Lombardiave’s take on today’s game

Ernie Padaon of the San Diego Chargers’ Bolt Beat sent some questions out to us at Lombardiave to get a little more insight on this week’s game between the Green Bay Packers and Chargers and here is what we had to say:

Q. Since most San Diego fans (Chargers and Padres) have no idea the joys for a fan when their team wins the big one, can you describe it to us?

A. Two words – pure ecstasy! It’s better than … well, almost better than sex, but it’s pretty darned close.
When you follow a sports organization for years and there are so many times when the expectations fall short or the team loses a heartbreaker that they should have won, it’s got to be some of the most excruciating pain, both mentally and physically.

But on the flip side, when a team, like the Packers last year and the baseball Cardinals this year, come out of nowhere to win their league’s championship, it’s just an unbelievable experience. As sports fans, we have to go into each season with only the highest expectations, knowing that nine times out of 10, those expectations can’t be reached. However, when the team does win it all, it’s nothing short of great. Not only does the team win the championship on that particular day, but you get bragging rights for the entire year that follows.

Q. Saw that the Pack is on the front of Sports Illustrated this week, do you believe in the SI jinx?

A. The Packers have been on the cover of SI before and have never been affected by the “jinx.” Of course, one could point to many other individuals and teams who have never been affected by the jinx.

The only team affected by the jinx are the Bears … ahahaha … that’s a joke. We don’t like the Bears much in these parts.

Q. How do you slow down Aaron Rodgers and that offense?

A. The only way to slow down an offense in the NFL these days is with your own offense. If Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense is on the field, they are going to move the ball and they are going to score.

The key to keeping Aaron Rodgers off the field is to make sure your own offense plays ball control and keeps the Packers offense off the field for as long as possible.

Of course, another way is to cover like a blanket and get a good rush together to put pressure on the Super Bowl MVP. The problem with that is that Rodgers is even more deadly on the run than he is in the pocket.

Q. How do you beat the Packers this season?

A. Again, ball control is key. Keeping the Packers defense on the field could make a difference in whether a team is able to beat the Packers.

Attacking the Packers through the air has been a double-edged sword for opponents. While the Packers defense has been gashed by big plays throughout the first half of the season, they have also had the knack for coming up with the big plays at just the right times. They’ve forced fumbles and interceptions several times … huge plays that have made a difference in the outcome of the game.

Will they be able to continue to do that? Who knows? They are on a roll and it may be difficult to stop them at this point, but I find it difficult to believe that there isn’t a team out there who has the potential to put together just the right ingredients to pull out a win against the Packers.

The Chargers, though reeling from the loss at Kansas City, could be angry enough to do it. We’ll see.

Q. Predictions for the game?

A. I think the Packers will be able to absorb the initial energy surge put forth by the Chargers … I feel San Diego will probably come out sky high, much like Atlanta did a few weeks back. Like every game this year, the Packers will fight through the adversity of being down early. They will settle in, play their game and Rodgers will pick apart the Chargers’ secondary.

In the end, the Packers will head back to Wisconsin with a win, 38-24.

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