The Seattle Seahawks will visit Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif., Monday night for an NFL exhibition game with the San Diego Chargers. San Diego is installed the favorite at Sportsbook.com by a 5 1/2-point chalk ATS and -240 on the money line with a posted 37 total. Seattle backers are getting +200 money line odds as a road underdog.

[pictured:Chargers All-Pro linebacker Shawne Merriman will miss tonight's pre-season game with Seattle]

The Chargers and Seahawks are meeting in the preseason for just the ninth time, with Seattle leading the series, 5-3. That includes a 24-16 win in the preseason opener for both teams in 2007.

The underlying question in this game is the injury list. While pre-season game-3 is usually a warm-up for the regulars, injuries could place a damper on how many regulars will see action. That is especially true with Seattle having to sit starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck with back issues.

Gamblers must also take note that Seahawks’ receivers Deion Branch and Bobby Ingram will not be in the game due to injuries.

San Diego will miss not having Shawne Merriman who will miss time due to two torn knee ligaments. While Merriman declares he will be ready for the regular season, gamblers shouldn’t expect to see him Monday night.

Chargers’ coach Turner’s plan for Monday night’s preseason game against Seattle is to have his starting group play into the third quarter. 

“I like our guys having that feeling of coming out of the locker room at halftime,” Turner said. “We played awfully good football to the start the second half in all three phases. We’d like to continue that. 

Depending on how the game goes, Turner said he could be flexible with that plan.

“That could change based on certain individuals and based on how many snaps we get,” Turner said. “Last week we didn’t get very many snaps on offense in the first half. Our defense was on the field. We could adjust it based on that.”

---