Power Rankings: Defense has Chargers on downward trend

Updated Oct. 7

Let's play a game, something similar to what you used to play in those Highlights magazines at the doctor's office when you were a kid, and you searched for hidden things in a puzzle.

Only we'll call this one Find the Hidden Team in our CBSSports.com Power Rankings. That team is the San Diego Chargers.

Normally, you'd start at the top. We expect that when you're talking about a preseason Super Bowl favorite.

Don't look there. You won't find them.

How about the middle? Nope. The bottom? Can it be?

They're not quite to the bottom, but the Chargers are ranked 23rd here right now. That's what a 2-3 start will do.

So what's wrong? Well, what isn't?

Nagging injuries to running back LaDainian Tomlinson and tight end Antonio Gates are hurting the offense, even though Philip Rivers' great play has San Diego third in the league in scoring at 29.6 points a game.

It's the defense, though, that is killing the Chargers.

After five games, the Chargers are ranked 27th in scoring defense, giving up 25.8 points per game. The Chargers have given up 129 points in five games. They gave up 284 points in 16 games in 2007 for a 17.8 average.

It is a defense that is playing without Shawne Merriman, the team's best pass rusher the past three seasons, but the descent shouldn't be this sudden without him.

Poll Can the Chargers turn it around?   47%  Yes: They are too good not to     53%  No: The problems will continue     Total Votes: 34967

Defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell has to get things turned around quickly. The Chargers play the New England Patriots on Sunday night in a must-have game, then travel to Buffalo before playing the New Orleans Saints in London the week after that. Both the Bills and the Saints average more than 25 points per game.

If the Chargers lose two of the next three games, they will be in big trouble heading into the second half.

If that happens, at least it won't be hard to find them here. They'll be down there with the Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams, the bottom feeders of the league.

The Power Rankings after Week 5:

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Titans · Trends	1
	Now that they've shown they can pass it to win games, where are the weak spots? There aren't any. They can essentially clinch home-field advantage by beating the Jets this week.
	2	Giants · Trends	2
	Here's the plan: They tell you they're going to run it, and then they do it. Get ready, Cardinals. The Mack truck offense is coming.
	3	Panthers · Trends	3
	It hasn't been pretty the past two weeks, but is it ever with this team? At 8-2, do we really know if they're any good? We might after they go to Atlanta this week.
	4	Buccaneers · Trends	4
	Don't you get the impression that they're getting better each week? They could be the sleeper team in the NFC. Jeff Garcia is playing well.
	5	Jets · Trends	7
	They proved by beating the Patriots last week that they are a legitimate contender. They do have to work on that pass defense. They get their crack at Tennessee this week.
	6	Cardinals · Trends	8
	They can prove all of the doubters wrong by beating the Giants this week. If they do, they just might end up as the NFC's second seed.
	7	Cowboys · Trends	9
	Getting Tony Romo back is huge, but so is having Terence Newman healthy at corner. They are healthy now, which readies them for a six-game run to the playoffs.
	8	Colts · Trends	11
	For the first time this season the offense looks to be getting into a groove. The defense remains a worry, especially when Bob Sanders isn't playing.
	9	Steelers · Trends	12
	The best thing to come out of the San Diego game was seeing Ben Roethlisberger throwing it better. That will be the key to the playoff run.
	10	Patriots · Trends	6
	They have a huge one this week with the Dolphins. The winner might be tied for first place if the Jets lose. The loser could be in playoff trouble.
	11	Dolphins · Trends	18
	Yes, they are playing a big game in November. Can you believe it? It has been a nice start for first-year coach Tony Sparano.
	12	Broncos · Trends	20
	They've fought through a bunch of injuries and now look to be the team to beat in the AFC West. As they get healthy, they should be even better, especially when they get Champ Bailey back.
	13	Falcons · Trends	10
	They have a chance to bounce back in a big way from that loss to the Broncos by beating the Panthers this week. If they don't, they will be traveling the wild-card route at best.
	14	Redskins · Trends	5
	They've lost consecutive games at home and the passing game has struggled in both. Jason Campbell needs to get it going again the way he did early this season -- or they'll be watching come playoff time.
	15	Packers · Trends	19
	After two tough road games they got right against the Bears last week. They are tied for the division lead now and the good thing for the rest of the season is that Ryan Grant got it going Sunday.
	16	Ravens · Trends	13
	There's no shame in losing to the Giants on the road. The big shocker is that the defense got pushed around. That doesn't happen often.
	17	Eagles · Trends	14
	After that terrible tie at Cincinnati, they must now go on the road again to play the Ravens. Wonder if Donovan McNabb knows that this game will be 60 minutes long?
	18	Bears · Trends	17
	The defense is a sieve. Hard to believe this is a team known for tough, physical defense. It just isn't happening and the passing game can't keep up when the Bears fall behind.
	19	Saints · Trends	22
	The next four weeks are brutal. It starts with a Monday home game against Green Bay, followed by Tampa Bay on the road, home against Atlanta and at Chicago. We'll know if they're in it after that.
	20	Vikings · Trends	15
	I'm tired of saying it: Their passing game isn't good enough. Gus Frerotte can't overcome his shortcomings.
	21	Browns · Trends	24
	They still have playoff hopes, thanks to Phil Dawson's 56-yard field goal. Brady Quinn is going to be a heck of a player. The defense still has issues.
	22	Bills · Trends	16
	What has gone wrong with Trent Edwards? Did that hit in Arizona change his game? It sure looks like it.
	23	Chargers · Trends	23
	L.T. doesn't do much anymore and the defense can't stop anybody. Is this really the same Chargers team that went to the AFC title game last season?
	24	Jaguars · Trends	21
	Their playoff chances are basically over. It will be interesting to see if they play hard down the stretch now that they're 4-6.
	25	Texans · Trends	25
	It's going to be another playoff-less season. That has to change next season or Gary Kubiak could be out in 2010.
	26	49ers · Trends	30
	It's too bad they can't play the Rams every week. They might be playoff bound if they could. They're playing harder under Mike Singletary, that's for sure.
	27	Bengals · Trends	28
	They have a victory and a tie in the past two games. That's progress. The good thing for next season is that the young defensive players are playing better.
	28	Rams · Trends	26
	If they didn't have to play the first half, they'd be OK. They've been blown out the past three weeks in the first halves of games.
	29	Seahawks · Trends	27
	Hard to believe this team is way down here. But even the return of Matt Hasselbeck can't turn things around. Why? The defense has been terrible.
	30	Raiders · Trends	29
	They battled in Miami, but they just don't do enough on offense. The change to having Tom Cable call the plays hasn't exactly worked. Maybe it's the players.
	31	Chiefs · Trends	31
	Tyler Thigpen is showing that maybe, just maybe, he might be this team's quarterback of the future. The next six games will tell us that.
	32	Lions · Trends	32
	I know Daunte Culpepper almost beat the Panthers, but is it really wise to be playing him? Don't they need to find out about Drew Stanton?