Seated at the most crowded podium during Tuesday’s Media Day, Giants QB Eli Manning fielded questions about older brother Peyton‘s health and playing in his second Super Bowl. But what if Manning never was traded to the Giants on the day the Chargers drafted him No. 1 overall in 2004?

Now that the countdown to Super Bowl XLVI has officially begun, some of the attention is off Rob Gronkowski’s ankle and turning toward Ahmad Bradshaw’s foot.

Philip Rivers took some time out of Pro Bowl preparations to sit down with NFL Network’s Fran Charles and Marshall Faulk to talk about what the Chargers need to do next season to be a better team.

Go inside the AFC’s Wednesday practice, where Chargers QB Philip Rivers was miked for sound.

While reports suggest A.J. Smith now is “comfortable” exploring a long-term deal for Vincent Jackson, the Chargers wide receiver said he has yet to speak to the general manager himself.

Norv Turner has some internal support in San Diego, leading to speculation that he might return for another season with the Chargers.

The Broncos’ 40-14 loss to the Bills and the Raiders’ 16-13 overtime victory over the Chiefs tightened the AFC West race.

There’s no point in rehashing all that has gone wrong for the Chargers, who entered the season with high expectations. The team’s current five-game slide has made those expectations a distant memory.

Philip Rivers has seen better days, but there’s only so many ways he can explain it.

NFL Network’s second-half schedule of Thursday night games kicks off at 8 p.m. ET with an important divisional showdown, as Carson Palmer’s Oakland Raiders battle Philip Rivers’ San Diego Chargers for first place in the AFC West.

With the first Thursday night game of the year around the corner, Jason Smith breaks down previous Thursday night games and finds one position has generally excelled above all others.

In the latest Three and out: Miles Austin could be gone awhile, Ryan Mathews could be back soon and Frank Gore is uncertain.

Peyton Hillis suffers a setback that threatens to keep him off the field; the Giants could miss a pair of key offensive weapons this week; San Diego hopes to have running back help available to assist Mike Tolbert.

Watch enhanced replays of the Baltimore Ravens’ thrilling comeback against the Arizona Cardinals, and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ clash with AFC rival New England Tuesday night on NFL Network.

We hear a lot of banter from the public about the “Playbook” crew’s picks every week, especially when fans ardently disagree with a choice of a winner.