BLUE 1,026 Posted September 11, 2015 (edited) By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer (AP) -- An uncertain future in San Diego looms for the Chargers as they began their quest for just a second playoff berth in six seasons. Their opponent Sunday in potentially their final opener in San Diego is a Detroit Lions team that's trying to prove it can return to the postseason without one of the league's top defensive forces. With negotiations in San Diego seemingly at an impasse, the Chargers might have their eyes on heading to either one of two new stadiums planned for Los Angeles. That includes a $1.7 billion facility in suburban Carson that they could share with Oakland. Longtime quarterback Philip Rivers expressed hesitancy about the relocation because of concerns for his family, which will include an eighth child soon, but likely won't walk away from his lucrative contract that runs through 2019. "My lack of excitement for a potential move was more about the thought of leaving this community than it was about a disdain for L.A.," said Rivers, who is two touchdowns shy of matching Dan Fouts' franchise mark of 254. "Again, those are still out of our control. Nobody still knows. ... This is where all but one of my children have been born and where our family has grown over a decade." The Chargers locked up Rivers with a four-year, $84 million extension in August, but he won't have star tight end Antonio Gates for the first four games because of his performance-enhancing drug suspension. San Diego is hoping to have built an improved offensive line in front of Rivers. He was sacked seven times in a 19-7 loss in Kansas City on Dec. 28 that cost San Diego a playoff spot with a 9-7 finish. He has been taken down at least 30 times in each of the last five seasons. The Chargers brought in tackle Joe Barksdale from St. Louis and guard Orlando Franklin from Denver. They also signed left tackle King Dunlap to a four-year extension and moved former first-round pick D.J. Fluker from right tackle to right guard. The line appears to have a stern test in a Detroit defense that ranked in the league's top three with 17.6 points, 300.9 yards and 69.3 rushing yards allowed per game in 2014. The Lions, though, allowed Ndamukong Suh to leave for Miami and fellow defensive tackle Nick Fairley to head to St. Louis. They did acquire five-time Pro Bowl lineman Haloti Ngata from Baltimore but he has dealt with hamstring issues during the preseason. The Lions still have a disruptive player on the edge in Ziggy Ansah, who has 15 1/2 sacks in his first two seasons. "Whenever our defense steps on the field, we anticipate that we should play well," defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. Veteran linebacker Stephen Tulloch is back after a knee injury that cost him most of 2014, but DeAndre Levy's status is unclear because of an undisclosed ailment. Offensively, Detroit has one of the league's best receiving tandems in Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate, who is coming off a career year, and Johnson has tried to keep healthy by sitting out all four preseason games. Johnson hasn't played in all 16 games since his record-breaking 1,964-yard, 122-catch campaign in 2012 and dealt with a high ankle sprain in 2014. He finished with 71 catches for 1,077 yards, his fewest in both categories since 2009. Tate had a team highs of 99 receptions for 1,331 yards as the Lions finished with 11 wins for the first time since going 12-4 in 1991. Detroit, though, once again fell short in the postseason and extended its playoff win drought to 23 seasons. That 2014 performance was still another stride away from the dark days of their 0-16 campaign that led to the Lions drafting Matthew Stafford. The perennial 4,000-yard passer is hoping to stay a little more upright this season after taking a career-worst 45 sacks. Detroit selected guard Laken Tomlinson with its first-round pick and got another guard Manny Ramirez back into the fold after his four seasons in Denver. Ramirez played three seasons in Detroit after being taken in the fourth round in 2007. The Lions also drafted running back Ameer Abdullah to help a potentially ailing Joique Bell, who had a career-high 860 yards in 2014. Bell underwent surgeries to clean up knee and Achilles issues this offseason. The Chargers will have a rookie running back on display in first-round pick Melvin Gordon, and they're hoping he can eventually prove a capable replacement for Ryan Mathews, who is now in Philadelphia. San Diego is looking to move to 5-0 all-time at home against Detroit. The Chargers had a six-game overall win streak in the series snapped with a 38-10 defeat in the most recent meeting Dec. 24, 2011. Source: Hosted.Stats.com Edited September 11, 2015 by BLUE Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted September 12, 2015 This is probably one of the hardest games to predict this week. I'm excited to see Megatron finally 100% again and Golden Tate has proven to be a great partner in crime. This game looks like a shoot out between two gun slinger QB's, but I guess I'll go with the home team here since it's week 1 and we don't know a lot about anyone just yet. 31-27 Bolts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ATL_Predator+ 1,196 Posted September 12, 2015 This game..can go either way... two middle of the road teams with respectable QB's (Moreso SD). Calvin is finally healthy, Rivers got his money and he has Stevie Johnson now..so it'll be interesting. Also...I'm going to be very amused how the Lions D fair without Suh even though they have Ngata. 21 17 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted September 12, 2015 I think Sean is right. This is one of the harder games of the week to decide. I think it could go either way, but I feel the Lions are gonna take a step back towards mediocrity defensively. Ngata is a monster, but the core is gone and I think they will struggle to adjust -- especially early on. Golden Tate is really underrated amongst WRs, and maybe part of that is just playing opposite CJ. I am interested to see how Stafford looks (probably not much different) and how the Lions run game gets established (or if it gets established). Chargers - 24 Lions - 17 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BC 331 Posted September 13, 2015 (edited) Alright Ameer, time to have that type of opening day performance where everyone knows your name by the end of the day. 28 23 Edited September 13, 2015 by BC Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 13, 2015 Lions declared RT LaAdrian Waddle, RG Larry Warford, DT Caraun Reid, LB DeAndre Levy, WR TJ Jones, CB Nevin Lawson and TE Tim Wright inactive for Week 1 against the Chargers. With Waddle and Warford out, the Lions will turn to Manny Ramirez and Cornelius Lucas at right guard and tackle. Josh Bynes will start in the place of Levy. Chargers declared RB Donald Brown, OLB Jerry Attaochu, WR Dontrelle Inman, OG Johnnie Troutman, OLB Tourek Williams, CB Craig Mager and NT Ryan Carrethers inactive for Week 1 against the Lions. Brown will need an injury to Melvin Gordon, Danny Woodhead or Branden Oliver to be active on game days. With Attaochu out, fifth-round pick Kyle Emanuel will get the start at outside linebacker. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted September 13, 2015 IT'S TIME FOR LIONS FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted September 13, 2015 TOUCHDOWN!!!! AMEER ABDULLAH!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted September 13, 2015 Typical Lions performance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted September 14, 2015 TOUCHDOWN!!!! AMEER ABDULLAH!!! It was a joy to watch him and he's the next great playmaker in the league. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
