This week, the Raiders will take on the Chargers in San Diego.  The Chargers bring with them a 4-4 record and is converting 51%  (2nd in NFL) of their 3rd downs and scoring 48% (19th in NFL) of the time when in the red zone.

In this weekly article, Pro Football Spotlight will bring you the upcoming opponent’s rushing and passing tendencies, as well as some additional data and observations. For example: Did you know that the Chargers are 4th in the NFL in the number of 1st downs, per game?

Every team in the NFL has strengths and weaknesses, tendencies, and go-to guys. They have plays they like to call during tight situations or directions they like to run when in the middle of the football field.

Let’s take a look at the rest of those tendencies…

Rushing Offense

Rushing Notes:

• PFS is trying out a new slider (chart above). You first see the Charger”s offensive run tendencies…but if you click on the ribbon you can see the Raiders run defense performance.  Hope you like it.
• The San Diego Chargers have run the ball directly at their center, 106 times.  That is ranked 2nd in the NFL in the number of attempts toward that area.
• The Chargers have had two very good guards to help on those inside runs, Kris Dielman and Louis Vasquez.  Those two players are performing at a pro bowl level and have been moving defenders out of the hole all year.  This week, it looks like Dielman will not be active again.  So the Broncos will deal with his replacement.
• Up to this point in the year, the Chargers are getting the most production when they run toward the left tackle.  They are averaging 7.0 yards, per attempt, which is 2nd most in the NFL toward that area.
• The most affective play, before Dielman got hurt, was when Vasquez and Clary doubled a defender…and Dielman pulled across the formation (right).  Look for San Diego to run the ball up inside the Broncos Raider defense.  Especially into the middle/right (right where the Chargers would like to run).  Currently, the Broncos are giving up 4.6 yards, per attempt, over the right guard area (defensive left).

Passing Offense

Passing Notes:

• The San Diego Chargers are still throwing the ball deep.  They rank 5th in the NFL in the number of attempts to the deep middle of the field and 4th in the NFL in the number of attempts to the deep right zone.
• Philip Rivers loves to throw the ball to the short right side of the field.  He has attempted 111 passes to that zone, 7th most in the NFL.
• Look for Rivers to try and throw the ball deep, when blitzed.  If the Broncos can force the pass enough, Rivers might throw another one of those picks he has been giving up so often this year.
• The Denver Broncos are giving up a 73% completion rate to the deep middle zone.  Don’t think Rivers doesn’t know that stat.  Since he likes to throw deep, and the Broncos have been giving up some plays to the deep middle of the field…then expect the Chargers to challenge that area.
• The Chargers are averaging 9.32 yards, per attempt, when throwing the ball to the short middle zone.  Look for San Diego to work the short middle of the field with their running back out of the back field.