unofficial weblog of the S.D. Chargers

La Daniam Tomlinson had another monster game yesterday in the Chargers' 38-24 drubbing of the Rams.

After watching him score his third touchdown yesterday and run through some gaping holes in that Rams' defense, I knew that the Chargers were on their way to another big win.

L.T. reached 90 touchdowns and over 8,000 yards in his distinguished carreer and rushed for 183 yards. L.T. joined Emmitt Smith as the second-fastest players to rack up 90 touchdowns, accomplishing the feat in 86 games, five more than Jim Brown (81)

Merriman had another awesome outing on defense and it was sweet to get a score from the defense when we needed it. His contributions will surely be missed once he starts his 4 game suspension but I am hoping that we can get Phillips and Oshanky back before long.

This is the question that I really want to post to all you guys, should Merriman appeal his suspension with the league or as the guys from FOX sports suggested, should he forget about it and start the suspension now, so we can at least have him back for the second Denver game which might be a pivotal point in the season. What do you guys think?

Box score

Chargers 38, Rams 24
   St. Louis 0 7 3 14-24
   San Diego 14 0 10 14-38
   First Quarter
   SD-Tomlinson 2 run (Kaeding kick), 7:05.
   SD-Tomlinson 38 run (Kaeding kick), 3:33.
   Second Quarter
   StL-S.Jackson 3 run (Wilkins kick), 12:26.
   Third Quarter
   SD-McCree 79 fumble return (Kaeding kick), 8:56.
   StL-FG Wilkins 34, 7:18.
   SD-FG Kaeding 31, 3:17.
   Fourth Quarter
   SD-Turner 14 run (Kaeding kick), 11:44.
   StL-McDonald 7 pass from Bulger (Wilkins kick), 6:39.
   SD-Tomlinson 25 pass from Rivers (Kaeding kick), 3:58.
   StL-Curtis 6 pass from Bulger (Wilkins kick), 1:31.
   A-66,598. 
 

I have to apologize for not updating this blog earlier but my computer was on the fritz. The Chargers have certainly gone through some bad times since last week's big win over the 49ers. 

After fighting back from a big defict against the Chiefs in Arrowhead yesterday, the Chargers could not complete their come from behind win and lost a heartbreaking game 30-27.

The Broncos' win over Cleveland means that Denver now has a one game lead on the AFC West.

I swear, when the season began, I was sure that this team would win 10 or 11 games and get into the playoffs but now it feels as though we are cursed.

As if losing one of our best defenders in Steve Foley prior to the start of the regular season on a bizarre shooting accident with the police wasn't bad enough, his replacement Shaun Phillips who had been playing spectacularly well and was one of the big reasons the Chargers' defense was rated #1 in the league, he got injured in yesterday's game and is reported to be out at least 3 weeks. 

Igor Oshanski went down last week in the game in San Francisco and had to have an operation.

Today, the san diego union Tribune reported that our Pro Bowl linebacker Shawn Merriman will be suspended for 4 games for testing positive for steroids. Though Merriman is appealing the League's decision, it seems likely that the Chargers will be without his services for next week's game vs. St. Louis and the very important game against the Broncos. which could go a long way in determining the AFC Western division crown this season.

What else can go wrong with this team?? Is anyone else as frustrated as I am and can you find any silver linings??

Well, it's only one game, but it's a game which would have given validity to the Chargers in the young season. After pummeling both Oakland and the Titans, people asked if the Chargers could beat a legitimate Super Bowl contender. On sunday, they almost did, but bad breaks, poor pass defense and at least one bad call cost them a victory as they lost their first to the Ravens 16-13.

Despite throwing an interception, Phillip Rivers looked pretty good, but one touchdown isn't going to get it done against a top notch defense like Baltimore's.

Can someone please explain to me what the hell happened to our kicking game today? Kaeting was booting 52 yard kicks in the first half but in the second half, when the game was on the line, we couldn't line up to kick a game clinching kick.

Vey frustrating.

And what about that roughing the kicker penalty? That looked like a penalty to me on Sifers, but the refs never threw the flag.

Another thing that is frustrating the hell out of me early is the conservative play calling by Marty. I understand his thinking, but I think that he is overly conservative sometimes. He needs to air out the football more. We have targets in Parker, in Gates, and in Vincent Jackson, why don't we take more advantage of them? We knew L.T. wasn't going to get 100+ yards against a tough defense keyed in to stop the run, so why not mix it up a lot more??

Our defense looked horrible against the pass on the Raven's final drives, we weren't pressuring McNair at all and letting them complete too many passes.

Too many wasted opportunities, can someone tell me how can Donnie Edwards get two picks in the 2nd half and we still lose the game? I'm sick and tired of commentators bringing up the fact the Chargers "blew" 4 games in the 4th quarter last season. It's a new year, can't they stop rehasing the past??

The only silver lining is that the Broncos have to play the Ravens next week. Hopefully things will improve against the Steelers because we should have come out of this game with a "W."