unofficial weblog of the S.D. Chargers

Following last Monday night's dissapointing loss to Pittsburgh, the Chargers rebounded today with a 27-14 win over the Oakland Raiders. Ladanian Tomlinson, who usually reserves some of his best games for the matchup against the rival Raiders not only ran for a score, he caught a TD and threw for another one as he amassed another solid game on the way to San Diego's victory over the Raiders' mostly inept run defense. In fact, the Chargers running attack had its way with the Raiders most of the day, never trailing in the game.

I was really happy the team rebounded with such a great victory despite having the short week and having fallen to the Steelers by only 2 points. Now our record is 3-3. even though Denver also won which now leads the division by 2 games. I was also looking at this photo of what appears to be the team's official 2004 media guide. Notice how prominent they place Phillip Rivers as the quarterbak, never dreaming how effective Drew Brees would turn out to be last season. It's funny to look at it in retrospect. I think the Chargers should send Rivers packing and keep Brees next year because he just keeps on improving and has proven solid leadership wins games.

source: New York Times

Snapping New England's 21-game home winning streak, encompassing the regular season and the playoffs, the San Diego Chargers shredded the Patriots and their porous defense, 41-17, Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

Without Harrison, a team leader and hard-hitting star safety who sustained a season-ending knee injury last week, New England's defense looked shakier than Jell-O. LaDainian Tomlinson (134 yards) ran through massive holes and extended his N.F.L. record to 16 consecutive games with a rushing touchdown. Chargers quarterback Drew Brees (19 for 24, 248 yards and 2 touchdowns) had a smorgasbord of open receivers to choose from. And Patriots Coach Bill Belichick watched from the sideline, looking as if he had indigestion.

Perhaps the Patriots (2-2), the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, may finally have too many holes to fill, particularly on defense. They lost three defensive leaders before the season when linebacker Tedy Bruschi had a stroke, linebacker Ted Johnson retired and their defensive coordinator, Romeo Crennel, left to become the coach of the Cleveland Browns. In the past, Belichick and his players have been masterly at overcoming adversity. But in this game, they were simply overwhelmed.

Chargers Coach Marty Schottenheimer said the Patriots might face their most difficult challenge this season, trying to win a third consecutive Super Bowl, facing every team's best effort and losing key players early.

"At what point does it turn the other way?" Schottenheimer said. "It's hard to win in this league when you've had as many people hurt as they do. They had eight players that started for them today that didn't start for them a year ago. That's a third of the roster.

"I'm going to say it again: What the New England Patriots have done in the last four years defies logic and reason. The way our system is set up, with free agency, salary cap and the draft, there's no way in the world one team should be able to win three Super Bowls in four years. It doesn't make sense."

But there is no way the Patriots will win another Super Bowl unless they play far better. They were shut out in the second half as the Chargers (2-2) turned a 17-17 halftime tie into a rout.

This is not supposed to happen to the Patriots, particularly at Gillette. They had the N.F.L.'s longest home winning streak, having not lost a regular-season or playoff game there since Dec. 22, 2002, when the Jets defeated them, 30-17. But the Chargers did not just make themselves at home in the Patriots' house. They ransacked it. And the Patriots need to regroup quickly, facing road games the next two Sundays, against Atlanta and Denver.

"We have a lot of work to do," defensive end Richard Seymour said. We're at a crossroads right now."

The Chargers took the lead for good in the third quarter, on a 1-yard touchdown run by Tomlinson that was set up a 38-yard completion from Brees to tight end Antonio Gates. It was an athletic catch by Gates, who used his body in midair to shield the ball from Patriots safety Guss Scott.

San Diego went two touchdowns ahead on its next possession when Brees hit Reche Caldwell for a 28-yard scoring pass. Caldwell beat Patriots cornerback Duane Starks and made a leaping catch in the back of the end zone, continuing a woeful day for New England's secondary.

After the Patriots could not sustain their next drive, the Chargers delivered the knockout punch, a 15-play drive that took 8 minutes 55 seconds. Not only did it wear down New England's defense, but it also kept the Patriots' offense on the sideline. Not even quarterback Tom Brady (19 for 32, 224 yards, a touchdown, an interception) is good enough to lead a comeback drive if he does not have the ball.

"We did a great job of controlling the game," Tomlinson said. "Most of the credit has to go to the offensive line."

Nate Kaeding ended the drive with a 21-yard field goal that gave San Diego a 34-17 lead with less than five minutes to play. Meanwhile, the Chargers have responded to starting 0-2 by scoring 45 points in their victory over the Giants followed by this 41-point outburst.

"The last couple of weeks, we have really put it together on offense, and today defensively, we really step up," Schottenheimer said. "It says what we knew going into the regular season: We are a pretty good football team."

What about the Patriots? They have overcome adversity many times before, and their championships speak to their character. But the Patriots received their first glimpse this season of life without Harrison. And they did not like what they saw.

"Rodney ain't coming back this year," Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel said. "So we've got to figure out how to pick it up and move forward."