Chargers' Perfect Ending

SAN DIEGO – Why, yes, it was a ‘Skins game. Just like the kind they usually play in golf this time of year, the so-called “silly season.”

Meaningless.

An exhibition.

The only real conclusion to be drawn from the Chargers' 23-20 win over the Washington at Qualcomm Stadium is just that. It was a conclusion. Now complete is a regular season in which the Chargers lost three of their first five, then won all of its last 11 games en route to a fourth AFC West championship.

What was proven, however, was that one team’s backups and even third-teamers can beat another hapless franchise’s starters. Now in his 11th year as a reserve quarterback, Billy Volek drove the Chargers to the victory, hitting Buster Davis for an 11-yard pass to within inches of the goal line and pushing San Diego ahead with a short touchdown pass to fullback Mike Tolbert.

Such a close win or a loss to the Redskins might’ve set off all sorts of alarms in San Diego two or three months ago, but however it turned out, this merely meant the Chargers could get on with the postseason run for which they qualified three weeks ago. And try to get healthy in the process.

Indeed, about the only difference between this regular-season closer and the last game of the preseason is that players won’t be cut the next day. Instead, the Chargers will embark on a two-week preparation for a postseason game at Qualcomm Stadium in two weeks. The opponent will be determined next weekend in the first round of the AFC playoffs, which the Chargers will be sitting out with a bye earned by virtue of their No. 2 seed.

Considering the year the Redskins have been having, the red-clad fans in the lower rows behind their bench didn’t care if this was a Pop Warner outing. What they saw was a Washington team playing virtually three quarters against Chargers backups, not to mention a few who until yesterday had been regulars on the inactive list.

You didn’t even need to wait for the opening kickoff to know the importance of this finale, which was zero. The Chargers’ inactive list was full of dinged-up players – Shawne Merriman, Vincent Jackson, Eric Weddle and Jacques Cesaire – who likely would’ve been deemed playable if the contest had any ramifications whatsoever.

Then, the first play the Chargers got off was a pass to Buster Davis, the former first-round draft choice who was activated for the first time all season. Visibly, quarterback Philip Rivers was hardly his usual sharp self, overthrowing several of his early-game targets.

Still, the Chargers quickly assumed a 10-0 lead. Nate Kaeding opened the scoring with a 47-yard field, then Rivers capped an 11-play, 61-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Antonio Gates. Coming with 6:36 remaining in the first quarter, it was the last pass Rivers would throw all afternoon.

Volek, who’d thrown just one pass all season and generally been used to take a knee at the end of wins over Kansas City, took over and immediately introduced himself with a 50-yard connection to Malcom Floyd. That led to another Kaeding three-pointer of 24 yards, whereupon the Chargers pretty much plumbed the entirety of their their depth chart.

By no coincidence, the Redskins were ahead 14-13 at halftime. Jason Campbell, the usually beleaguered Washington quarterback, tossed a 2-yard TD pass to tight end Todd Yoder and a 3-yard score to fullback Mike Sellers. The latter was set up by a short pass that receiver Malcolm Kelly and some inexperienced defense turned into an 84-yard gain to the San Diego 4.

Until the winning TD, the second half was an exchange of field goals, a 45-yarder by Kaeding, two short kicks by Graham Gano after the Chargers defense held firm inside the 10-yard line.

LT still healthy, thanks to Sproles

SAN DIEGO – Darren Sproles, a 5-foot-6 Hercules known to his family and friends as Tank, might prove to be more valuable to the Chargers this season than even his NFL-leading 2,279 all-purpose yards would suggest.

LaDainian Tomlinson, with an essentially inconsequential game to still survive, is looking forward to going into this postseason strong.

For that, LT can thank his head coach and their little buddy.

“Obviously I haven’t taken a lot of shots (this season) like I usually take,” Tomlinson said. “So I think it helped me.”

With what certainly will be less than a full game yet to play on Sunday against the Washington Redskins, Tomlinson is virtually certain to finish this season with fewer carries (currently 221), rushing yards (729) and receiving yards (242) than he has ever had or it ever occurred to anyone he would ever have.

But he is healthy, and he is smiling. Tomlinson acknowledged recently he is as content as he’s ever been as a Charger, because he believes this is the best Chargers team he’s been on in nine momentous seasons.

And the Chargers believe Tomlinson’s current spry step — he’s had a number of his most impressive runs of the season over the past three weeks — will be an important cog to any success they achieve in the postseason.

It was always the plan. As he has been asked doggedly all season about Tomlinson’s lack of production, head coach Norv Turner has repeatedly referred to Sproles’ output and how he believes it will help Tomlinson.

The Chargers’ rushing offense, while 29th in the NFL overall, is ranked 21st during the span of their 10-game win streak. The improvement is greater than that might seem — from 57.6 yards per game to 108.5.

While the identity of their offense remains Philip Rivers and his receivers, the Chargers have improved running the football. Over the past 10 games, they have run almost 11 more times per game versus the first five. And they’re averaging 3.5 yards per carry, up from 2.9 yards per carry the first five games.

“When we run the ball and have the threat of the run it allows our big-play people on the outside and Philip (Rivers) to have a chance to make plays,” Turner said.

Tomlinson, for his part in that, has over the past two games averaged 3.7 yards per carry.

That’s a half-yard better than in his first 10 games.

“One of our big things, and we’re a week away from doing it, was to have LT healthy and fresh going into the playoffs and to have LT and our running game making that type of progress,” Turner said. “If you look back, he started slow, there were injuries on the line, LT missed two games. But over the past 10 games and the past five, our running game has been more than effective.”

Tomlinson’s health has become a topic of great import at Chargers Park over the past two Januarys.

It was in the final game of the 2008 regular season that he suffered a severe hip injury, rendering him ineffective in the Chargers’ wild-card victory over Indianapolis and sidelining him for their divisional-round loss at Pittsburgh.

That came a year after he sprained his knee in the Chargers’ divisional-round victory at Indianapolis that allowed him to play just four snaps in their AFC Championship loss at New England.

“You really cherish it, you really do,” Tomlinson said yesterday. “You cherish it when you’re healthy and able to crank it up and do what you want to do versus playing hurt and just trying to gut it out for the team. I’m so thankful to be at this position and have two feet to run on.”

Spelling Tomlinson most often on third down — and later in routs, such as his three-touchdown game last Friday — Sproles has 91 carries (30 more than last season) for 325 yards and 45 receptions (16 more than last year) for 497 yards this season, while also remaining the team’s punt and kickoff returner. But he knows his value is also immeasurable.

“As long as we’ve got him in the playoffs, that’s a good thing,” Sproles said of Tomlinson. “I’ve saved his body some hits. It’s good.”

Bolts Staying Focused

San Diego Tribune:
The Chargers have secured the AFC’s No. 2 seed, and they know what that means.

Nothing, really.

“I think going the bye route gives you an advantage,” head coach Norv Turner said. “It doesn’t guarantee you anything. You still have to play good.”

While teams fight for the coveted top two seeds and the bye week and at least one home game that are included, three of the past four Super Bowls have been won by a third, a fifth and a sixth seed.

A No. 2 seed has won four of the past 10 Super Bowls. A No. 2 seed has lost its first playoff game eight times over those 10 years.

As General Manager A.J. Smith has often said — just get in the tournament.

And after a 2-3 start, a beginning and middle of the season rife with injury, the Chargers are in the playoffs for the fourth straight year.

“I’m very proud of our players and coaches,” Smith said. “Our goal was to get to the playoffs. We have accomplished that, and in doing so we now have an opportunity to win a championship.

“To get in the tournament, you have to endure a long, hard, physical and demanding regular season. This team earned its way in, and I’m happy and excited for them.”

Smith knows the Chargers will benefit from the rest the No. 2 seed affords. But from his perspective the seed’s main benefit is that it eliminates a game.

Although getting the No. 2 seed has its own pitfalls, which the Chargers will now attempt to navigate with one regular season game remaining.

In 2006, the Chargers won their final 10 regular-season games to finish 14-2 and capture the AFC’s top seed. They played a final home game they needed to clinch that No. 1 seed, sat home for a week while the playoffs opened elsewhere and then hosted the New England Patriots — and lost 24-21.

No team is going to refuse a bye after playing 16 of the previous 17 weeks. The Chargers’ bye came in Week 5, so by next Sunday they will have played 12 straight weeks.

