NFL WEEK 5 - Chargers' defense should take most of blame
The Chicago Bears are looking for the answer at quarterback. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking for the answer at running back and left tackle. And the San Diego Chargers? They're just flat looking for answers.
A look at 10 things to watch in Week 5 of the NFL:
No defending that
1 Norv Turner shouldn't shoulder all the blame. San Diego's defense has been lousy under new coordinator Ted Cottrell, and the team has given up 99 points over its three-game losing streak. The Chargers figured to have some growing pains at inside linebacker, where they have two new starters, but their secondary has been suspect too. They'll be facing the Denver Broncos, who have effectively stretched the field. Denver quarterback Jay Cutler's average gain of 8.9 yards per attempt ranks sixth in the league.
Oh, brother!
2 Which Turner brother has bigger problems, Norv or Ron? (Thanks to the NFL Network's Deion Sanders for posing the question.) Norv's Chargers are 1-3 heading into Denver, and his younger brother, Ron, is the offensive coordinator of the 1-3 Chicago Bears, who play at Green Bay on Sunday. San Diego, last season's top-scoring team, is ranked 27th in offense. The Bears are 30th -- worse than every team but Buffalo and San Francisco.
Meadowlands mugging?
3 The New York Jets and New York Giants play Sunday, and with the way the Blue Crew is pressuring the passer, Chad Pennington could be in trouble. The Giants tied an NFL record with 12 sacks against Philadelphia, and Osi Umenyiora had half of them. He'll line up against left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who had a good game against Jason Taylor two weeks ago but Sunday was flagged for two holds. On the other side, right tackle Anthony Clement draws the unenviable assignment of Michael Strahan.
Bears killer
4 After a summer of Michael Vick, "Pacman" Jones and human growth hormone, the NFL was desperate for a feel-good story. Along came the resurgent Green Bay Packers (4-0) and ageless quarterback Brett Favre, who Sunday set the record for touchdown passes in a career. But can Favre keep it going against Chicago? Well, he's 22-8 against the Bears, who play at Lambeau Field on Sunday, and Chicago's defense is seriously deteriorated because of injuries. Six defensive players who started Week 1 were sidelined by Week 4.
Rex redux
