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“Chargers-Winning-But Losing Players’

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They head into Detroit for a Sunday game, but things are not right with the Chargers.

They could have, or maybe should have lost to the Indianapolis Colts last weekend at home.  Were it not for 3-missed kicks by Adam Vinatierri, or a questionable instant replay call denying the Colts a TD, that win could very well have been a loss.

Now they face a Jekyll-Hyde Lions team, that could blow you out with quarterback Matthew Stafford, but could also self-destruct, as they did last weekend, when they blew a big lead and wound up in a weird (27-27) tie with lowly Arizona.

The Chargers problems are more than just facing coach Matt Patricia’s team.  The problems involve a roster that is falling apart, fast, quickly and disappointingly.

Philip Rivers will be there, but lots of key people around him won’t, and that’s the issue, he cannot do this by himself.

A Bolt offense that does not have OT-Russell Okung (blood clot) and RB-Melvin Gordon (holdout) has now lost a very good TE-Hunter Henry.  (fractured kneecap).  It’s his 3rd major injury in 3-years with the team.

And now Mike Williams, the big play capable wide receiver, has missed the entire week of practice with a bruised knee, and might not be able to play.  He is the key number two guy behind Keenan Allen.  The drop-off talent wise is huge if Williams cannot play Sunday.

On defense, this will be half a season on the IR for do-everything safety Derwin James, but the team now has holes elsewhere..  Starting CB-Mike Davis went out with a hamstring early last week, and has not practiced.  His replacement Trevor Williams is gone for the year, on IR.

And the nagging injuries that have played LBs Jatavis Brown and Denzel Perryman, have reappeared.  Ankle-hamstring issues kept them limited or out of practice this week.  The LB corps without them looks thin and very young.

Even young prospect WRs Geremy Davis and Artavis Scott won’t be available because of nagging injuries that have taken them out of practice.

Kicker Michael Badgley remains out with a groin injury that showed up the Friday before the season started, though CFL free agent Ty Law handled all the kicking duties well.

The Chargers are asking a lot of the running back by committee, and didn’t really run the ball at all last weekend vs the Colts.  So we can’t really subscribe that Austin Ekeler-Justin Jackson combo are true and equal replacements to the holdout renegade Melvin Gordon.

And no one on the roster is equal to Henry’s big play productivity so there is a drop-off there.

The replacement for Okung, second year guy LT-Trent Scott, gave up 2-sacks, got beat four other times on rushes and committed a penalty, and he wasn’t going against a premier pass rusher.  Meet the ex-Patriot Trey Flowers, now on the Lions defensive front.

So come Sunday, Rivers figures to de down a bunch of bullets in his gun.  And his defense may have their hands full with Stafford, Danny Amendola, and the two tight ends he throws too.  Stafford thew for (385) last Sunday, so he has ability.

The Bolts won one they could have lost.  They’ll need luck, not to lose this weekend.

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