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Playoff appearances used to be the goal for the Houston Texans after the franchise's humble beginnings. Now, that's the expectation - and the goal is a Super Bowl.

 

While expectations for the San Diego Chargers may be considerably lower this year, they're anxious to hit the field with a new coach on the sidelines.

 

Brian Cushing and the Texans defense will try to spoil the Chargers' debut of a new offensive scheme under first-year coach Mike McCoy on Monday night in San Diego.

 

Playoff appearances each of the last two years were enough for a Houston franchise that went 55-89 in its first nine seasons. But after going 12-4 last year, the Texans aren't sheepish about setting the bar higher.

 

"I think it's obviously our main goal and our final goal, but there are a lot of steps that lead up to that," Cushing said of reaching the Super Bowl. "It's mentioned here and there, but ... there's a ton of steps before we start talking about the Super Bowl and it becomes a realization. It's one of those things that we have a lot of work to do before that's real."

 

Having Cushing back is a good start.

 

The fifth-year linebacker - who signed a six-year, $55.6 million extension with Houston on Wednesday - returns after tearing his left ACL in Week 5 and missing the remainder of the season. The 2009 Defensive Rookie of the Year ranked 15th in the NFL from 2009-2011 with 323 tackles.

 

"It's a chance to go back out there and really establish our role as a dominant defense," he said. "To help with that is going to be a tremendous feeling."

 

Even without Cushing for most of the year, the Texans still finished seventh in total defense, bolstered by Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt's league-leading 20 1/2 sacks. While the unit was weaker against the pass, Houston added a veteran presence by signing nine-time Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed.

 

Coach Gary Kubiak said it's possible that Reed could play in the opener after he was taken off the physically unable to perform list Saturday following his recovery from offseason hip surgery. The nine-time Pro Bowler will practice in pads for the first time Friday.

 

D.J. Swearinger, a second-round pick out of South Carolina, could be called upon at free safety if Reed can't play.

 

The health of star running back Arian Foster has also been a concern all offseason after he missed camp with calf and back injuries. Foster's 956 carries over the last three seasons are 99 more than the next player, but coach Gary Kubiak told the team's official website he'd likely see a lighter workload in the opener after not playing any preseason games. That could mean more carries for Ben Tate, who has totaled 1,221 yards and six TDs the last two seasons behind Foster.

 

San Diego missed out on the playoffs for the third straight season with a 7-9 record, leading to the dismissal of Norv Turner and the hiring of McCoy, who had served as Denver's offensive coordinator.

 

The addition brings a feeling of excitement to a team that finished second-to-last in total offense last season.

 

"This is the longest week it seems like in history," said quarterback Philip Rivers, whose 88.6 passer rating was the second-lowest of his career since becoming a starter. "You wait for game week, then it gets here, and they add an extra day to it."

 

Unlike the old scheme focused on deep passes, McCoy's scheme puts a greater emphasis on short and intermediate routes. Plays that develop more quickly should help Rivers after he was sacked an AFC-high 49 times.

 

"I think we need to play better around him," McCoy said. "I've been saying that since Day 1. He is a great quarterback; Philip is going to be fine. We got to get the entire team, everybody, has to do their job better and Philip will do his job better."

 

The signing of former Patriot Danny Woodhead - who totaled 747 yards from scrimmage and seven TDs - should help Rivers compensate for the loss of receiver Danario Alexander after a torn ACL in practice last month. The Chargers are hopeful that receivers Malcom Floyd and Eddie Royal will be ready to go after recovering from a knee sprain and bruised lung, respectively.

 

San Diego is 4-0 in the all-time series, including a 29-23 road win on Nov. 7, 2010, as Rivers threw for 295 yards and four TDs.

 

The Chargers are one regular-season win shy of 400.

 

Copyright 2013 by STATS LLC.

 

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I fully expect to lose this game. I still think we can make a little noise in the AFC if we drop this one, but a win would be gravy. It's going to require us to get a running game going early. I guess we'll see just how improved the run blocking is on this line. I'm pretty confident our defense is up to the task of keeping us in it if our offense can put scoring drives together.

 

:Texans: 21

:Chargers: 17

Edited by KempBolt

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:Texans: 28

:Chargers: 19

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I see JJ Watt having a huge game against a weak SD o-line. I think he's going to distract that Chargers offense and won't allow them to do much.

