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Usually, it's quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense spearheading the Packers' push to the top of the NFC North.
RODGERS: Time to start another streak for the Packers quarterback. He threw his first interception at home in nearly three years after getting picked off twice by St. Louis.
Coach Mike McCarthy's squad is finding success despite a two-game speed bump for the normally high-scoring offense. A stout pass rush and solid special teams play has helped carry the load.
No point for the Chargers to rehash a painful loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on the last play of their last game, especially with a trip to Lambeau Field to play unbeaten Green Bay up next Sunday.
The Chargers (2-3) lost 24-20 to Pittsburgh on Le'Veon Bell's touchdown run Monday night. They have to fly halfway across the country, across two time zones, to play a Packers team that has the league's longest current home winning streak at 12 games.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Shake it off,Cheap NFL Jerseys, San Diego.
The Chargers can only wish those were the extent of their problems.
THE GATES EFFECT: Tight end Antonio Gates had an instant impact in his return from a four-game PED suspension,NFL Jerseys Supply, catching two TD passes on Monday night. That gives him 101 for his career, second all-time among tight ends behind Tony Gonzalez. It's possible the Packers could put Matthews, their most athletic defender, on Gates to help slow him down.
Dunlap, Watt and Chris Hairston, who has started at left tackle the last two games,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, all missed practice Wednesday, while right guard D.J. Fluker and Franklin were limited.
HOMECOMING: Welcome back to the Midwest, Melvin Gordon.
"I've got people texting me left and right, 'Can you get me two tickets?'" the rookie joked.
This week, there have been questions about the offense's ability to go deep after the Rams contained the run and focused on defending short passing routes. The good news for the Packers is that receiver Davante Adams appears closer to returning from a sprained left ankle to provide another target for Rodgers.
"This is definitely an offensive team, there's no doubt about that," linebacker Clay Matthews said. "But it's nice when you can carry your own weight, and it seems for the longest time it's offense, offense, offense."
"You have to have a short memory in this business," Chargers coach Mike McCoy said.
WOE LINE: The front five in front of Gordon remains in flux due to injuries. Left tackle King Dunlap (concussion) and left guard Orlando Franklin (ankle) have missed two games, and center Chris Watt sustained a concussion in Monday night's loss to the Steelers.
The quarterback is "looking forward to adjusting and being creative, as we like to think we are on offense, and get ready for these guys,China Soccer Jerseys," coach Mike McCarthy said.
Matthews is tied with Julius Peppers for the team lead with 4 1/2 sacks. But there are waves of pass rushers beyond the veteran duo. The Packers seem to be rotating edge rushers in pairs, with younger players such as Jayrone Elliott (two sacks) getting more opportunities to get after the quarterback.
CLAY & CO.: The long-haired linebacker is as dangerous as ever, perhaps even more so now that Matthews plays both inside and outside. It is imperative for quarterback Philip Rivers to figure out where Matthews is on the field, and how he's being used.
This will not dissuade Gordon's family and friends from trying to fill the stands on Sunday.
Their next task? Slowing down the top pass rush in the NFC with 20 sacks.
"Whoever is tapping out, if they need a break, we just go out there and get a chance to help each other out," Elliott said.
One less day to prepare for the Packers (5-0) isn't going to help,jerseys cheap nfl, either.
The Chargers' rookie running back grew up in Kenosha in southeastern Wisconsin and stayed in-state to play, having a record-setting college career with the Badgers. In the pros,NFL Jerseys China, Gordon has not scored a touchdown in five games, in part because of the inconsistent offensive line. That puts him way behind the pace set by LaDainian Tomlinson as a rookie in 2001, and even behind Ryan Mathews, the back Gordon replaced.
Things to watch ahead of the teams' first meeting at Lambeau since the Packers beat the Chargers 31-24 in 2007: |
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