Chargers Still Rolling

[joelbolt]

Chargers still rolling (http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061108/SPT02/311080025/1066)
San Diego filling holes effectively on defense
BY KEVIN KELLY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

A number of off-the-field issues in recent months have done little to impede the Chargers this season.

The Bengals’ opponent Sunday afternoon at Paul Brown Stadium has dealt with linebacker Steve Foley being shot by police, multiple player arrests and the recent suspension of linebacker Shawne Merriman, the NFL’s 2005 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

“You realize full-well that at any point in time a number of players may not be available,” San Diego coach Marty Schottenheimer said today. “You’ve got to find ways to stick your finger in the dike…and have somebody else step forward and do that job.


“We’ve done a little bit of that. That’s about the only solution I’ve ever believed in.”

The Chargers enter Sunday with four wins in their past five games and have a 6-2 record overall.

Led by three-time Pro Bowl running back LaDainian Tomlinson (168 carries, 828 yards, 12 rushing touchdowns), quarterback Philip Rivers (1,747 yards passing, 10 touchdowns, three interceptions) and tight end Antonio Gates (34 receptions for 406 yards and four touchdowns), San Diego ranks third in the NFL in total offense (371.6 yards per game) and leads the league in scoring (248 points). The Chargers rank second in total defense at 269.0 yards per game.

“Over the last few weeks we’ve gotten improved play from the offensive line,” Schottenheimer said. “That, I think, has enhanced our ability to run the ball effectively. Our quarterback has really done a terrific job.”

The Chargers beat the Browns 32-25 in Week 9 despite missing some key players on defense like linebackers Shaun Phillips (calf injury) and Merriman.

The AFC’s leader in sacks (8½) this season and a Pro Bowl starter last season, Merriman will miss Sunday’s game against the Bengals as he continues to serve a suspension after testing positive for steroids.

“He’s an important part of what we do defensively,” Schottenheimer said. “To suggest that we don’t miss him would certainly be an inaccurate statement.”

E-mail kkelly@enquirer.com

[frimples]

Hi, Chargers fans! :Helmet: :Football: Here's a newslink from the Cincinnati Enquirer with Marty's MP3 teleconference. :17: :21:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061108/SPT02/311080025/1066

[nvcharger]

i love it we finally have achieved some kind of balance let all the naysayers take notice, marty is driving us to a superbowl

[Charger Rific]

A game at a time, leads to a win at a time. with an easy schedule this is a great time for Philip to keep on learning while he leads the chargers to the playoffs. The chargers recently made it to the playoffs without such a great defense so im not worried and neither should you :D

[Toad]

A game at a time, leads to a win at a time. with an easy schedule this is a great time for Philip to keep on learning while he leads the chargers to the playoffs. The chargers recently made it to the playoffs without such a great defense so im not worried and neither should you :D

While I agree that this schedule is easier than last year's, I'd hardly call the Cincy (with their season on the line) and Denver (in Denver) an easy ride. If we can get past those two games with wins, the balance of the season will be much better for us, even with KC and Denver because we're at home.

Cincy is desperate, and the talented desperate teams in the NFL usually win! :( Remember KC at Arrowhead?

Denver always seems to have our number, and

KC is going strong behind a big RB, a great TE and an amazing continuing performance of a back-up QB. The formula of a big RB and a great TE seems to best the Chargers most of the time.

[lynnrd]

I have a question for Charger fans...This may have been addressed someplace else on this message board...but do any of you feel like the National Press are just not giving the Chargers either the reporting time on television or discussion of our team and its strengths? I looked up our stats and we are overall number 1 in Offense and 6 in Defense.I do think that is worth some national attention. However, it seems (and I could be wrong) that all I hear about are the cold weather teams of the east coast or some of the Florida teams. Is it really lopsided reporting? (Seems to have been going on for many decades now and quite frankly I am sick and tired of it by the national sports press).What do you think?Lynnrd

[ftwbolt]

After stellar start, Bengals blow it (http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061113/SPT03/611130312/1035/SPT)

By Kevin Goheen 11/13/06

The Bengals couldn't have hoped to play much better than they did Sunday in the first half against San Diego. They also couldn't have foreseen the historic collapse that would befall them in the second half.

Despite holding 21-point leads on three different occasions, the Bengals were unable to hold off a San Diego offensive onslaught that produced 42 points in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium and lost their fifth game in six tries, 49-41.