 

:Texans: 24

:Chargers: 14

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I see JJ Watt having a huge game against a weak SD o-line. I think he's going to distract that Chargers offense and won't allow them to do much.

 

:Texans: 24

:Chargers: 14

If we can't run at all, he'll wreck us. Our hope lies in the ground game.

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I'm very interested to see if SD abandons their rushing attack at the first sign of difficulty like they've done under Turner for years. Texans should win this game. But they are a Jekyll/Hyde team. They either look like a 12-4 team or a 4-12 team. There doesn't seem to be any in between with them.

 

Unfortunately for the Chargers, they always regress in the second half.

 

:Texans: 27

:Chargers: 16

  • Upvote 1

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Chargers ILB Manti Te'o (foot) has been ruled out for Monday night's opener against the Texans.

 

Te'o has been shut down since August 8 and could be looking at missing multiple weeks. He'll be replaced by Bront Bird at inside linebacker.

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I'm very interested to see if SD abandons their rushing attack at the first sign of difficulty like they've done under Turner for years. Texans should win this game. But they are a Jekyll/Hyde team. They either look like a 12-4 team or a 4-12 team. There doesn't seem to be any in between with them.

 

Unfortunately for the Chargers, they always regress in the second half.

 

:Texans: 27

:Chargers: 16

I don't understand trying to apply trends from Norv's Chargers to this team. It's like saying the Seahawks will suck because they were no good under Jim Mora Jr.

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We usually lose to good organized teams like the Texans. Would be a statement if we come out and win though.

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At this point I'm really not sure about the Chargers unless they show something. I'm not doubting that they can have success because if Phillip Rivers does revert back to his previous stature, they could win some games. I'm just in prove it mode but if Ryan Matthews could have some success, that could greatly help their team as well in my opinion. But these are significant ifs and they have to put it on the field to change my opinion but I wouldn't doubt their success. The Chargers lose this one in my opinion.

 

:Chargers: 20

 

:Texans: 34

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I am guessing we lose, but I highly doubt we get blown out. We're at home and our defense is good and getting better.

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Texans declared FS Ed Reed (hip), G Cody White, QB Case Keenum, T Andrew Gardner, ILB Darryl Sharpton, OL David Quessenberry, and OLB Sam Montgomery inactive for Monday night's opener against the Chargers.

Reed made the trip to San Diego but wasn't expected to play. Shiloh Keo or rookie D.J. Swearinger will make the start next to Danieal Manning. Sharpton is dealing with a concussion. Quessenberry broke his foot in practice this week.

 

 

 

Chargers declared ILB Manti Te'o (foot), WR Seyi Ajirotutu, S Brandon Taylor, QB Brad Sorensen, G Johnnie Troutman, OLB Tourek Williams, and DE Drake Nevis inactive for Monday night's Week 1 opener versus Houston.

Te'o has been sidelined with a sprained right foot for the past month. Bront Bird will start next to Donald Butler. Taylor is recovering from knee surgery.

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Refs blew call on the personal foul on that FG and it gifted Texans 4 points. Pisses me off. If they're going to add all these stupid new rules, they should at least know how they work.

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Awesome play by Cushing, but it should be 28-24 right now.

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I thought the Chargers had changed... guess not lol.

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Everyone expects us to get blown out, and when we're tied in the 4th we get laughed at anyways.

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This is sad. Texans should be down 4 right now.

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@MikePereira: After seeing that shot they showed, it is clearly not a foul in my book. He did not attack the head or neck area. Very costly call.

 

We got jobbed. Oh well- we played one of the best teams in the league down to the wire. Hope we play angry next week.

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Same old choking Chargers. What a joke.

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They had a chance to put the NFL on notice tonight, but instead they choke in epic fashion for the 2nd year in a row. I don't think they were bad tonight, they may be good this year, but losing like this has got to take a toll on you eventually. I don't expect them to rebound very well next week against Philly.

Edited by SolomonGrundy

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Same old choking Chargers. What a joke.

Bull. We played well and were better than Houston for most of that game. The joke was giving the Texans another shot at a TD when we didn't break the rule that drew the flag. But that's fine- most people are going to talk shit regardless. We were supposed to lose by double digits and we get jobbed by a bad call and lose by 3 and we choked... yeah.

 

I'd love to hear the reaction if Denver lost a game by 3 when a bad call gifted the other team 4. Guessing it would be more about the officiating than choking.

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Even after the bad call, the defense could have kept the Texans out of the end zone.

  • Upvote 2

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