And starters playing one, two or three quarters against the Washington Redskins in the Jan. 3 regular-season finale likely will make little difference in how sharp they are come Jan. 16 or 17 in their divisional playoff game.

Maintaining a focus during the time off and practicing with purpose is going to be paramount.

“We have to use the bye smartly,” Turner said.

Players look back on three Januarys ago and believe the lead-up to that Patriots loss had something to do with the meltdown that occurred.

“We’d like to stay in a rhythm,” LaDainian Tomlinson said. “In ’06, we were like, ‘Well, let’s get everyone healthy.’ It didn’t work out to our advantage. That first game, we were a little rusty.”

Preventing that will be Turner’s main task, and he seemed primed for it immediately after Friday night’s victory over the Tennessee Titans.

“Every single guy is going to prepare to play next Sunday,” Turner said. “We’re going to practice the way we practice.”

Smith certainly had his opinion on Drew Brees playing in a meaningless 2005 season finale, when former coach Marty Schottenheimer started Brees, who ended up getting severely injured in what would be his last game as a Charger. But Smith has unequivocal trust in Turner. Plus, the two communicate daily.

“Coach Turner will give that great thought,” Smith said. “When he’s ready to make an announcement regarding our approach (against the Redskins), he will let us know.”

Turner said that after Friday’s practice the coaching staff will decide who plays against the Redskins.

By the time the Chargers play a meaningful game, it will have been three weeks since some of them were in a game. For some, it will have been four weeks or more.

But there are those among them who need it, and while Turner said his plan is fluid, it is almost certain some players won’t face the Redskins.

As much as anyone, outside linebacker Shawne Merriman can use time off. Merriman was in a protective boot after Friday’s game. Rehabbing instead of practicing most of the past seven weeks due to plantar fasciitis in his foot, Merriman has been playing Sundays with the aid of painkilling shots.

While he won’t be fully recovered until the plantar fascia completely tears or he gets the prolonged rest of an offseason, Merriman believes the bye will help him be stronger than he has since suffering his injury Nov. 8 at New York.

“Just knowing my body, I think it will,” he said. “For me it’s about doing what I’ve got to do to get on the field and be effective. I’m looking to be even more effective (in the postseason).”

Fellow outside linebacker Shaun Phillips got his long-injured ankle right last week, but he had his hip wrapped in ice as he left the field Friday after injuring it against the Titans.

Defensive end Jacques Cesaire missed Friday’s game with an elbow injury. Linebacker Kevin Burnett has missed two games with a neck injury. Almost every player plays through hidden injuries — aches, strains and just plain fatigue.

So the Chargers were pleased to be looking forward to some rest.

“It gets everyone healthy,” said cornerback Quentin Jammer, who like many others has been playing through various maladies much of the season. “It gets everybody back to 100 percent.”

Said left guard Kris Dielman of the bye: “It means the world. We have worked our (butts) off to get it … You get to rest. Linemen need it as much as anybody. We’ve been pounded pretty good every week for 16 weeks.”

2010 Schedule Set: New England and Cincinnati victories today made them winners of their respective divisions and made them opponents of the Chargers in 2010.

NFL teams have 14 games set for them and then play teams in assigned divisions that finished in their same spot. As AFC West champions, the Chargers were awaiting the winners of the AFC East (New England) and AFC North (Cincinnati).

The Chargers home schedule for '10: Arizona, Denver, Jacksonville, Kansas City, New England, Oakland, San Francisco and Tennessee.

The away schedule: Cincinnati, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Oakland, St. Louis and Seattle.

Dates and times are announced in April.

Hardwick Lookin' Good!

Source: San Diego Tribune

Center Nick Hardwick played last night for the first time since tearing ligaments in his ankle in the season opener and having surgery a little more than a week later.

“It felt great,” Hardwick said after playing three quarters of the Chargers’ 42-17 win over Tennessee. “It felt great just to make it through.”

Hardwick, who the Chargers wisely kept on the roster despite what they knew would be a long rehabilitation, has kept himself involved in the game plan. But his actually being in the lineup allowed him to return to his role as pregame clown and in-game motivator.

Hardwick said he was not concerned at all going into the game and felt good before and after.

“It was kinda weird, because when I came back from my foot (last year), I had it in my head a little bit,” he said. “But this year, I didn’t have it in my head at all. I had the practice Wednesday where I felt 100 percent. It felt, like, normal. So I felt great coming in knowing I had no concern. I wasn’t walking around the hotel checking it out or anything like that. I just knew I was good.”

LT passes again

Maybe the only question head coach Norv Turner has been asked more over the past year was why his team repeatedly started slow and finished fast.

Why he hasn’t used the halfback pass more has been a close second.

For the first time in 52 games, LaDainian Tomlinson attempted a pass, taking a pitch on a play from the three-yard line and lofting a too-long ball to Antonio Gates in the back of the end zone.

“It took so long (to develop),” said Tomlinson, whose seven career touchdown passes are second-most in NFL history by a running back. “I didn’t want to take the chance of it being intercepted, I threw it long.”

Tomlinson, who dropped to 8-for-12 on his career and had his passer rating fall to 146.9, last attempted a pass in the 2007 season opener — a 17-yard touchdown pass to Gates.

After a Titans penalty moved the Chargers to the 1, Tomlinson scored the first of his two touchdowns.

Runyan gets reps

Jon Runyan got some much-needed work at right tackle, his first extended action since signing with the Chargers last month.

“Seeing as it’s been 11 months since I played,” Runyan said with a laugh.

Brandyn Dombrowski has started five games in place of Jeromey Clary, who was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Runyan worked a series in the first and third quarters before permanently coming in when Turner made a mass substitution in the fourth quarter, moving Dombrowski to left tackle, putting in Dennis Norman at center and Tyronne Green at left guard.

Chargers patsy

Vince Young has received kudos for his play in the second half of this season. But he struggled again against the Chargers.

Young was 8-for-21 for 89 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions last night and now has a 43.9 passer rating in four career games against the Chargers.

Still piling on

Vincent Jackson and Gates each set career highs in receiving yards.

Jackson led the Chargers with five receptions for 70 yards to up his season total to 68 catches for 1,167 yards, bettering his 2008 season total of 1,098.

Gates caught three passes for 74 yards to get to 1,145 (on 78 receptions) and better his 2005 mark of 1,101 yards.

Big Mac’s rough night

Left tackle Marcus McNeill got beat for a sack, had a holding penalty that cost the Chargers a 52-yard touchdown pass and was flagged for a false start and illegal formation.

“Sometimes you can be your own worst enemy,” said McNeill, who has been playing at a high level.

Nuts ’n’ Bolts

•Shaun Phillips took over the NFL lead and extended his team record by jarring the ball from Young in the second quarter. Phillips’ seventh forced fumble this season and recovery by Stephen Cooper gave the Chargers the ball at their 48 in the second quarter, and they went up 21-3 seven plays later.

•Phillips was in and out of the game for three quarters with a hip injury. Fullback Jacob Hester and defensive back Steve Gregory suffered stingers.

•The Chargers have outscored opponents 66-16 in the first quarter during their 10-game winning streak and 161-63 in the first half.

•In his final game of this decade, Tomlinson set an NFL record for rushing touchdowns in a decade. His 1-yard run in the first quarter was his 137th. Tomlinson scored on another 1-yard run in the third quarter.

•Defensive tackle Antonio Garay was active for the first time since being signed Dec. 9 and played on special teams. He became the 61st player to appear in a game for the Chargers this season. That’s the most since they used 62 in 2004.

Merry F*ckin' Christmas! No. 2 Seed, First Round Bye!

NASHVILLE – The first time he threw deep, putting the headwind and the Tennessee Titans to the quick test, the ball seemed to flutter slightly and landed well short of its target. That was, a wide-open Vincent Jackson on a streak pattern with nothing but grass between him and the goal line.

However, if the breeze, the Christmas chill and other elements proved an initial impediment, they were not deterrents to Philip Rivers. By any means.

Rivers could not have been sharper with most of the rest of his passes, going long and short to pick the Titans apart in the Chargers' highly impressive 42-17 victory to make it a bah-humbug evening at LP Field, a performance that likely elevated San Diego further in the eyes of a national-television audience and might have pushed Rivers into the competition with peerless Peyton Manning and Drew Brees in Most Valuable Player discussions.

