RSSChargers Not Facing Up to the Reason They Lost
Jan 15
Sports Chargers, NFL Comments Off
After listening to a round of interviews today of the San Diego Chargers, the thought that struck me the hardest was that the players have no intention of taking responsibility for the loss to the New England Patriots.
It was understandable that the Chargers players were upset at a stunning loss. Understandable that New England, a team that really had no chance against San Diego, was relieved and excited at pulling out an improbable win at best. Some of the Pats celebrated midfield, mimicking a dance of Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman, and the Chargers were understandably upset to have to witness it.
But let’s face it, the Patriots didn’t win this game. The Chargers lost it with sloppy play, poor decisions, and bad turnovers. They lost it when quarterback Philip Rivers fumbled in the first quarter on a fourth-and-11 play, one that should have been a long field goal try, recovered by New England linebacker Tully Banta-Cain. The Pats scored a field goal on the next possession. Eric Parker muffed a catch on a fourth-and-6 punt, twice really, he tried to pick it up, and the ball was recovered by New England. During the Patriots continued march down the field, Chargers cornerback Drayton Florence head-butted tight end Daniel Graham and drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, turning a Patriots third-and-13 into a first-and-ten at the San Diego 18. The Pats scored a field goal on the next possession. The Chargers lost the game on 7 penalties for 64 yards to New England’s 3 penalties.
Despite all that, the Chargers didn’t really start to fall apart until the fourth quarter. A Patriots fourth-and-5 pass was intercepted by Chargers free safety Marlon McCree, who, in an attempt to return the ball for a touchdown, lost the ball when Troy Brown ripped it from his possession. It was recovered by New England. Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer blew a time-out on a useless challenge on the same play, and Brady had to take the offense only 32 yards for a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie the game.
The Patriots weren’t great, but they turned it on like they always do. With authority, they marched down the field in a two-minute drill to end the first half with a touchdown. And again with 8:28 to go in the fourth quarter (with the assist from McCree to keep the drive alive.) Even though the Patriots did not match up well with the Chargers, their defense made enough stops to keep the game close. In the end, New England pulled off an astonishing win.
Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson was upset immediately following the game, he says, because the Patriots were celebrating mid-field. In the post-game interview, he said that, “They showed no class, and maybe that comes from the head coach,” taking a cheap shot at Patriots coach Bill Belichick that was as unbecoming as the actions he was supposedly decrying. Hey look, it was emotion talking, absolutely. But LT and the rest of the Chargers need to blame themselves for giving this game away.
The Chargers can talk all they want about the Pats post-game behavior, but it would be nice if they could take a little responsibility for having put themselves into a position to lose. Schottenheimer will undoubtedly take the brunt of the blame, coaches usually do, especially when the expectations are so high for a team. But Tomlinson’s public disparagement of Belichick aside, this game was really about the players. The players on the Chargers lost this game, and the players on the Patriots did just enough to win it.
So now the Chargers go home and have a long off-season to think about their loss, and the Patriots have to face their AFC rivals, the Indianapolis Colts, for the right to play in the Super Bowl. The Chargers miss out on the opportunity to play in the AFC Championship game next week because of their performance. When all the interviews are done and the complaining has wound down, maybe then, the players will take responsibility for the outcome.
