Chargers right their wrongs

The Redskins aim to be more than a speed bump on New England’s path to perfection, a New York coach -- and it’s not Tom Coughlin -- hopes he doesn’t wind up jettisoned, and the Buccaneers play keep-away.

Ten things to look for in Week 8 of the NFL season:

Recharged

1 The displaced San Diego Chargers, who will be practicing in Arizona this week, seem to have put their bumpy start behind and have resumed their spot among the top teams in the league. Even with Pro Bowl center Nick Hardwick out, they’re running the ball well, an essential component to taking pressure off quarterback Philip Rivers. If they can get past Houston on Sunday and come away with a victory at Minnesota the following week, the Chargers’ Nov. 11 Sunday night home game against Indianapolis becomes must-see TV.

Tigers’ tale

2 The Bengals won Sunday, but the heat is still on flamboyant receiver Chad Johnson. He’s perceived by many in Cincinnati as selfish and divisive, a me-me-me guy who might be more trouble than he’s worth. He hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 2. Johnson recently told FoxSports.com that he plans to focus more on actions than antics. But can Mr. Chad-erbox really be a church mouse throughout Steelers week?

Grudge match?

3 Despite his success as a college and pro assistant, Tennessee offensive coordinator Norm Chow, 61, was never offered the chance to be an NFL head coach. So it could be a sore subject that Lane Kiffin, the play-caller who followed him at USC, got the Raiders job at age 31. The Titans (4-2) play host to the Raiders (2-4) on Sunday, and, for what it’s worth, Tennessee’s offense averages 322.5 yards a game compared with the Raiders’ 317.7.

On a march

4 After four consecutive losses, New Orleans looked as if it was toast. But the Saints have consecutive victories and have some momentum entering Sunday’s game at San Francisco. What’s more, the two teams above them in the NFC South, Carolina and Tampa Bay, are facing tough opponents. The Panthers play Indianapolis, and the Buccaneers play Jacksonville.

Sack exchange

5 Eli Manning has played well, but most of the credit for the New York Giants’ five-game winning streak should go to the defense. The unit that gave up 80 points in its first two games has given up 69 in the last five. Under new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the Giants have 27 sacks. He honed his blitzing philosophy as linebackers coach in Philadelphia, and now has defensive ends -- Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora -- who can give offenses fits.

Broadway Schmo

6 Wasn’t it just last season New York Jets fans were referring to Coach Eric Mangini as “Man-genius,” and he even landed a cameo in the final season of “The Sopranos”? Times have changed. The Jets (1-6) are off to their worst start in eight years. One New Jersey paper anonymously quoted players complaining Mangini isn’t a motivator and that they miss Herm Edwards. On Sunday, the Jets play host to division rival Buffalo, which has gotten impressive production out of rookies Trent Edwards and Marshawn Lynch.

Blushing ‘Skins

7 At least one Washington offensive player told reporters he was embarrassed that the Redskins’ defense had to carry the offense, which gained only 160 yards in Sunday’s 21-19 victory over Arizona. The offense will need to do a lot more to keep the Patriots off the field. The last time these teams met was 2003, when Washington won, 20-17. Following that loss, the Patriots began their NFL-record 21-game winning streak that included a Super Bowl victory over Carolina.

Bearing down

8 The Lions (4-2) are within a game of division-leading Green Bay. Sunday, they have a chance to complete a season sweep of Chicago -- but not if Tommie Harris has a say in the matter. The Bears defensive tackle essentially guaranteed a victory over Detroit after Sunday’s spirit-lifting victory at Philadelphia, telling the Chicago Tribune: “We’re ready. . . . Detroit don’t come into Chicago and win in our stadium.” The Bears didn’t do such a good job of shutting down the Lions in their first meeting, giving up 37 points.

Bowling for Bucs

9 Check out Tampa Bay’s new onside-kick technique: While kicker Matt Bryant stands to the side, the other 10 members of the coverage team arrange themselves in bowling pins formation about 10 yards behind the ball. They then stampede on his heels as Bryant kicks the ball low and hard directly at the player in front of him. It worked beautifully against Detroit, when the ball popped about 15 feet straight up and one of the Buccaneers was able to field it cleanly. It wasn’t successful the second time around, but in this copycat league, expect another team to try it.

Pond hopping

10 The NFL will take a historic step Sunday when the New York Giants face the Miami Dolphins in England. It will be the first regular-season game played outside of North America, and quite a haul for the teams involved. The concept is interesting, and the NFL certainly is focused on growing its fan base beyond the U.S. borders. But there’s no way the league would ever put a team in London. Well, maybe before it puts one in Los Angeles. . . .

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sam.farmer@latimes.com