That the Titans were desperate for a win to stay alive for the postseason and the Chargers were already assured of a division title, motivated solely by the desire to gain the No. 2 seed in the AFC and a bye in the first round, made San Diego’s complete domination of Tennessee even more striking. The Chargers barely looked like a team needing a break of any kind, though they now have nine days before their regular-season finale against the Washington Redskins at Qualcomm Stadium.

For those keeping count, the Chargers who once were 2-3 have won 10 straight, the Titans 7-8 after an 0-6 start. More numbers: Darren Sproles scored three touchdowns, including the two in the third quarter that turned a game into a foregone conclusion. LaDainian Tomlinson scored twice, breaking an NFL record in the process, and the Chargers defense produced two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Rivers and his vast array of targets – he completed passes to nine different receivers, five to Jackson – simply had the Titans clueless how to stop San Diego. Rivers connected on 21 of 27 passes for 264 yards – attaining his second straight 4,000-yard season – including a 36-yard touchdown pass to tight end Antonio Gates and a 52-yarder to Malcom Floyd that was negated by a holding penalty.

When the Chargers basically emptied their bench in the early fourth quarter – Rivers was replaced by Billy Volek, who spent his first seven seasons with the Titans – it was hard to believe the Titans actually held a lead. With the breeze at his back, Tennessee kicker Rod Bironas made good on a 46-yard goal to open the scoring nearly midway through the first quarter.

Four penalties by the Titans, including a pass interference on third-and-one at the Titans’ 11-yard line, helped the Chargers take the lead before quarter’s end. The two-yard touchdown by LaDainian Tomlinson was his 137th rushing score of the 21st Century, breaking him out of a tie with Emmitt Smith for most running scores in a decade.

Seemingly every time the ball got into the hands of Chris Johnson, the NFL’s new phenom did something breathtaking, and one of his carries on fourth-and-two set up the Titans with a first-and-goal at the Chargers’ 30-yard line. On the next snap, however, linebacker Brandon Siler intercepted Vince Young, whereupon Rivers passed the Chargers to another TD.

Immediately after a sack of Rivers by Jacob Ford, the Titans were closing in again on Rivers, but he showed some deft footwork to keep from getting tripped up for another loss. Moreover, with him on the run, the defense came off Gates, left uncovered for a 36-yard touchdown pass. The Titans challenged the score, thinking Rivers was across the line of scrimmage when releasing the pass, but the protest was not upheld.

Another turnover led to yet another Rivers touchdown pass. For the seventh time this season – a league high – linebacker Shaun Phillips forced a fumble and Stephen Cooper recovered at midfield. Rivers immediately went for the jugular, hitting Malcom Floyd for a 52-yard score that was negated by penalty. Tennessee continued to shoot itself in the foot, too, getting called for roughing-the-passer and tacking on another 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct. Two passes to Vincent Jackson got the offense close enough for Sproles to catch a three-yard TD and make it 21-3.

That might’ve been the game right there, really, but then Young began looking like the Vince Young who passed Texas to that incredible victory over USC in the Rose Bowl. Doing more damage with his legs, Young briskly moved the Titans downfield and personally punctuated the drive, scoring on a 3-yard keeper around the right side.

Tennessee wouldn't get closer.

Chargers sign veteran center; Mruczkowski on Reserve-Injured

Source: Chargers.com

The San Diego Chargers placed center Scott Mruczkowski on IR and signed veteran center Eric Ghiaciuc.

The San Diego Chargers placed center Scott Mruczkowski (merch-COW-ski) on Reserve-Injured today due to an ankle injury he suffered during the final, game-winning drive in last weekend's win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Mruczkowski started the last 13 games at center for the Chargers after Nick Hardwick was injured in the season opener in Oakland.

To replace Mruczkowski on the active roster, the team signed veteran center Eric Ghiaciuc (GUY-check). Ghiaciuc entered the NFL as a fourth-round selection of the Bengals in 2005. He brings valuable NFL playing experience to San Diego. He started 42 of 48 games at center in his first four seasons (2005-08). He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent in 2009 and was released after training camp. Ghiaciuc is 6-4, 303 from Central Michigan and will wear number 77.

Chargers Team Report 12-22-09

Source: USA Today

The Chargers haven’t had too many more exciting wins lately than Sunday’s. Not only did Nate Kaeding kick a 52-yard field goal with three seconds left for the margin of victory, but the Chargers clinched their fourth consecutive AFC West title.
The Chargers can enjoy all that — for about 10 minutes.
Thanks to the NFL schedule gurus, they must hop on a plane Thursday and play in Tennessee the following day, Christmas.
“It’s pretty tough, but the great thing about is they are coming off a short week, too,” outside linebacker Shaun Phillips said. “So it makes the playing field even.”
Phillips is among the Chargers nursing various bumps and bruises — although his ankle is in the best shape it has been in weeks.
But he doesn’t discount the toll of playing two such important games so close together.
“It’s always hard from a physical standpoint, playing two games in one week,” said Phillips, the team leader with seven sacks. “I’m pretty sure the fans would love if every team played two times a week. But the reality is it is a tough sport and it is pretty brutal on the body.”
And with the tough Titans waiting, the Chargers know they are in for a demanding test.
The last time the Chargers went to Tennessee, the game resulted in four players being fined $32,500.
“They are a hot football team, they are looking good, and they really can run the ball,” Phillips said. “We are expecting a great matchup with those guys, but we have to go worry about ourselves and worry about our business.”
Coach Norv Turner mentioned how the Chargers will go easy in Monday’s walkthrough and then work hard — but not too hard — over the next days. Getting his players rested is important to Turner, but doesn’t mean as much to Phillips.
“No way — being efficient is what is most important,” Phillips said. “There is no one that is healthy right now in the league, and it is just the nature of the beast. It’s just important to pay attention to the details and keep on practicing at a high intensity, and that transfers over to wins, whether it’s the beginning of the season or the end of the season.”
And it’s what’s after the regular season that continues to drive the Chargers. They are doing everything they can to snag the No. 2 playoff seed in the AFC, and that means a committed effort in Nashville.
“Our focus in on the Tennessee Titans and going out and trying to get a first-round bye in the playoffs,” Phillips said. “We understand the importance of it; we are still playing for it a lot, and again it is still a football game, and we play this game to do one thing, and that is to win.”
NOTES, QUOTES
—Coach Norv Turner said Nate Kaeding’s range is as far as 60 yards in the situation the team was in Sunday. Kaeding was true from 52 yards for the win. “When I hit it, I knew it was good,” Kaeding said.
It’s been noticeable that Kaeding has more length on his kickoffs this year. How did he get stronger?
“I can bench maybe 155 instead of 135,” he said.
—The Qualcomm Stadium crowd was off the noise meter Sunday, as loud as anyone could remember. It forced the Bengals into numerous false starts and delay-of-game penalties.
“I’ve never heard it that loud before like it was (Sunday),” Quentin Jammer said. “In eight years as a Charger, it was crazy to hear that. We are going to need that energy in the playoffs, and I hope the fans bring it.”
—Outside linebacker Shaun Phillips is well aware of the task of slowing down the Titans’ Chris Johnson.
“If he gets a little crease, he can go for the distance,” he said.
—Turner said this year’s AFC West title — an unprecedented fourth straight for the organization — is special because of all the injuries that forced the team’s depth to produce.
“This year is different,” he said. “We had so many guys who had to step up.”
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER NOTES
—C Scott Mruczkowski won’t play this week after hurting his ankle in Sunday’s win. “Mooch” was to undergo additional tests on his ankle, but he could be out for an extended period.
—C Nick Hardwick, who had ankle surgery after getting hurt in the opener, will try to practice this week. He has yet to return to game action.
—CB Quentin Jammer (knee) could be kept out of some practice snaps this week. He should be OK for Friday’s game.
—DE Jacques Cesaire (elbow) is likely to go this week while wearing a brace.
—WR Vincent Jackson has gone over the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive season. The last Chargers wide receiver to do so was Anthony Miller in 1995 and 1996.
REPORT CARD VS. BENGALS
PASSING OFFENSE: B — Philip Rivers wasn’t as sharp as he has been through most of this nine-game winning streak — he threw two picks Sunday, although one came on a tipped pass. But he was Mr. Cool in the final minute when he put the Chargers in position to win the game. Vincent Jackson had his sixth 100-yard receiving game of the season as he continues to emerge as one of the game’s best receivers. Antonio Gates had another stellar game, making moves after the catch that he hadn’t made in years. Rivers got rocked a few times, but he was sacked only twice by an aggressive Bengals front.
RUSHING OFFENSE: C — The Chargers still can’t run the ball, plain and simple. LaDainian Tomlinson did average 3.7 yards a carry and did have a long of 13, but it’s obvious the Chargers no longer look to their running game as a strength. LG Kris Dielman was pretty good on more than a few plays, and veteran C Dennis Norman came in at the last minute and didn’t make a mistake.
PASS DEFENSE: C — Carson Palmer had 314 passing yards and two touchdowns with just one pick. But the Chargers stiffened whenever the Bengals reached the red zone. San Diego didn’t get much of a pass rush, with two sacks coming from Kevin Ellison and Alfonso Boone.
RUSH DEFENSE: C — The Chargers’ defensive weak spot is stopping the running game, and why the Bengals didn’t run more is a mystery. The Bengals rushed for 114 yards but no scores. The Chargers held up pretty well considering the patch-work defensive front.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A — Nate Kaeding’s go-ahead kick from 52 yards out with three seconds remaining was clutch. Same goes for P Mike Scifres pinning the Bengals inside their 5 late in the game. The coverage unit had only one return it would like back. Darren Sproles showed a spark with a 45-yard kickoff return.
COACHING: A — Few gave Norv Turner a shot at another AFC West title when the Chargers were sitting at 2-3 and 3 1/2 games behind the Broncos. But the Chargers claimed another division championship, and Turner deserves much of the credit. He spread the ball around to nearly every inch of the field Sunday; that led to Sproles being open for a critical underneath route to get the game-winning drive going. Defensive coordinator Ron Rivera is starting to coach more and more the way Wade Phillips did — bend and don’t break. While the Bengals got their share of yards, they penetrated the red zone four times but had only one touchdown to show for it.

