unofficial weblog of the S.D. Chargers

The NFL preseason is over (finally!) and we get to play for real starting thurday sept. 6.

The Chargers finished off with a 16-13 win over the 49ers at Qualcomm, though I didn't bother to see the last 2 quarters of the game.

Source: San Diego Union Tribune

Unlike last season, where i intently watched all 4 pre season matchups and even reported on them on this blog, this preseason I didn't feel the need to. Watching the games last season I came to realize that we were going to win a lot of games with that defense. I was proven correct, though I never would have imagined 14-2.

This year, most of the same players are back, and we even get Darren Sproles back in action from last year's injury. I guess I figured I already know the Chargers are good, now it's just a matter of performing during the year. The expectations are high but I think the team is poised and hungry for another championship run.

I've complained about this before but I think the NFL preseason is way too long. 4 or 5 games seems excessive to me, why not have only 3? 3 weeks should be plenty of time for coaches to assess their talent pool and to prepare for the regular season. There are also less chances of injuries with fewer games. Some NFL players were asked and they concur, seeing as they season is already pretty long. 

With the NFL season opener merely 11 days away, I am getting excited for the new season. Here's a recap of the Chargers' latest pre-season game vs. Arizona on Aug. 25

 

Nate Kaeding's 37-yard field goal with six seconds to play lifted the San Diego Chargers to a 33-31 win over the Arizona Cardinals in preseason play.

Matt Trannon's leaping five-yard catch in the left corner of the end zone gave the Cardinals a 31-30 lead with 1:12 to play, but Billy Volek drove the Chargers down the field and Kaeding booted the ball between the uprights for the win.

Philip Rivers went 20-for-29 with 282 yards and two touchdowns while Vincent Jackson had four catches for 92 yards and two scored for the Chargers, who are 2-1 in the preseason.

Matt Leinart was 10-for-16 for 196 yards and a touchdown while Anquan Boldin had five receptions for 143 yards and a score for the Cardinals, who have dropped all three of their preseason games.

Neil Rackers' 50-yard field goal just 50 seconds into the contest gave the Cardinals a 3-0 lead, but the Chargers countered on their ensuing possession with a 33-yard field goal from Kaeding.

Leinart hooked up with Boldin on an 80-yard touchdown reception for a 10-3 lead with 6:22 left in the first, but San Diego again countered on its next possession as Darren Sproles' 19-yard touchdown run tied the game heading into the second.

Marcel Shipp's four-yard touchdown run a little over two minutes into the second staked Arizona to a 17-10 lead.

However, Jackson's 33-yard touchdown reception from Rivers tied the game heading into the locker room.

Jackson hauled in a six-yard touchdown pass from Rivers to cap an 11-play, 80- yard drive to give the Chargers their first lead of the game at 24-17 with 8:13 left in the third.

Kaeding padded the lead to 27-17 on a 25-yard field goal with 6:34 left in the third.

J.J. Arrington's one-yard touchdown run with 1:02 left in the third cut Arizona's deficit to 27-24.

Kaeding's 21-yard field goal with 5:16 to play staked San Diego to a 30-24 lead.