The Packers are coming off of their bye week with the NFL's only unblemished record (7-0) and a date with one of the most disappointing teams in the league over the last two seasons, the San Diego Chargers.

San Diego, losers of their last two games, (at New York Jets and at Kansas City) have failed to live up to the preseason hype surrounding them, mostly because franchise quarterback Phillip Rivers has had a poor start to the season. This week Rivers even had his leadership abilities questioned by former teammate LaDanian Tomlinson.

The Chargers have wins against Minnesota (2-6), Miami (0-7), Kansas City (4-3) and Denver (2-5), so it's not like they are beating good teams.

Compounding San Diego coach Norv Turner's woes are that two of his best offensive weapons, tight end Antonio Gates and running back Ryan Mathews, are nursing nagging injuries. Some good news for Turner is that they are back at Qualcomm Stadium, as the Chargers have not played a home game in more than a month.

Meanwhile, how much more can be said that hasn't already about the Green Bay offensive attack? This week's Sports Illustrated cover boys are the talk of the NFL, and show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

When the season began, this looked like one of the stumbling blocks that the Packers might have to endure as the season wore on. However, considering their fast start and San Diego's struggles, the line on this game favors Green Bay by 6 points, an almost unheard of number on the road and two time zones away from home.

Three key matchups:

San Diego QB Phillip Rivers vs. Green Bay's defensive backs. Rivers has been struggling this season with an 80.7 quarterback rating (7 TD, 11 INT, 64.5 completion percentage) and questions about his leadership. Tomlinson, now with the New York Jets, said this week of Rivers that "on the sideline, he seems like he's just distracted. And I've always said this:  It's hard to be The Guy." Turner said this week that "sometimes (Rivers) is trying too hard and trying to make plays that aren't there." Green Bay ranks 28th in pass defense. If TE Antonio Gates is healthy, it could be a long afternoon for the Packers.

Green Bay SS Charlie Peprah vs. San Diego TE Antonio Gates. Gates has been dealing with a sore foot all season long – an injury that actually was sustained last year. In four games, Rivers' longtime favorite target has hauled in just 17 catches, only one of them going for a touchdown. Peprah has been about what the Packers expected when Nick Collins was lost for the year with a neck injury. In his sixth season, Peprah has had his ups and downs in 2011 but he will need to lead the defensive attack against Gates even as defensive coordinator Dom Capers mixes up his coverage now and again.

San Diego RB Ryan Mathews vs. Green Bay front seven. This matchup comes with an asterisk. Mathews has been listed as questionable this week with a groin strain, and refused interview requests this week to talk about the freak injury, which happened in the fourth quarter of the Chargers last game this past Monday night. "He's a very physical runner," Turner said this week. "He initiates collisions a lot." Mathews, when healthy has been outstanding, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He is a threat both taking handoffs and catching the ball out of the backfield, with 851 total yards from scrimmage.

NFL Team Ranks:

Total offense: Green Bay, 4 – San Diego, 6

Passing offense: Green Bay, 3 – San Diego, 6

Rushing offense: Green Bay, 24 – San Diego,13

3rd down offense: Green Bay, 5 – San Diego, 2

Scoring offense: Green Bay, 1 – San Diego, 15

Total defense: Green Bay, 28 – San Diego, 6

Passing defense: Green Bay, 31 – San Diego, 4

Rushing defense: Green Bay, 10 – San Diego, 17

3rd down defense: Green Bay, 22 – San Diego, 28

Scoring defense: Green Bay, 9 – San Diego, 16

Other key games around the NFL:

New York Jets (4-3) at Buffalo (5-2): The Jets return from their bye week trying to snap a dubious streak. Not the two game winning streak they had going into the bye, but rather the two game losing streak following the bye week the last two seasons under head coach Rex Ryan. The Bills are 4-0 at home, and lead the Jets by one game in the AFC East. New York CB Derrelle Revis called this game a "must win" for the Jets. The Bills are coming off a dominating 23-0 performance in Toronto against the Washington Redskins one week ago. My prediction: Bills 23, Jets 17

New York Giants (5-2) at New England (5-2): There are only three quarterbacks in the NFL with a passer rating over over 100. Two of them, Tom Brady (104.4) and Eli Manning (102.1) will square off in a rematch of Super Bowl XLII; a game that saw the Giants pulling off a huge upset over the previously unbeaten Patriots, 17-14. Last week, New England lost at Pittsburgh 25-17 in a game in where the Steelers more than doubled the number of total yards the Patriots gained. New York, meanwhile, escaped with a 20-17 come-from-behind win over hapless Miami. My prediction: Patriots 31, Giants 24

Baltimore (5-2) at Pittsburgh (6-2): A lot has happened since the Steelers were drubbed in Week 1 by the Ravens 35-7. In that contest, Pittsburgh turned the ball over seven times, and harassed QB Ben Roethlisberger to the tune of four sacks, three interceptions, and two fumbles. Since then, Pittsburgh has gone on a tear, and now owns the AFC's best record. Baltimore comes into Heinz Field with the NFL's No. 1 defense; Pittsburgh's is No. 2. These two teams play rough, physical, sometimes dirty football, and the absolutely cannot stand each other. This one could get deliciously ugly in a hurry. My prediction: Ravens 13, Steelers 10

Broadcast information:

Television: FOX 6; Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Brian Billick (analyst), and Laura Okmin (sidelines)

Local Radio: WTMJ – AM 620; Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and Larry McCarren (analyst)

National Radio: Westwood One; Kevin Kugler (play-by-play) and Mark Malone (analyst)

For what it's worth:

The Packers are 5-0 all-time against the Chargers in San Diego. In a twist of irony, Qualcomm Stadium is also the site of Green Bay's only Super Bowl loss (Super Bowl XXXII) against Denver.

Also, since 1990, when the bye week was first introduced, just over half - 52.6% - of teams have followed up their off week with a win.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers makes his offseason home in San Diego, despite hailing from Chico, in the northern part of California. Rodgers told 540 ESPN Radio this week that he has been inundated with ticket requests from friends that want to take the short flight from Sacramento to San Diego for the game.

My prediction: Green Bay 35, San Diego 21