Bolts Face A Challenge On Christmas

By Casey Pearce at Chargers.com

The Chargers are 6-1 on the road this season, but face one of their biggest challenges this week as they travel to Tennessee for a Christmas night contest.

The Chargers have an opportunity to go 7-1 on the road for the first time in franchise history. However, to do so they’ll have to overcome some unique challenges in preparation for a Friday night contest two time zones away against one of the hottest teams in the NFL.

The Chargers rarely do any on-field work the day after a game during the regular season, but they held what was essentially an up-tempo walkthrough Monday afternoon. Tuesday is generally the players’ day off, but the short week doesn’t afford that luxury. The team will wrap up their preparation Wednesday afternoon and immediately travel to Nashville to face the Titans, a team that has won seven of their last eight games.

“It’s makeshift,” quarterback Philip Rivers said of this week’s preparation. “You don’t really have a routine plan for this. You’ve got to find a way to feel as prepared as you feel in a normal week. I think being here on Monday, getting a head start is the first step to getting that done. Obviously it will be a challenge but the preparation will have to continue this week up until Christmas morning. Today is like a normal Wednesday. We’re not quite to where we would be on a Wednesday but guys are focused and we got a lot done today.”

While players didn’t begin thinking about Tennessee until Monday, Head Coach Norv Turner said his coaching staff did some work on the Titans late last week so they’d be ready to get the team started Monday. For Turner, the biggest challenge of playing on a short week isn’t practice schedules and game plans but rather getting his team physically ready to play two days earlier than they’re accustomed to.

“The players have played in a lot football games and they’re banged up,” Turner said. “They’re beat up. We’ve kind of managed this a year ago when we played at home (on Thursday). We’re going to do everything we can to be as fresh as we can. Take care of them during the week and do everything we can to get them ready to play.”

Turner has had plenty of practice getting a team ready on a short week. His time as the Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator included the team’s annual Thanksgiving Day games, and he was the head coach in Washington when the Redskins played in Dallas on Thanksgiving. Last year, the Chargers hosted a Thursday night game against the Raiders.

“It can be challenging,” Turner said. “But you find a way to manage it.”

Turner and his staff have certainly managed the team’s preparation for their first seven road games of the season. The Chargers have won five in a row on the road, including victories at potential playoff teams such as Denver, Dallas and the New York Giants.

Since the NFL went to a 16-game season in 1978, the Chargers have gone 6-2 on the road twice but never better than that. They were 3-5 away from San Diego last year and 4-4. Turner made a conscience effort to find ways to improve his team’s play on the road this season, and it has paid off.

“I think we made a big emphasis about everything we do in terms of the way we prepare,” Turner said. “I don’t know that we changed that much, but we emphasized how important it was to do the things you have to do to get ready. Our guys have done that.”

Turner’s players have bought his message of staying focused on the task at hand, and it has paid off.

“We approach it with a business mindset,” offensive tackle Marcus McNeill said. “We’re going to work. We’re not going to have fun or go sight-seeing, but to be professional and handle business. I see young guys like Louis Vasquez studying and doing things in his room on his own. When you have guys putting that kind of commitment in, it helps you have success on the road.”

Injury update

Center Scott Mruczkowski underwent tests on his ankle Monday and while this extent of the injury suffered to his ankle late in Sunday’s game is still uncertain, Turner ruled Mooch out for Friday’s game in Nashville.

Defensive end Jacques Cesaire left Sunday’s game with an elbow injury but Turner believes Cesaire has a chance to play. Linebackers Shaun Phillips and Shawne Merriman were sore Monday but are also expected to play.

Center of attention

With Mruczkowski out, Nick Hardwick could make his return to the lineup. Hardwick practiced Monday and will see how his surgically-repaired ankle responds Tuesday. Veteran Dennis Norman, who took the last two snaps Sunday, will start if Hardwick is unable to go.

Chargers Are 2009 AFC West Champions!

SAN DIEGO — By the time the San Diego Chargers could exhale, they had clinched their fourth straight AFC West title as well as pulling out a dramatic win over the grieving Cincinnati Bengals.

Yes, it was a crazy several minutes at Qualcomm late Sunday afternoon.

Nate Kaeding kicked a 52-yard field goal with 3 seconds left and the Chargers rallied for a 27-24 win over the Bengals, who got a tying 34-yard field goal by Shayne Graham 51 seconds earlier.

A few minutes after the Chargers (11-3) secured their ninth straight victory, and with several thousand fans still in the stadium, the Chargers clinched the division when Denver lost to Oakland.

“It’s all kind of a blur,” said Kaeding, who hadn’t yet gotten a division championship cap until team president Dean Spanos walked by in the locker room and gave the kicker his.

Some Chargers watched on TV as the Broncos, who led the Chargers by 3 1/2 games on Oct. 19, lost 20-19 to the Raiders.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” star outside linebacker Shawne Merriman said.

The Chargers improved to 17-0 in December since 2006.

Kaeding’s winning kick came after Philip Rivers moved the Chargers 46 yards in 51 seconds with no timeouts and backup center Dennis Norman snapping after Scott Mruczkowski sprained an ankle.

“We just did what we had to do to get it done,” said Rivers, who threw three touchdown passes, two to Vincent Jackson.

“Philip’s the man. I wouldn’t want anybody else under center there for us,” said Kaeding, who added that it was one of his biggest kicks.

“There was a lot of adrenaline in that kind of situation, coming down to the wire and going for the win,” Kaeding said. “Once it came off my foot, I knew it was good, and mayhem ensued from there.”

San Diego clinched a playoff spot before halftime because of other results.

Cincinnati (9-5), which failed for the second straight week to clinch the AFC North, was playing three days after the death of receiver Chris Henry. He died Thursday, a day after falling out of the back of a pickup truck during what police described as a domestic dispute with his fiancee in Charlotte, N.C. Henry was on injured reserve and out for the season.

“The main thing we want people to realize is that Chris is a guy who turned his life around and this football team had done the same thing,” tackle Andre Whitworth said. “He signifies what we are.”

After Chad Ochocinco caught a 49-yard touchdown pass from Carson Palmer to give the Bengals a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter, the receiver got down on both knees and touched his heart with his right hand.

“It was a little empty feeling,” Ochocinco said. “It was bigger than football without him. Today I played with an extra set of hands, an extra set of legs and an extra heart.”

The Bengals wore decals with Henry’s No. 15 on their helmets. Several Bengals fans brought signs remembering Henry, including a simple “RIP 15.”

Quarterback Carson Palmer said he’s never experienced four days like the Bengals have, calling Henry’s death and then having to play a game “almost surreal.” He said it won’t sink in until the team attends Henry’s funeral on Tuesday.

