SAN DIEGO ---- The Chargers head for New York this weekend, home of the Giants and that giant financial hangout, Wall Street.

So the question is this: Are you buying or selling the Chargers as they enter the meat of their schedule? Are they descending like a battered stock, dragged down by bad management? Or rising like an innovative company with a fresh patent and loads of potential?

With apologies to Warren Buffett, we borrow a tad ---- at low interest, we hope ---- from the money world to evaluate whether the Chargers will start paying dividends to their patient and frustrated shareholders, oops, fans.

Reasons to buy

1. The Chargers have shown a pass rush of late, collecting nine sacks in their last eight quarters. The impact supplied by outside linebackers Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips reverberates around this side of the ball in a smashing fashion. If Merriman and Phillips can put consistent heat on quarterbacks, the revamped secondary becomes that much better. Merriman is rounding into shape after knee surgery and is playing for a contract. Phillips is finding his legs, coming off the edge with a burst not seen earlier in the season. If these guys can get after it, we like getting after a big bundle of Chargers shares.

2. Philip Rivers has yet to win a Super Bowl ring, but is there a better quarterback in the league? We haven't forgotten Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger ---- to name a few ---- but Rivers belongs with players of that pedigree. With Rivers' uncanny accuracy and undeniable leadership, the Chargers are always in the game when his mitts are on the ball. While the Chargers occasionally still run the ball, this is Rivers' pass-happy offense and, really, his team. Combine his play with the stable of receivers ---- on short and downfield routes ---- and it's easy to see why defensive coordinators dread preparing for the Chargers.

3. Three-headed 300-plus pounders

There is no underestimating the devastating the loss of Pro Bowl nose tackle Jamal Williams. Without Williams clogging the middle, rival runners punched the Chargers in the defensive gut with one long run after another. Countless rushers had a full head of steam before reaching the second line of defense. But while Ogemdi Nwagbuo was getting constantly steamrolled, general manager A.J. Smith was blasting through his Rolodex. He brought in Travis Johnson from Houston and Ian Scott off the street. Individually, the players aren't much. But collectively, they are providing the bulk inside to slow running attacks.

Reasons to sell

1. Paper tigers

The Chargers' talent looks good in the program. Their skills often shine against the NFL's doormats, but are stepped on when the Chargers play anyone of stature. Look at the Chargers' 4-3 record; the combined mark of the teams they collected those wins against ---- including two versus the Raiders ---- is 6-16. For years, the Chargers made their mark by beating up on sorry AFC West teams, then going toes up when venturing out of their division. Since 2007, the Chargers are 9-11 out of the division. That reveals a team that isn't up to snuff when the competition is stiffer. What's scary is that the Chargers have only two games left against AFC West foes, with challenges awaiting from the Giants, Eagles, Browns, Cowboys, Bengals, Titans and Redskins.

2. San Diego hospitality

Our border town is known for welcoming tourists ---- but that shouldn't extend to visiting NFL teams. Not long ago, the Chargers were dynamite at home, dominating teams in a fashion seldom seen at the "Q." From 2006-07, the Chargers were home wreckers to their guests in winning 15 of 16 games. But that home-field advantage has gone flat. Since 2008, the Chargers are a very ho-hum 7-5 at Jack Murphy Field. The goal of every NFL team is going undefeated at home, then finding a way to win half their road games. But with the Chargers so mediocre in Mission Valley, there is no longer a margin of error when packing their bags and heading elsewhere. The Chargers won't go anywhere unless they re-establish that home dominance.

3. Norv Turner

The most popular man in local sports radio history. Turner is the lightning rod for criticism when the Chargers fail ---- even sometimes when they do triumph, Turner is knocked for style points. Turner has done some special things with the Chargers ---- don't discount advancing to the 2007 AFC Championship Game ---- but since then, his body of work has plenty of holes. Turner is obviously keen with offenses (we'll let his red-zone woes slide for the sake of the argument), but being a leader of men is more than drawing plays in the dirt. Smith is never shy about saying Turner is the right man at the right time. But we're still not sold on the notion that Turner will take the Chargers to the Super Bowl.