CHARGERS: Bolts are truly ready for prime time

By MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Wednesday, April 16, 2008 3:34 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- Football under the lights will become a common theme of the Chargers' 2008 season.

The Chargers have six night games on the slate ---- including a historic game in London ---- with five games being televised in prime time, according to the schedule released by the NFL on Tuesday.

Click here for Chargers schedule

"When I first saw the schedule, my first thought was, 'We should start practicing at night,' " cracked Chargers coach Norv Turner.

The Chargers will play the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 26 in London in just the second NFL regular-season game played on European soil. The game, which starts at 5 p.m. London time, will be televised nationally by CBS at 10 a.m. Pacific time.

Prime-time Chargers telecasts include three appearances on NBC's Sunday night game of the week, a Monday night contest on ESPN and a Thursday night game on the NFL Network. Four of the Chargers' eight regular-season home games will be night games.

NBC picked up the Chargers' home games against the New England Patriots (Oct. 12) and Indianapolis Colts (Nov. 23) as well as a Dec. 21 road game at Tampa Bay.

The Chargers' Monday night opponent is the New York Jets on Sept. 22. The Thursday night contest is against Oakland on Dec. 4.

Turner said the regular prime-time appearances come with the territory of being a marquee team.

"I think it's exciting for our football team," Turner said. "If you're going to go win a championship, you better get accustomed to playing in big games and you better get accustomed to playing games at different times. It's part of the deal."

The Chargers' season opener is at home on Sept. 7 against the Carolina Panthers.

The Chargers got the type of schedule they hoped for in the weeks prior to and following the trip to London. They requested an East Coast game prior to the trip and will visit the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 19. After playing the Saints in London the following week, the Chargers receive a bye.

Overall, the Chargers have five road trips to or beyond the East Coast. In addition to games at London, Buffalo and Tampa Bay, the Chargers also play at Miami on Oct. 5 and at Pittsburgh on Nov. 16. The Chargers' division road games fall on Sept. 14 (at Denver), Sept. 28 (at Oakland) and Dec. 14 (at Kansas City).

The Chargers conclude the season at home against Denver on Dec. 28. Their other home games are Nov. 9 (Kansas City) and Nov. 30 (Atlanta).

Et cetera

Coach Norv Turner isn't overly concerned about the Chargers' long list of players recovering from offseason surgeries. Players rehabbing include QB Philip Rivers (knee), TE Antonio Gates (toe), C Nick Hardwick (foot), OLB Shawne Merriman (knee) and DT Jamal Williams (knee). "The good thing is, if you're going to be in this situation, we have a number of veteran players who are at a point in their careers where they don't need quite as much time doing pure football," Turner said. "A lot of our young backups, guys who haven't played much, we're going to have a chance to get them a lot of reps and a lot of opportunities." ... Turner said he expects RB LaDainian Tomlinson (knee) to be healthy enough to take part in some of the team's May minicamp. Tomlinson worked out at the team facility on Monday.

Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com.