The Bengals appeared to be driving for a go-ahead touchdown, but then were lucky to get in their tying field goal.

On first-and-16 from the San Diego 25, Andre Caldwell caught a pass from Palmer, was hit by Eric Weddle and then linebacker Tim Dobbins used his helmet to knock the ball out of his hands and it sailed back to the 45, where Palmer jumped on it. Palmer got the Bengals into field goal range with two completions.

Trailing 14-13 midway through the third quarter, Palmer missed Ochocinco and the ball went right to cornerback Quentin Jammer. Two plays later, Jackson got behind cornerback Leon Hall to haul in a 34-yard TD pass that put San Diego up 21-13.

Kaeding added a 33-yard field goal for an 11-point lead.

Keith Rivers intercepted Philip Rivers early in the fourth quarter to set up Palmer’s 2-yard TD pass to Laveranues Coles and Palmer’s conversion run to make it 24-21.

The Chargers led 14-13 at halftime. Rivers threw TD passes of 3 yards to Antonio Gates and 21 yards to Jackson.

Ochocinco had his 49-yard TD catch, and the Bengals twice had to settle for field goals by Graham after drives bottled up inside the Chargers’ 10-yard line.

Game notes
Jackson had five catches for 108 yards, giving him his second straight 1,000-yard season. … Jammer injured a knee and Chargers DE Jacques Cesaire injured an elbow. … During the week, Ochocinco said he wanted to fight Merriman. After Jammer was hurt in the fourth quarter, Ochocinco held the cornerback’s hand, then spoke amicably with Merriman.

Cromartie Will NOT Be Charged

Source: San Diego Tribune

Charges will not be filed against Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who was accused of hitting another man on the head with a champagne bottle in a bar, San Diego police said Thursday.

The case was not sent to the City Attorney’s Office or District Attorney’s Office, said Mónica Muñoz, a San Diego police spokeswoman.

“Based on the investigation, there is no evidence a crime occurred,” the spokeswoman said.

Cromartie was being investigated for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in the Nov. 23 incident at Bar West in Pacific Beach where he and other Chargers were celebrating their victory against the Denver Broncos. Witnesses told investigating officers that two tables of patrons were spraying champagne at each other when someone threw the bottle that struck a 24-year-old man in the head, causing minor injuries.

“There is no indication anything was thrown in the bar that night,” Muñoz said.

Police said Thursday that they don’t know how the man in the bar was injured. Police said Cromartie never told them that the bottle slipped from his hand, and that they don’t know where that story came from.

Police said there were many witnesses to the incident but all gave inconsistent statements. Cromartie was interviewed by police as part of the investigation.

In response to the news Thursday, Cromartie said: “I knew I wouldn’t (be charged). I didn’t do anything. I just hate that my name got slandered.”

In a post on Twitter the day after the incident, the player said, “I want to apologize to Charger nation and my fans. There’s sum stuff out abt me that’s not true. It will come out. God Bless.”

Several other players, including linebacker Stephen Cooper, defensive lineman Travis Johnson and running back Darren Sproles were at the bar.

Cooper told the Union-Tribune earlier that nothing happened and that there was no fight. Johnson termed the incident as “foolishness” and said Cromartie had nothing to do with it.

Game Preview: Chargers vs. Browns

Source: CBS Sports

The San Diego Chargers continue to roll over opponents. A Cleveland Browns team that owns one of the NFL's worst defenses could have a difficult time slowing them down.

The AFC West-leading Chargers look to win their 15th straight December game Sunday when they face the injury-plagued Browns, who will try to avoid their 10th consecutive home loss.

San Diego (8-3) won its sixth in a row last week, 43-14 over Kansas City to regain a one-game lead over Denver in the division.

The Chargers, who posted their highest point total since a 48-29 victory over the New York Jets last Sept. 22, scored four of their five touchdowns off turnovers.

Quentin Jammer picked off a pass and forced a fumble, Brandon Siler and Larry English recovered fumbles, and safety Paul Oliver grabbed a fumble out of the air from Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassell and ran it in from 40 yards.

"We put the offense in good field position and really helped them out every way we could. It was a close game for the first half, but then the turnovers took over and we capitalized on all of them," Oliver said.

Oliver's play came 20 seconds after Philip Rivers found Antonio Gates for a 15-yard touchdown following Siler's fumble recovery.

Rivers, who threw for 317 yards and two TDs - both to Gates - completed 69.9 percent of his passes for 12 TDs and three interceptions as the Chargers won their last six games by an average of 17.5 points.

He will try to lead San Diego its first seven-game winning streak since it went 10-0 to finish the 2006 regular season.

Since a 23-7 loss to Denver on Dec. 31, 2005, San Diego has gone 14-0 in December.

Although his team will face a Browns defense that is giving up more than 393.0 yards and 25.0 points per game, coach Norv Turner doesn't want the Chargers to look past Sunday with contests against Dallas, Cincinnati and Tennessee coming up.

"We go to Cleveland, it's going to be a challenge for us," Turner said. "You look at our schedule over the next five games, we play good football teams that are doing the same thing we're doing, trying to make the playoffs."

With six straight losses, Cleveland (1-10) has no postseason hopes. The Browns, tied for the league's worst record, lost 16-7 at Cincinnati on Sunday and will now be trying avoid a 10th consecutive home defeat.

Brady Quinn went 15 of 34 for 100 yards as the Browns scored seven points or fewer for the seventh time this season. Cleveland's defense wasn't any better, surrendering 306 yards - 210 on the ground.

Things only got worse with the loss of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, one of the team's best run stoppers. Rogers was carted off in the final minutes with an undisclosed leg injury last week and went on injured reserve Tuesday, ending his season.

Ahtyba Rubin, a sixth-round draft pick in 2008, is expected to take his place.

"It's a great opportunity," Rubin said. "It's unfortunate it happened to a great person like Big Baby and I just look forward to getting out there on Sundays and proving myself. It's big shoes to fill."

Rogers' absence could benefit Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who looks to move up another two spots on the all-time rushing list.

Tomlinson ran for 39 yards Sunday, moving past Marcus Allen and Edgerrin James for 10th place with 12,257. He needs 23 yards to pass Marshall Faulk for ninth and 56 to overtake Jim Brown for eighth.

Cleveland is ranked 29th in rush defense, allowing 159.9 yards per game.

The Browns suffered several other key injuries. Leading rusher Jamal Lewis is out with an unspecified head injury that could jeopardize his career.

Coach Eric Mangini will also have to find a replacement for starting safety Brodney Pool, who suffered his fourth career concussion Sunday. Pool has not been placed on injured reserve, but his season and career could be over.

Chargers safety Eric Weddle may be sidelined for two weeks or more with a sprained knee, while linebacker Shawne Merriman is questionable after leaving Sunday's game in the second quarter with a foot injury.

San Diego has won three straight over the Browns since a 20-16 loss in Cleveland on Oct. 7, 2001.

Chargers sign Harris and Jones

Source: Chargers.com

Former Chargers linebacker Marques Harris rejoined the team Tuesday, and the Chargers also added Derrick Jones to the practice squad.

The Chargers have signed linebacker Marques Harris. To make room for Harris, San Diego waived tackle Corey Clark.

Harris (6-1, 245), began his career with the Chargers in 2005 as an undrafted free agent. Over four seasons (2005-08), Harris played in 56 games and recorded 75 tackles, eight sacks, three forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. He also was credited with 22 tackles on special teams.

Harris signed with the San Francisco 49ers in May 2009 and was released Oct. 27. He will wear No. 58 for the Chargers.

The Chargers also signed defensive end Derrick Jones to the practice squad. Jones, 6-4, 315 from Grand Valley State, originally came to the NFL in 2007 as an undrafted rookie with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Atlanta Falcons signed him to their practice squad in Oct. 2007 and he was promoted to their active roster for the ’07 season finale. In Dec. 2008, Johnson was signed to Tennessee’s practice squad. He went to training camp with the Buffalo Bills in 2009 and was released before the regular season started. He spent three weeks on the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad in October.

To make room for Jones on the practice squad, the team waived linebacker Jeremy Leman.

Chargers Team Report 12-1-09

Source: USA Today/SD Tribune

With the Chargers having won a half-dozen games in a row, fighting to stay ahead of the Denver Broncos with a difficult December ahead, now is perhaps the perfect time to take it easy.

