After dismantling the Green Bay Packers to open the season, the defending champion Seattle Seahawks will travel to San Diego to take on the Chargers in Week 2. Seattle enters the game with few injuries while San Diego is forced to make due without starting center Nick Hardwick for the first time in 67 games.
How to watch Seahawks vs. Chargers 2014 online, TV schedule, radio and more
The Seahawks hope to continue their dominance on the road after dismantling Green Bay in the NFL season opener.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The spoils of victory haven't seemed to diminish Seattle's drive. A dominating preseason begat an equally spectacular season opener. Richard Sherman took away a third of the field against the Green Bay Packers, with Aaron Rodgers not attempting a single pass in his direction. They similarly shut down Green Bay's ground game, holding the Packers' entire backfield to only 80 yards on 21 carries.
The season hasn't been quite as kind to San Diego, who saw a 17-6 lead over the Arizona Cardinals evaporate in the fourth quarter on Monday. While the Chargers were in position to retake the lead and win the game on their final drive, offensive miscues brought penalty flags and ultimately the end of their final possession.
How to watch
Where: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
When: 4:05 p.m. EST
TV: Fox
Announcers: Thom Brennaman, David Diehl, Laura Okmin
Radio: Seahawks Radio Network | Chargers Radio Network
Odds
The visiting Seahawks are favored by five points over the Chargers. The over/under is set at 44. You can check out details at Oddshark.
Nuts and bolts
Seattle hasn't slowed down from last season. If anything, the healthy return of Percy Harvin has helped their aerial attack. A year ago, the Seahawks finished near the bottom of the league in passing yards, a result of attempted the second fewest throws in the NFL. While they managed a robust 8.4 yards per attempt, that was largely the result of picking their spots as opposed to a dominant air attack. Now with Harvin taking the top off of defenses and forcing more Cover-2 looks, Russell Wilson should have more open windows in the intermediate passing game.
Defensively the group is as good as ever. Seattle gave up only 14.4 points and 273.6 yards a year ago. If their season opener against the powerhouse Packers offense is any indication, those numbers won’t stray much, if at all, in 2014.
As for the Chargers, a strong finish to 2013 saw them rise to 11th in points allowed. That figure should improve even more this season with cornerback Jason Verrett patrolling the defensive backfield. The Chargers offense is now the question given their injuries. Hardwick was a rock in the middle for the Chargers playoffs teams in recent years, and tackle D.J. Fluker also had an MRI on his knee this week. Replacement center Rich Ohrnberger and quarterback Philip Rivers have already endured miscommunication issues that caused delay of game penalties in the season opener.
Further reading
For Seahawks coverage, head on over to Field Gulls. For more on the Chargers, head on over to Bolts from the Blue.
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