Philip Rivers and the Los Angeles Chargers spent

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CARSON Russ Grimm Jersey , Calif. (AP) the past two months scrapping and clawing for the chance to play meaningful games in December. Now that they’ve made it, the Bolts don’t want to
waste that hard work against an opponent that has been slipping out of
contention for the same two months. After winning three straight and six of
eight overall, the first-place Chargers (6-6) host the Washington Redskins (5-7)
on Sunday with a chance to solidify their postseason intentions. A loss would
almost certainly put the Bolts in trouble again, but Rivers and his veteran Los
Angeles teammates are motivated by their recent late-season experiences in San
Diego. ”We haven’t had a very meaningful December game the last two years, and
now here we are,” Rivers said. ”I think it’s good to acknowledge that and talk
about that, because it is different. It’s exciting, and it’s what you spend all
offseason for, is to get into December and have a chance.” Just three years ago,
the Chargers hit December at 8-4. They lost three of their final four games,
including a season-ending loss at Kansas City with a playoff berth on the line.
”We have a shot,” Rivers said. ”We know that. But we also know how quickly it
can go the other way. We’ve by no means made it. We have four tough football
games ahead of us, starting this week.” Although these teams’ records are nearly
identical, the Chargers are sitting atop the AFC West alongside Kansas City and
Oakland, while the Redskins are already eliminated from the NFC East title race
behind Philadelphia (10-2). With six NFC teams already sitting on eight
victories and four other teams between Washington and a wild-card spot, the
final month of the Redskins’ season likely is only about pride. Kirk Cousins
doesn’t intend to let up, although the prolific passer also is playing for his
long-term future, either in Washington or elsewhere. Cousins has 3,289 yards
passing this season – just 3 fewer than Rivers’ 3,292. ”We do have like a 1
percent chance, so I’m going to play believing that … if we can do our part, who
knows?” Cousins said. ”In theory, we do still have something to play for, and
that’s enough for me.” Here are more things to watch in the franchises’ 11th
meeting: KIRK BEWARE: Cousins’ greatest challenge could be staying upright under
the pressure of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram , the Chargers’ dynamic pass-rushing
duo. They’ve combined for 20 of the Chargers’ 35 sacks already this season,
while Cousins has been sacked 35 times behind an injury-plagued offensive line.
Los Angeles defensive coordinator Gus Bradley is an aggressive blitzer on third
downs, and that has played a big role in a strong series of defensive
performances by the Bolts, who haven’t allowed more than 27 points in a game all
season. ”I think they have had more interceptions (15) than they’ve allowed
touchdown passes (13) Paul Richardson Jersey ,” Cousins said. ”I’ve got to believe that a lot of the credit does go to the pass rush and then works back from there.” KEENAN’S
COUSIN: Chargers receiver Keenan Allen will attempt to become the first player
in NFL history to make at least 10 catches for at least 100 yards and one
touchdown in four consecutive games. But LA’s star playmaker also will be
thinking about his cousin, Redskins receiver Maurice Harris, who made a
spectacular one-handed touchdown catch against Minnesota last month in his
season debut. Harris isn’t likely to have a big impact Sunday after sustaining a
concussion last week, but Allen will be looking for him. ”We have been doing it
our whole life, so we always knew we could play at a high level,” Allen said. ”I
just think he needs the chance, and I think he showed it against the Vikings
when he did get the chance.” REED UNLIKELY: Washington’s most important
offensive playmaker, tight end Jordan Reed, is expected to miss his sixth
consecutive game with a strained right hamstring. Reed only has 27 catches for
211 yards and two touchdowns during a lost season that coach Jay Gruden called
incomplete. ”Jordan is a big-time player for us and when he’s not out there, it
has an effect on what we do,” Gruden said. ”Any time you lose a player of that
magnitude, as gifted as he is talent-wise, it’s going to have a little bit of an
effect.” QUICK TURNAROUND: Although the temptation could be strong this week,
the Chargers insist they won’t be looking ahead to their trip to Kansas City
next Saturday for a key game in the AFC West race. ”(Washington) is a
playoff-caliber team,” Rivers said. ”Let’s find a way, and then we know how
exciting next Saturday will be.” LINEBACKERS IN LIMBO: The Redskins are already
without inside linebackers Mason Foster and Will Compton, and Zach Brown and
Martrell Spaight have dealt with injuries. Brown said Washington has ”got
probably a whole team on injured reserve right now” but doesn’t want it to be an
excuse. ”I’ve never had all that guys get hurt on the inside like that,” Brown
said. ”You’ve got to know your job … You’ve got to know what you’re supposed to
do.” — AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno in Washington contributed to this report.
— Adrian Peterson‘s stint on the bench was a short one.Washington running back
Derrius Guice suffered a knee injury that will likely force him to miss some
time, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. It’s not the same knee that caused
him to miss the entire season last year, and it’s not expected to need surgery,
so that is some good news, but it’s still a serious enough injury to keep Guice
out for a while.That presumably means Peterson takes his place in the lineup. On
Sunday, head coach Jay Gruden made Peterson inactive, which ruffled plenty of
feathers in Washington — especially after Guice gained just 18 yards on 10
carries and Washington couldn’t protect its 20-7 halftime lead.Washington took
Guice in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft and has high hopes for him, but
an injury cost him his entire rookie year, and now one game into Year 2, he is
hurt again.
Posted 05 Nov 2019

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