No one should suggest taking the Cleveland Browns lightly, but they just might be the perfect opponent with which to begin the final push to the postseason.

With Shawne Merriman’s hoof hurting and rest the only elixir, head coach Norv Turner said he might sit the outside linebacker Sunday.

“We’re just going to treat it the best we can and … see how he is at the end of the week,” Turner said of Merriman’s tendinitis. “That’s the biggest thing – rest and time for his foot to heal. That’s something we’re going to consider and look at. If he’s a lot better Wednesday and Thursday and can do some and practice Friday, I’d like to see him play. If he can’t practice, that’s something we’ll consider.”

Maybe defensive end Luis Castillo, who sat out Sunday’s game against Kansas City due to a calf strain, won’t be rushed back either.

And this could be the perfect week to ease center Nick Hardwick back into action and new right tackle Jon Runyan into his role with a few series each.

The NFL is fraught with weekly lessons that no team is to be taken lightly, but Cleveland (1-10) might make the Chiefs look like a great team. The Browns have the NFL’s worst offense (230.6 yards per game) and second-worst defense (393.3). They have been outscored by more than 14 points per game.

To be fair, Turner had not begun breaking down the Browns quite yet when he was asked about them yesterday. But his response was classically evasive when asked what concerns him about the team leading the race for next April’s top draft pick.

“On the road,” he said, “handling the elements, all those things will come into it.”

Yes, snow is possible (isn’t it always in Cleveland?) and the temperature is expected to be in the 30s at game time. Then there is Josh Cribbs, one of the league’s top kick returners.

Other than that, the Chargers’ biggest hurdle might be looking past the Browns toward a game in Dallas next week, though the Chargers certainly did not let a lesser opponent and myriad distractions affect them last week.

The Chargers are also very comfortable in the month that dawned today. They have won all 14 of their December games since a loss ended the 2005 season.

That said, this will be their toughest closing month.

The combined winning percentage of the teams they’ve faced the past three Decembers has been .424, and half of the games were against teams with losing records.

This month, after Cleveland, they’ll face, in succession, division leaders Dallas (8-3) and Cincinnati (8-3), and face a Tennessee team that has won five straight games before hosting Washington (3-8) to close the regular season.

“There are a lot of things that go into it,” Turner said of the Chargers’ December dominance. “We’ve got real good players. There is great focus. The schedule … has helped us. The schedule is much more difficult this year.”

And it’s different, too, because the Chargers are finished playing the AFC West. Meanwhile, the Broncos (7-4), who trail the Chargers by one game, get to play Kansas City twice and Oakland once. (Denver’s other games are at Indianapolis and at Philadelphia.)

“You’re not playing the teams you’re competing against,” Turner said. “You’ve got to go out and beat some other people and at times look and see how the team that’s chasing you is doing.”

The player likely to replace Weddle, Paul Oliver, has shown some spark as well.

It was Oliver who knocked loose the football from Matt Cassel on Sunday and raced 40 yards for a touchdown in the win over the Chiefs.

But Weddle is a workhorse who seldom leaves the field. He had a team-high 654 plays entering the Chiefs’ game and is known for being around the football.

Plus, the way coordinator Ron Rivera has been implementing his secondary — and in particular the safeties — into his blitz packages, losing Weddle is a big blow.

Oliver is coming off his best game of his career, which included three tackles.

The Chargers could move Steve Gregory back to the safety spot, but he has played so well in the slot in nickel packages the team is hesitant about such a switch.

So for games at Cleveland and Dallas, Oliver will be in the spotlight. The third-year pro has never started an NFL game.

Oliver could also get some help from C.J. Spillman, who cannot be considered experienced, either — he has but one special teams tackle this season.

The news was better regarding inside linebacker Kevin Burnett, who suffered a concussion on Sunday. Coach Norv Turner said Burnett, who had four tackles Sunday, had been cleared for Wednesday’s practice.

NOTES, QUOTES

—The Chargers introduced their 50th anniversary team Sunday before the win over the Chiefs. Many of the current Chargers said it was special to see the players, and then pay homage to some of those great Chargers teams of the past by scoring a season-high 43 points. In particular, it was a treat to a frail Don Coryell who is up for the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year.

“With all the gadgets and throwing the ball downfield and seeing guys jump up in the air and catch the ball, I think we did honor him,” RB LaDainian Tomlinson said.

—There are 11 current Chargers on the franchise’s all-time best squad.

—S Eric Weddle, who will miss two weeks with a sprained knee, said the Chargers can’t get full of themselves despite a six-game winning streak.

“We’re playing good ball and we know that, but we can’t get sucked into the hype that a long winning streak will bring,” he said. “We haven’t done anything yet. We have to play consistent and finish each game.”

—Can the Chargers be better? “We don’t know that,” OLB Shaun Phillips said. “All we care about is fixing problems and getting better.”

— The case against Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who is accused of hitting another man on the head with a champagne bottle, will be sent to the City Attorney’s office Tuesday, according to the SD Police.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

PLAYER NOTES

—DE Luis Castillo, who missed Sunday’s game with a calf injury, is expected to go this week.

—C Nick Hardwick, if he avoids setbacks during practices this week, could play for the first time since injuring his ankle in the season opener. Hardwick wouldn’t start, but potentially get 20-25 plays.

—T Jon Runyan could be active this week. But it’s doubtful it would be in a starting role.

—RT Brandyn Dombrowski graded out well in his first start at the position left open by the injury to Jeromey Clary. Dombrowski’s play could allow the Chargers to ease Runyan back into NFL action.

—OLB Shawne Merriman continues to be bothered by a foot injury and it looks like it could stay with him through the rest of the season. Merriman played very little Sunday and he could follow that route this week as well — or possibly sit out and rest the foot.

—TE Antonio Gates continues to shine and is on pace for 80-plus catches and to set career highs in receiving yards and yards per catch.

REPORT CARD VS. CHIEFS

PASSING OFFENSE: A — Philip Rivers continues to play at an extremely high level as for the third straight week he completes 75 percent of his passes. The Chargers reintroduced the deep ball back into their game plan and the result was the Chargers stretching the field so much the Chiefs couldn’t defend it. The pass-blocking, again, was excellent as Rivers wasn’t sacked and was hit just once.

RUSHING OFFENSE: B-plus — People are saying the Chargers’ running game is back, and it is to some degree. But even when milking the clock and a big lead, the Chargers only ran for 94 yards and a 2.8-yard average. Tomlinson did add two more scoring runs and would have had a third save a goal-line fumble.

PASS DEFENSE: A — Matt Cassel never does look comfortable with the blitzes coming from the secondary and the coverage not giving him much to work with. Quentin Jammer had an interception and Antonio Cromartie had six tackles. Just a team sack, but Cassel was under heat which helped lead to the Chiefs’ four turnovers.

RUSH DEFENSE: C — The Chiefs didn’t run much when falling behind but they were effective in moving the ball early in the game. The Chargers allowed 114 rushing yards and never did have an answer for Jamaal Charles — he averaged 6.6 yards on 14 carries. Still work to do here, although ILB Brandon Siler’s arrow keeps pointing up.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A — Nate Kaeding’s 55-yard field goal is the best he’s done at Qualcomm. The coverage unit had a leak on Charles when he raced 45 yards on a kickoff. Darren Sproles had a 32-yard kickoff return, but not much else. Kaeding later added a 23-yarder.

COACHING: A — Coach Norv Turner had to juggle Thanksgiving holiday and everyone pulling at his players for the 50th anniversary parties. But he told the Chargers all week to focus on the Chiefs — Turner’s message got a boost when the Chiefs upset the Steelers. But he was going deep into the playbook as the Chargers are seemingly adding a wrinkle or two each week. Ron Rivera continues to lean on the blitzes coming from the secondary and it is working.

Chargers Dominate Chiefs To Win Six Straight

SAN DIEGO – One of the all-time great Chargers games, it was not. And none of the Chargers – past or present – much cared.

To a recharged team suddenly blazing the path to another division title and the postseason, this was one of those games on the schedule that you just want to get behind you, the game you’re expected to win big and don’t even dare to let get close. And so it was as the Chargers hammered the overmatched (and often discombobulated) Kansas City Chiefs, 43-14, for San Diego’s sixth straight victory.

Only a few minutes into the second half, it was already 35-7, Chargers. Done deal.

