NFL Sunday Night Football

Preseason football gets underway tonight with Seattle Seahawks face off against the Chargers.





If you were to scour over recent NFL history, it would be unlikely that you would find two more disappointed division winners than both Seattle and San Diego one year ago. Coming off an almost Super season, the Seahawks never really spread their wings and went 9-7. After sneaking past Dallas, they were quietly eliminated by Chicago in the Divisional Round.
So too was the fate for the Lightning Bolts, whose unceremonious playoff exit was even more painful. A 14-2 season was ruined by Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

For Seattle, the problem was injuries. Those happen some times, so management still believes their team should be a contender once again (four straight playoff appearances). However, in San Diego, the answer was not so simple. The blame for the playoff flameout was placed squarely at the feet of now former head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Norv Turner now takes over the helm, perhaps walking into a better situation than any peer past or present. Still, a good situation has never helped Turner before.

Schottenheimer was at least a proven commodity during the regular season. Turner has never been a winner as a head coach, going a combined 54-82-1 in stints with Washington (1994-00) and Oakland (2004-05). He served as the Offensive Coordinator for the 49ers last year. While we will get to see Turner, one person you won't see is MVP LaDanian Tomlinson, who doesn't play during the preseason. Michael Turner, the best backup in the business, starts in his place. (Norv) Turner has stated that the first-team will play about a quarter. At QB, Phillip Rivers starts, before giving way to Billy Volek for the 2nd and 3rd quarter. Charlie Whitehurst will close things out. Both squads went 2-2 SU during the preseason last year, but the Chargers earned a win and cover right here in San Diego, over Seattle, 31-20 as four-point favorites. Still, the money is coming in on the underdog here. After opening as five-point pups, the Seahawks are now getting just 3.5 points from the oddsmakers. Both teams also earned a split at the betting window last preseason. San Diego did win their 2006 preseason opener, 17-3, over Green Bay. Seattle lost theirs, 13-3, to Dallas.

Unlike the Chargers, the Seahawks superstars will all be seeing time Sunday night. However, it won't be much. Coach Mike Holmgren is going to be limiting QB Matt Hasselbeck's playing time throughout the preseason, as he continues to rehab his surgically-repaired left shoulder. After Hasselbeck departs, Seneca Wallace will take over. David Greene and rookie Derek Devine fight to finish things out. RB Shaun Alexander and OL Walter Jones will both start.

Seattle +4