Quote:
|
Originally Posted by kurtz
Actually I'm working on the NFL programme for Channel 5 in England and I haven't the foggiest what's going on but then it's 0439 (am)  |
Chargers vs New Orleans Saints sunday 10am pst live from London, England
Go Chargers
Matchup
For the first time in their history, the San Diego Chargers will play a regular-season game on foreign soil when they meet the New Orleans Saints in an NFL International Series game at London’s Wembley Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 26. Kickoff is schedule for 10 a.m. PT (5:00 p.m. in London). CBS will televise the game back to the States with their top announcing team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms calling the action.
Sunday’s game takes on added importance for both teams as each come in at 3-4 and off discouraging losses. San Diego fell on the road in Buffalo, 23-14, and New Orleans was outscored 30-7 by the Carolina Panthers. The game takes on even more importance for New Orleans, which forsook a home game at the Superdome and will be the home team at Wembley Stadium.
The Chargers caught a break when the Denver Broncos fell to the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football, keeping the Chargers just a game out in the AFC West race. After the Saints game and a bye, San Diego will return home and play five of its final eight games at Qualcomm Stadium, including a Dec. 28 season-ending rematch with Denver.
International Travel
Though the team has never played an international regular-season game, the Chargers have played outside the United States four times in the preseason, including a game in Sydney, Australia; two in Tokyo, Japan, and one in Berlin, Germany.
The Series
The Chargers and Saints have played only nine times and San Diego leads the series, 7-2, including a 43-17 win in the last meeting in San Diego in 2004. The Chargers have won four of the last five in the series.
The Starting Quarterbacks
Two quarterbacks whose careers will forever be linked, Philip Rivers and Drew Brees, will lead their respective teams on Sunday. San Diego’s starting quarterback from 2002-05, Brees posted a 30-29 record, including playoffs, and led the Chargers to an AFC West title in 2004. He signed with New Orleans as a free agent in 2006. When Brees finished his career in San Diego, he was the franchise’s all-time leader in career completion percentage (.622) and second in career passer rating (84.9).
Rivers took over as the team’s starting quarterback in 2006 and has led the Bolts to a 30-13 record, back-to-back AFC West Championships, a 2-2 mark in the postseason and an appearance in the 2007 AFC Championship Game. Rivers’ career numbers heading into Sunday’s game include 702 of 1,144 passing (.614) for 8,385 yards with 60 touchdowns and 30 interceptions for a career passer rating of 90.3
This season, Rivers and Brees rank first and sixth, respectively, in NFL passer rating. Rivers has completed 124 of 194 (.639) for 1,697 yards with a league-high 16 TDs and only five INTs for a lofty rating of 108.5. Brees meanwhile has completed 180 of 263 (.684) for 2,224 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven picks for a 98.5 rating figure. Brees leads the NFL this season in attempts, completions and yards.