Next stop, December, a month in which the Chargers haven’t lost their last 14 games.

It was the Chargers’ last game of their 50th season against one of the original American Football League franchises. Assembled for the occasion were 44 of those named to the Chargers’ all-time team of 50, including 85-year-old Don Coryell, who made an appearance on the arms of Dan Fouts and John Jefferson.

Those two, and so many of the others wearing their old jerseys in pre-game festivities, helped perpetuate the Chargers’ lifelong identity as the most pass-minded team in pro football history and their reputation for high-scoring games.

Carrying on the tradition yesteryear were quarterback Philip Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates, who connected on seven passes, two for touchdowns and another that drew a pass-interference call in the end zone. Rivers completed 21 of 28 passes for 317 yards, eventually giving way to backup Billy Volek for the first time this season.

LaDainian Tomlinson also scored twice, and over the course of the afternoon, he moved past Lincoln High product Marcus Allen and Edgerrin James into 10th place on the NFL’s all-time rushing list.

Tomlinson had the crowd chanting his name in the fourth quarter, and with a second-and-goal at the 1-yard line, head coach Norv Turner responded by sending Tomlinson back onto the field. Tomlinson had a path to the end zone, too, but committed a rare fumble before crossing the goal line.

Otherwise, the Chiefs were the ones giving away free stuff, committing three lost fumbles and an interception. Beleaguered quarterback Matt Cassel also was hit in the end zone for a safety.

Kansas City acted sort of like the woebegone team that gets invited to play in all the opposing teams’ homecoming games. Indeed, at times, the game became more of a celebration than competition.

With the Chargers leading 35-14, Nate Kaeding was given the chance for a 55-yard field goal, and he hit it for the longest three-pointer he’s ever kicked at Qualcomm Stadium. Kaeding, who added a 23-yard field goal to make it 43-14, had a 57-yarder at Tampa Bay last year.

Kaeding’s one of 11 current Chargers on the all-time team, all of whom were introduced before the opening kickoff. So is cornerback Quentin Jammer, who brought the Chargers out of some early-game malaise with an interception, sparking the blowout.

Continuing their trend of getting trickier as the season goes on, the Chargers used the “Wildcat” for a 5-yard gain and first down by Tomlinson, then a reverse to wide receiver Vincent Jackson that went for 12 yards and another first. Tight end Gates created his own razzle-dazzle, however, with a one-handed grab of Rivers' pass over the middle for a 19-yard touchdown.

The natural thought that the Chargers were now on their way was quickly dispelled by the Chiefs’ game-tying, 91-yard drive in the early second quarter. More discouraging to the Chargers was the fact that three Cassel passes in the march were caught by Chris Chambers, who was released by San Diego last month and since has been one of the league’s most impressive receivers. On third-and-four at the San Diego 7, Chambers accepted a short pass and headed for the corner, twisting his way into the end zone while in the grasp of Antonio Cromartie.

The Chargers insist that Chambers was cut largely because of the improvement shown by Malcom Floyd, and almost as if making a statement, Floyd soon was sent deep for what became a 53-yard connection from Rivers. Floyd landed a yard short of the end zone, leaving enough space for Tomlinson to add another TD to his long ledger.

Only a few minutes later, Tomlinson would get the chance to move past Edgerrin James on the list of all-time rushers, courtesy of the Chargers defense. Jammer stripped the ball from Jamaal Charles for a fumble that was recovered by linebacker Brandon Siler.

Proving much more problematic for the Chiefs was Gates, who was remarkably open when receiving the three passes that made it 21-7, the scoring play a 15-yarder he caught just outside the goal line.

And then it was open season on Cassel. On a safety blitz, Paul Oliver was right there for the catch (between his knees) when an untouched Cassel let the ball slip out of his hand. Oliver cruised 40 yards with the fumble recovery, spotting the Chargers to a three-TD lead before halftime.

Chargers place Clary on IR and sign Runyan

Source: Chargers.com

Newly-signed Chargers offensive tackle Jon Runyan had to be patient, but Tuesday he found a great fit.

After opportunities to find a new home came and went prior to the start of the 2009 season, veteran offensive tackle Jon Runyan was content to be patient and wait for the perfect situation.

That came Tuesday in the form of a first-place team suddenly in need of help at tackle due to injuries. Runyan, a 13-year veteran who had started 192-consecutive games before the Eagles released him this spring, signed a one-year contract with the Chargers.

“It’s unfortunate that a lot of times it takes an injury to get in a position like this, but once the beginning of the season passed, this is the kind of situation I was looking for,” Runyan said. “I was fortunate enough that it worked out here. It’s the right time and right situation and I felt comfortable doing it.”

Runyan (6-7, 330) will fill the roster spot of Jeromey Clary, who will be placed on “Reserve-Injured” Tuesday. Runyan underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee in February but believes he’s physically ready to get back at it. He’ll practice with the Chargers Wednesday as they begin preparations for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs.

“I’m probably in the best shape I’ve been in in 10 years,” Runyan said. “I’ve been training that much. It’s my personality; when I do it outside of the football facility, I tend to overdo it. It’s a little more relaxed when you’re in the building all the time. I’ve been going four or five days a week for the past nine months so I’m there (physically).”

General Manager A.J. Smith lauded Runyan’s physical presence and said that the veteran “will be added to the mix” at offensive tackle.

“We are very fortunate that a player of Jon’s experience and ability was available at this time,” Smith said. “He is an outstanding competitor and I have always admired the physical, nasty approach he brings to the field every game.”

In 13 NFL seasons, Runyan has appeared in 223 games, including 21 playoff contests, five conference championship games and two Super Bowls. He began his career with the Houston Oilers and holds the distinction of being the only active NFL player who spent time with the franchise before its move to Tennessee. After four seasons in Houston/Nashville, Runyan signed with Philadelphia where he was a fixture at right tackle for nine seasons. He’ll spent Tuesday night immersing himself in the Chargers’ playbook as he tries to quickly pick up the offense.

“It’s a foreign language,” Runyan said. “But the basis of football is all the same. It’s just a matter of making that transition in your mind. I’m ready to get to work on it.”

Chargers Team Report – 11/24/09

Source: USA Today
The Chargers got their fifth consecutive victory and a spot atop the AFC West standings, but it came with a cost.

Right tackle Jeromey Clary suffered an ankle injury which will likely shelve him for the rest of the regular season.

The Chargers, though, are reluctant to put Clary on injured reserve, hoping if they make a late playoff run he might be able to go.

So look for Clary to stick, but likely not do much until late in the season.

That was the sense coach Norv Turner gave a day after the Chargers thumped the Broncos 32-3.

There was also troubling news off the field.

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who had an interception in Sunday’s win, is under investigation for assault with a deadly weapon. He is accused of throwing of a champagne bottle in a San Diego bar altercation.

He was out early Monday morning after the team’s big win.

Cromartie wrote via Twitter: "I want 2 apologize to charger nation and my fans. There's sum stuff out abt me that's not true. It will come out. God Bless"

NOTES, QUOTES

—Outside linebacker Shawne Merriman couldn’t hide the significance of Sunday’s win.

“I’d love to say it’s just another game, but we were playing for first in the division. This game meant a lot to a lot of us,” Merriman said.

—Running back LaDainian Tomlinson was scratching his head when Denver’s Chris Simms trotted out with first team instead of Kyle Orton. Orton was battling an ankle injury.

“I was surprised Orton didn’t start the game,” he said. “I saw him in pregame, and he looked good throwing the ball.”

—The win was the Chargers’ fifth straight.

“We never panicked,” inside linebacker Stephen Cooper said of the team’s reaction after a slow start to the season. “Look up and down our roster, and you will see All-Pro caliber players.”

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

PLAYER NOTES

—DE Luis Castillo (calf) could sit out Wednesday’s practice.

—ILB Kevin Burnett continues to shine after missing three games recently with a knee injury. He had his best day as a Charger on Sunday with seven tackles and two sacks.

—LB James Holt is making his mark on special teams. He had two more tackles Sunday.

—WR Legedu Naanee continues to get more playing time. Naanee had a scoring catch for the second straight week.

—DB Paul Oliver is playing more thanks to his productivity. He had four tackles, one for a loss and a pass defensed.

—FB Mike Tolbert continues to prove he can do more than block and play special teams. The Chargers are eager to slip him some carries, and he has responded. He had 58 yards and a score Sunday — including a 32-yard run.

