
gets to face a San Diego defense ranked fifth against the run.
St. Louis still has the ability to make plays through the air
with quarterback Marc Bulger, who has thrown just one
interception and is third in the league with a 99.8 rating
behind only Peyton Manning (103.2) and Donovan McNabb (101.7).
Bulger also still has reliable wide receivers Torry Holt and
Isaac Bruce. Holt's seven receiving touchdowns are tops in the
league.
Two weeks ago, Holt had eight catches for 154 yards and three
touchdowns in a 30-28 loss against Seattle.
St. Louis, which had its bye last week, is tied with Seattle
for first place in the NFC West.
The Chargers' offense centers around Pro Bowl running back
LaDainian Tomlinson, who has rushed for 473 yards and a
league-leading eight touchdowns.
Tomlinson rushed for 66 yards and threw a one-yard touchdown
pass to tight end Brandon Manumaleuna in last week's 30-27 loss
at Kansas City. Manumaleuna, who played with the Rams from
2001-05, was acquired by the Chargers last April for a
fourth-round pick.
The teams are meeting for the first time since 2002, when the
Chargers posted a 20-17 overtime victory here.
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St. Louis 24, 
San Diego 38