In week one of the NFL preseason the Green Bay Packers face the San Diego Chargers. The Pack is back and they are favored to make another run at the NFC crown but the Chargers have their own redemption on their minds from consecutive seasons without a postseason appearance. 

Green Bay Packers

Donald Driver may be the team leader and a well respected presence in the locker room but he is no longer the straw that stirs the proverbial drink when it comes to the Packers receiving corps. His production has fallen off the last two seasons and if he did not consent to a contract restructuring, he would not be playing this season in Green Bay. However, Aaron Rodgers has plenty of speed at his disposal with Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, James Jones and a versatile threat in Randall Cobb.

Defensively the Packers could not stop the pass and that was ultimately their undoing. They had a middling run stop unit but they will need to create more pressure on the quarterback and shore up a lackluster secondary. The Packers did draft all defensive players in the earlier rounds so it will be interesting to see if their scouting department has risen to the task.

We know that the projected veteran starters, most notably Aaron Rodgers, will probably not be playing even half the game. The coaches want their big money stars to shake off the rust without getting injured. Note also that last season's backup quarterback Matt Flynn will not be lighting it up for Green Bay when they inevitably pull Rodgers from the line of fire against the Bolts. Undrafted quarterback Graham Harrell will be locking and loading and he is a complete wildcard in this game.

San Diego Chargers

And on this side of the field we have the talented Philip Rivers for your viewing pleasure. Certainly Rivers is not as prolific a passer as Rodgers but then again the only quarterbacks that can be mentioned in the same breath would be Tom Brady, Drew Brees and let's not forget about the old guy who just signed with Denver. San Diego has many sins to atone for and don't think head coach Norv Turner doesn't want a win in a hurry. Vincent Jackson may have taken the money and run on down to Tampa Bay but the Chargers signed Robert Meacham as a capable replacement from New Orleans while adding Eddie Royal from the Broncos and Roscoe Parrish from the Bills. That chemistry will take time to gel but if Antonio Gates can stay healthy then Rivers will be all set.

The reports on Melvin Ingram are all positive but then again, it's still very early. Ingram was the Chargers 1st round pick (18th overall) and the Chargers are hoping he can bolster a woeful pass rush. Jarrett Johnson was lured from the Ravens to stop the run and Kendall Reyes was drafted as another pass rusher to complement Ingram.

The Pick:

 

The NFL odds makers had opened the Chargers as -1 favorites, but early betting action has caused teh lines to shift a bit more in the favor of San Diego. As of now, most of the top NFL betting sites are listing the Chargers at -2.5, with the total offered at 37.

The home team needs a win here and so does the coach. The Packers offensive line has been tinkered with and that may give this new San Diego pass rush the openings they need to establish themselves. The Packers have no running game to speak of unless Alex Green finally gets healthy and proves he is worthy of the Packers' lofty expectations.

I like the Chargers here because they at least have a backup quarterback with NFL experience under his belt in Kyle Boller. No, he's not an All-Star and won't be picked in any Fantasy Football drafts but at the very least he is serviceable and that appears to be an improvement over the Packers untested and unproven backup Graham Harrell. Throw a few bucks on the Bolts. San Diego -2 ½ is the play.