[h=2]Larry Ness' 10* NFL Week 15 Goin' Over Total (6 in a row?)[/h]My 10* NFL Week 15 Goin’ Over Total is on Car/SD Over at 4:05 ET.
The Chargers had dropped SEVEN of eight since a 3-1 start, prior to their shocking 34-24 win at Pittsburgh last Sunday. I say shocking because not only would few have argued against the statement that the Chargers looked like a team beyond repair prior to last Sunday’s game but the Chargers had lost 14 straight in Pittsburgh (Norv Turner was 0-6 all-time against the Steelers). San Diego’s win leaves them at 5-8, a loss away from suffering the team’s first losing season since 2003 (4-12). QB Philip Rivers had struggled during San Diego’s four-game slide with six TD passes compared to five INTs while fumbling five times. The offensive line was also a mess, allowing 14 sacks over the previous three games. However, Rivers had three TYD passes against the Steelers (no INTs) and the OL allowed just one sack, despite Rivers’ 41 attempts. The Panthers are 4-9 entering this game, coming off the team's best performance of the 2012 season, a 30-20 win at home vs the Falcons, who entered the contest 11-1 on the season. Led by Cam Newton’s record-setting rookie season, the Panthers improved from 2-14 to 6-10 in 2011 but the 2012 season has seen the Panthers (and often Newton), fail to convert in key situations. That’s the main reason Carolina has had seven losses by six points or less. However, Newton has begun to salvage his second season as a pro. He’s had eight TD passes without an INT over Carolina's last four games, averaging 269.3 YPG through the air while adding 286 rushing yards on 7.0 YPC with three TDs. That’s 1,363 yards of offense and 11 TDs, compared to Newton accounting for just eight scores while committed 11 turnovers in his initial seven games of 2012. Newton had a HUGE game against the Falcons, becoming the first player in NFL history with at least 250 passing yards (287) and 100 rushing yards (116) to go with a passing touchdown (two) and a rushing score. That was part of Carolina's season-high 475 total yards, as the offense has come back to life over the past three games, averaging 27.0 PPG on 419.3 YPG. Everyone expects that Turner will be out of a job when the season is over but it’s not hard to see the Chargers playing very “loose” these last few games. Meanwhile, expect Newton to continue his outstanding play. This game has all the makings of an easy over!