QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the San Diego Chargers getting hot again like previous seasons) Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"It will be a challenge. They are playing really well. It looks like they've got a number of guys back that have been injured or just haven't been with the team. They got their left tackle back, got a receiver back. Their defense has really been playing well all season long. Statistically, they are tops in just about all the main categories. They'll be tough to move the ball against. It will be a challenge."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on how he gets his team motivated to get focused coming off of last week's game) Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"I think everybody will be prepared to do that. That's what we have to do. It's an AFC game, it's a home game, it's the next game. Lots of reasons to be focused and ready for this one. I think the big key is having a good week of practice during this week. It's Thanksgiving, so we have somewhat of an altered schedule, but we've always been able to have good practices during this week, and I think that will be important."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if it helps or hurts his preparation knowing that he won't have WR-Austin Collie this week) Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"I guess so, I guess there could be something to that. I think you always want to know who is going to be available to play. The thing I've always liked is whoever is going to play is able to practice that whole week, so hopefully we can have a number of guys practice that are going to play. Maybe we get some other guys back that have been injured. It will be tough without Austin, but WR-Blair (White) has done an excellent job when he's been called upon to step in and with another week of practice, I do think you can see improvement with the new guys with the more practices and the more games you have. I do think game reps are important. Obviously, they take time, but with each game we play, hopefully we can improve each week."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on playing a team like San Diego with such an explosive offense) Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"This is more like last week. You do understand that we are going to have to play well on offense and score some points because their offense is so explosive. I know what kind of challenge our defense is in for going against their offense with all their playmakers. Sure, you feel challenged to do your part and keep your defenses out of tough situations, and hopefully be able to put some points on the board. But against this defense that will be tough."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on having four of the next six games at home) Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"We've certainly played better at home than we have on the road so far to date. That's a good and a bad thing. We need to try and get the road thing fixed, but hopefully we can continue to win at home. (We're playing) probably one of the hottest teams, playing with a lot of momentum right now, coming off a little winning streak here. This is definitely one of our toughest tests to date here at home."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on any reason that he has for why the team has not done as well on the road this season) Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"I can't really. I'm sure you can look at each game and certain reasons or whatever that we've lost the game. Some haven't been so close, some of them have been real close games. I don't think it's really a factor where it's been. For whatever reason we haven't played a full 60-minute game in order to close out some of those games. We've certainly had chances in just about all of them. I think the first game in Houston probably was the game that wasn't quite so close."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on RB-Donald Brown) Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"Donald's done a good job. He's gotten a number of opportunities. I think anybody that gets to play consistently is going to feel more comfortable. We're looking for continued improvement out of him and just production out of him. We need Donald to be a factor this week, as well (RB-Javarris) James."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on it being unusual that San Diego really struggles at the beginning of the season, but turns it on in November and December) Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"It is kind of unique. They seem to have it figured out. I do think that's probably the most important thing. I'm sure nobody wants to start in a hole. They have gotten some guys back. I know every quarterback would love to get his left tackle back. I'm sure that makes a big difference to QB-Philip (Rivers). I think (WR-Vincent) Jackson, the receiver is back, so it may be possibly even more explosive on offense, but their defense really has been pretty steady all year, which is impressive because they lost a couple of marquee names in (DB-Antonio) Cromartie and (LB-Shawne) Merriman. They really have answered the bell and are playing really well together with whoever is in there. I think their defense has really been solid all year."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if the San Diego series is starting to be like the New England series) Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"It's probably been a little more one-sided to tell you the truth. They have won a majority of the games, as of recent. We beat them in 1998 here in an awesome, thrilling game. That was a great game. They've been an excellent team every year. They've been a contender in the AFC every year. We certainly felt like we were going to play them last year, potentially in the Championship Game until the Jets beat them up there. It will be a tough challenge, and we'll have to play well in all three phases to have a chance. Certainly, I need to play better than last week. But I do think in order to beat them it has to be a true team win. Everybody has to do their part."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on does he remember his first win against San Diego) Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"It was an ugly game, I remember that. It was a bad game. Winning is better than losing. One of the few wins that year. I remember the preseason was a bad game for me. I know the regular season wasn't a whole lot better, but we did somehow score a few more points than them. I did throw a touchdown to (RB-Marshall) Faulk, I think. I do remember that."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on expectations for WR-Pierre Garcon this season being very high in the media) Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"I don't know. (Vice President of Public Relations) Craig (Kelley) said somebody reported that, I don't know where that came from. It certainly didn't come from me. I think Pierre is still a young player. For him, he's a young player, he had an outstanding year last year. He's battled through some injuries (and) it has affected his practice time, even going back to training camp. That's why we were really excited at the beginning of the season with (WR-Anthony) Gonzalez back. We thought we would have a good four-man rotation to spell Pierre from time-to-time and spell (WR-Austin) Collie, whatever it may be. Due to the injury to Gonzalez, we have been thinned out at that position. Like I said, you still have to remember that he is a young player. He's still developing. He's still seeing something new each week, and I thought he played real well last week. I feel like he's healthy now, practicing each week and he'll continue to improve. The one thing I will say, last year, he did practice every day all season, and like any player that just causes extended development, where this year, due to some nagging injuries, his practice schedule has been somewhat effected, which I think for any position, especially a young receiver, that can have somewhat of an effect. Hopefully, we can keep him healthy here down the stretch, and I think he'll play a real key role in this December stretch for us. We expect big things from him, and he certainly has all those big play making abilities."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if taking the blame for the two interceptions against New England when he and WR-Pierre Garcon were mixed up was just a quarterback taking all the blame) Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"No, it's just accurate. It's what happened. I do, do that."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on San Diego LB-Shaun Phillips) Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"He sure is active. Boy, he sure did play good the other night against Denver. There was one stretch where he ran all the way across the field and ran a guy down out of bounds, and the next play, they tried a trick play, and he sort of had a feel for it and had a tackle for a loss. They move him around a lot. Linebacker by trade, but yet, he's really going to be rushing most of the time. He really played well the other night. He is a guy that you are going to have to factor for."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if the way the game against New England ended adds motivation for him) Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"No. Last week had its own identity, its own game. This week is a new opponent, a new defense, a new game plan. So whether it's a win the week before or a loss the week before, you have to prepare well the next week and play well the next week because it's the next game, and that's what your job is."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on having the young players over to his house on Thanksgiving) Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"We do have a bunch this year. We haven't figured out the plans yet. We do have to make sure before practice today that some of our new guys, that literally have been in Indianapolis for a week or two weeks, make sure they have a place to eat. We have as many young guys as we've had in a long time around here. We've got some work to do. I think the key is to make sure we introduce everybody to each other. It would be nice if you have somebody over to your house that you at least know who he is a little bit."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on possibly needing name tags for all the young players) Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"Not a bad idea around here with some of our new players, especially on the practice squad. We've got a number of guys, coaches and players, that have always had open house policies for Thanksgiving, and that's a good thing."