"It was a difficult football game to lose - one that was a tale of two halves," head coach Marvin Lewis said in a brief postgame press conference. "In the second half, we didn't play well enough to win and allowed the Chargers to get back in the game. We weren't able to make enough plays there to finish it out. It's disappointing."

Sometimes there isn't much more that can be said without overstating the obvious.

Quarterback Carson Palmer threw for a career-high 440 yards, completing 31 of 42 passes for three touchdowns and no interceptions, while wide receiver Chad Johnson caught 11 passes for a team-record 260 yards and a pair of long touchdown receptions. Johnson's 51-yard reception at the end of the first quarter gave the Bengals a 21-0 lead, while his 74-yard score in the third quarter briefly stymied San Diego's comeback, pushing the Bengals' lead to 38-28.

The Bengals outgained San Diego, 545-430 yards, and held an edge in time of possession of two minutes and 36 seconds against the team that was the best in the NFL in that category coming into the game.

The Chargers entered the game ranked No. 2 in total defense and No. 6 in points allowed, but all of that offensive production went for naught because a Cincinnati defense that had shut down the second-highest scoring team in the league in the first half performed 180 degrees to the opposite in the third and fourth quarters.

San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers completed 24 of 36 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns, all in the second half, while running back LaDainian Tomlinson scored four rushing touchdowns and gained 154 yards of total offense.

The 42 points are the most points the Bengals have ever allowed in one half and the 21 points tie the second-biggest lead Cincinnati has ever given up in a loss. The biggest lead they've blown was 24 in a 30-27 overtime loss to the then-Houston Oilers on Sept. 23, 1979. It's the third time they've blown a 21-point lead; the last time they did so was on Oct. 20, 1996, at San Francisco when after leading 21-0 they lost 28-21 in what proved to be Dave Shula's last game as head coach.

"That may have been the most bizarre game I've ever played in during my 10 years of being around this league," defensive end Bryan Robinson said after Sunday's game. "I'm yelling on sidelines to guys: 'Do we need our offense to score 50 points for us to win?' The offense shouldn't have to put up that many points and we went out there and totally laid an egg out there today. I'm just embarrassed for this team. Our offense played its tail off and we couldn't get off of the field."

San Diego gained just 116 yards in the first half as the Bengals led 28-7 but scored touchdowns on six of its first seven possessions in the second half and totaled 314 yards after halftime. Cincinnati's biggest defensive liability - once again - was its inability to get off of the field on third downs. The Chargers converted eight of nine third-down chances in the second half.

"It's ridiculous," said defensive tackle John Thornton. "When a team gets hot like they did, it only takes one play to stop them."

Safety Dexter Jackson was more pointed in his disgust.

"We got comfortable and let up, and when we let up they didn't quit and found a way to fight their way back into the game," said Jackson. "The stuff they did, it wasn't anything special. They just didn't quit and they wanted it more than we did. If you don't want to make that sacrifice and commitment to win, we need to find more people that do.

"That's why I was brought in here to help us win and for that commitment. I have an intensity out there and we've got to get guys who can match that intensity when the lights are on. I need to play better, put it like that. Put it on my shoulders. If I had played better we would have won. I'll be that leader. Tell the defense to put it on my shoulders. If that takes me blitzing and playing in the box more, put it on my shoulder. Whatever it takes, I'm willing to do it. Put it on my shoulders."

Rivers' third touchdown pass of the game, and his second to tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, left the Bengals with 2:29 to play and needing a touchdown and two-point conversion to tie the score. The Bengals drove 45 yards to the San Diego 15 and had a first down with 1:09 left but failed to pick up another yard on four plays, the last of which was an errant Palmer pass intended for rookie wide receiver Glenn Holt in the end zone.

The Bengals had Chad Johnson lined up alone to left of the formation, facing double coverage. Holt, Chris Henry and Tony Stewart were lined up to the right facing single coverage each.

"They're all sitting across the goal line. It's tough," said Palmer, who decided to look for a seam pass to Holt. "(Johnson) is always an option, but not when he's over-covered."

The Bengals' third consecutive loss drops them to 4-5 on the season and, combined with Baltimore's come-from-behind, 27-26 win at Tennessee, they are now three games behind the Ravens in the AFC North. By losing on Sunday, the Bengals also blew an opportunity to keep pace in the chase for a wild-card spot.

San Diego, which had never before come from so far behind to win a game, improves to 7-2 and remains tied in first place in the AFC West with Denver.

[Dan40]

Do we need our offense to score 50 points for us to win?

Sad, but true. :)