A Shoot out?

Two of the NFL’s most high-powered offenses will try to out-perform each other when Marty Schottenheimer and the San Diego Chargers host Scott Linehan and the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, Oct. 29, at Qualcomm Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m.

Last Sunday, St. Louis had a bye while the Chargers lost a heartbreaker to the Kansas City Chiefs, overcoming a 20-3 first-half deficit only to see Lawrence Tynes kick a 53-yard field goal with six seconds left to give the Chiefs a 30-27 win at Arrowhead Stadium.

Sunday’s game will feature two of the NFL’s top-rated gunslingers: San Diego’s Philip Rivers (96.3 passer rating, sixth in the NFL) and St. Louis’ Marc Bulger (99.8, third in the NFL). It also features several of the NFL’s all-time leading pass catchers, including San Diego’s Keenan McCardell and St. Louis Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt. In three career games against the Rams, McCardell has caught 23 passes for 332 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Sunday’s game will also feature LaDainian Tomlinson’s continued pursuit of his 90th career touchdown. Last Sunday in Kansas City, Tomlinson scored the 88th touchdown of his career on a 37-yard catch-and-run and he also threw a touchdown pass to tight end

Brandon Manumaleuna. Should he manage to punch it in twice against the Rams, Tomlinson would tie his childhood hero, Emmitt Smith, as the second-fastest player in NFL history to score 90 touchdowns (86 games).

Akbar Signs

The Chargers re-signed linebacker Akbar Gbaja-Biamila to a two-year deal, the team announced today. The 6-5, 260-pound former San Diego State linebacker originally signed with the team in January before being released on Sept. 2. To make room on the roster for Gbaja-Biamila, the team waived linebacker Nick Speegle.

Here are a few stats to help pass the time before Sunday matchup.

ST. LOUIS RAMS (4-2) AT SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (4-2)

SERIES LEADER:

RAMS: 5-3

STREAKS

RAMS: 3 of past 4

COACHES vs. OPPONENT.

RAMS: Linehan: 0-0

CHARGERS: Schottenheimer: 3-2

LAST WEEKRAMS: Bye (Wk. 6: L 30-28 vs. Seahawks)

CHARGERS: L 30-27 at Chiefs

LAST GAME

11/10/02: Chargers 24 at Rams 28. St. Louis QB Marc Bulger tossed 4 TDs, including 2 in 4th quarter, as Rams erase 10-point deficit.

LAST GAME AT SITE

11/27/94: Chargers 31, Rams 17. San Diego PR Darrien Gordon has 75-yard TD and Chargers’ defense intercepts 4 passes as team improves to 9-3.

BROADCAST

FOX (1:05 PM PT): Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 125 (St.L.), 130 (SD).

STAT Leaders

PASSING

RAMS: Bulger: 128-208-1,619-10-1-99.8

CHARGERS: Rivers: 124-187-1,330-9-3-96.3

RUSHING

RAMS: S. Jackson: 133-521-3.9-2

CHARGERS: Tomlinson: 125-473-3.8-7

RECEIVING

RAMS: Holt: 37-526-14.2-7

CHARGERS: Tomlinson (RB): 32-246-7.7-1

OFFENSE (average yards)

RAMS: 345.2 yards

CHARGERS: 362.2 yards

TURNOVERS

RAMS: +11

CHARGERS: +6

DEFENSE

RAMS: 339.3 yards allowed

CHARGERS: 241.2 yards allowed

SACKS

RAMS: Little: 5.0

CHARGERS: Phillips: 6.0

INTs

RAMS: Atogwe, Brown: 2

CHARGERS: Jammer: 2

PUNTING

RAMS: Turk: 42.5

CHARGERS: Scifres: 45.9

KICKING

RAMS: Wilkins: 65 (11/11 PAT; 18/21 FG)

CHARGERS: Kaeding: 64 (19/19 PAT; 15/17 FG)

– CHRIS NIXON