—OLB Shawne Merriman (foot) held up OK in the game.

REPORT CARD VS. BRONCOS

PASSING OFFENSE: B-plus — Philip Rivers was accurate again, missing on only one of his 14 first-half passes and hitting 17 of 22 overall. Rivers didn’t have to be great, just manage the game while leaning on the running game. San Diego’s pass-blocking was keen; the Broncos had five sacks in the earlier meeting and none in this one.

RUSHING OFFENSE: A — This unit had its best game of the season with 203 rushing yards. With a comfortable lead, the Chargers were able to sock the game away on the ground while giving this piece of the offense a chunk of confidence.

PASS DEFENSE: A — Chris Simms and Kyle Orton didn’t look comfortable, with the secondary playing well and a pass-rush that pestered them both. The Chargers allowed just 181 yards, and that was against an offense that was throwing often to get back into the game. Antonio Cromartie got a pick, and Eric Weddle was active with six tackles.

RUSH DEFENSE: B — There were a few leaks here on the Broncos’ decent-looking drives, but some adjustments were made, and Denver had to start heaving the ball. But the Broncos did gain for 115 rushing yards.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A — The Chargers were much better in this area after allowing two returns for scores in the previous matchup. The coverage units were fine. Nate Kaeding boomed five touchbacks thanks to the thin air, and he went 4-for-4 on field-goal attempts.

COACHING: A — Having noted the Broncos’ pass rush in the teams’ first meeting, Norv Turner had the offense turn to short and medium routes to get the ball out fast. With the safeties on their heels, the short stuff worked, and the running game re-established itself. Defensive coordinator Ron Rivera went after the Broncos quarterbacks, and the pass rush was effective without Shawne Merriman having a big day.
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Chargers "OWN" Broncos

San Diego Tribune— The smiles on their faces, their yells of defiance and the bounce in their step as they left the field revealed the importance of this beatdown.

The Chargers led from their first drive yesterday and routed the Denver Broncos 32-3 to take over what they believe is their rightful spot atop the AFC West.

"You'd love to say this is just another game, but it wasn't," linebacker Shawne Merriman said. "We were playing for first place in the division."

The Chargers, winners of five straight since Denver beat them Oct. 19 in San Diego, were at least a mile high as they considered their current roll and the significance of pummeling the plummeting Broncos.

"We had to re-establish ourselves this game as the first-place team in the AFC West," tight end Antonio Gates said. "That's why it was huge.

"The mental part was to prove to them we're still the AFC West champs. I think that was bigger than anything."

The Broncos (6-4) began the game running seven times. On their eighth play, quarterback Chris Simms dropped to pass, Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips hit his hand from behind and knocked the ball to the ground, where safety Steve Gregory picked it up.

Starting at their 31-yard line, the Chargers (7-3) drove to a touchdown and a lead that was never in jeopardy even as they struggled to put the game away until the third quarter.

The Chargers are now 11-5 over the past four Novembers, with one more game to play before reaching the month in which they haven't lost since 2005.

"We fought back earlier this year, and we're playing our best ball," quarterback Philip Rivers said. "Hopefully, we can keep going that way through December as we have in the past."

Already, they believe they've re-acquired division ownership.

Said running back LaDainian Tomlinson: "I think we established that we're the best team in the AFC West this year."

Jay Cutler is gone. So maybe Josh McDaniels is the Bronco that San Diego will love to hate now.

The Chargers' locker room was abuzz yesterday, as players were both offended and amused by the Denver Broncos head coach telling the Chargers linebackers before yesterday's game, "We own you."

That, at least, was the version offered by the linebackers, to a man.

McDaniels, who slowed down to talk on his way to his car more than an hour after the game, said the Chargers started the trash talking. He would not elaborate on what he may have said, but neither did he deny he talked back.

"They talked to me first," McDaniels said. "I'm not making a story about this. If I did, I'd be able to tell you some things that aren't (fit) for papers."

The linebackers did not deny one or more among them may have started the dishing, but they thought McDaniels' behavior was beneath a man in his position.

"You gotta like his fire," Stephen Cooper said. "As a head coach I don't think you want to start jawing with players if you're not putting the pads on."

With a laugh, considering the Chargers' 32-3 victory, Cooper added, "Looks like he owned us, but it got repossessed."

A smiling Shawne Merriman said of McDaniels popping off: "It was cute."

Other Chargers said McDaniels directed his barb at Shaun Phillips. A source said it was Phillips who actually began the give and take.

"I'm not surprised," Phillips said of McDaniels talking. "He's a little cocky. ... It's all good, all fun and games. We didn't look too much into it. As a coach, I hope he has that mindset. But to say he owns us? I mean, you beat us one time. What has he really done in this league? He had a team 6-0, and now he's looking up at us from second place."
Clary gone?

The Chargers may have lost right tackle Jeromey Clary for the season after he was carted off the field in the fourth quarter with an injury to his left ankle.

Head coach Norv Turner said he believes the "injury is going to be more serious than I'd like it to be."

Brandyn Dombrowski replaced Clary and will be the likely fill-in, going forward, though the Chargers did sign signed tackle Corey Clark from the practice squad last week.

Dombrowski started two games in September at right guard and has been working at left tackle.

Clary left last week's game and did not practice last week with a sprained right ankle.
Blackout looms

Approximately 7,000 tickets remain for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, and it appears the Chargers' club record-tying streak of 44 games without a local television blackout is in danger of ending.

Said Jim Steeg, the Chargers' chief operating officer: "It will be very difficult to sell 7,000 tickets in three days with a holiday weekend starting on Wednesday."

The game must be declared a sellout by 1:05 p.m. Thursday to avert the blackout, although an extension is possible due to because of the Thanksgiving. holiday.
Playing it smart

LaDainian Tomlinson carried 20 times for 73 yards and a touchdown but was off the field in stretches, in part by design and in part due to because of the hip injury that continues to bother him.

"It's still bruised," said Tomlinson, who injured the hip Nov. 8 against New York. "Whenever I get hit or land it, I monitor it. But I don't think about it. ... I also want to stay fresh throughout the game like I used to do with Michael Turner, and (Darren Sproles) is doing a heck of a job. That's why I come out, so I can be fresh in the fourth quarter if we need to put the game away."
Big air

Nate Kaeding is not one of the league's big legs on kickoffs. In fact, there are 16 kickers in the NFL with more touchbacks than Kaeding since he came into the league in 2004.

But maybe if Kaeding kicked in the altitude in Denver every week ...

Kaeding had five touchbacks yesterday, bringing his career total in six games in Denver to 19, exactly half his career total.

To make it even easier on Kaeding, 15-yard penalties against the Broncos had him twice kicking off from the 45.

"I've made a living off getting touchbacks here," Kaeding said. "To give it to me on the 45 it was a gift for sure."
Nuts 'n' Bolts

* Defensive end Luis Castillo left the game in the second quarter with a calf injury and did not return.
* Cornerback Quentin Jammer left the game for a play after colliding with Phillips while defending a pass. Last week he was felled for a series by friendly fire, when he and Eric Weddle collided. Said Jammer: "The only time I get hurt, it's always one of my teammates hitting me."
* For the first time in 50 years of playing the Broncos, the Chargers have won in Denver for the third time in four years ... only an Ed Hochuli call from having won four straight.
* After 36 punts, Mike Scifres finally had one make it into reach the end zone for a touchback. That leaves Detroit's Nick Harris as the only punter in the league to have punted more than 30 times without a touchback.
* In starting 6-0, the Broncos outscored opponents 76-10 in the second half, including 17-3 at San Diego. But during their four-game losing streak they've been outscored 77-17 after halftime, including 17-3 yesterday.
* The Chargers scored a touchdown on their first possession for just the second time in 10 games and third time in the past 31 games.

Chargers Thundering Into Denver

SAN DIEGO — What a difference a month makes.

When the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos were last on the field together a month agoat Qualcomm Stadium, it appeared the AFC West race was all but settled.

The Broncos defeated the Chargers 34-23 on Monday Night Football to take a 3½-game lead in the division race. Denver left that game undefeated at 6-0, and the Chargers had fallen to 2-3.

But never say never with San Diego, which now owns the same 6-3 mark as Denver atop the AFC West.

"It's like déjà vu, isn't it?" Chargers tight end Antonio Gates says, referring to the showdown in Denver on Sunday. "It's like every time we play Denver, it means more than one game. We'll be fired up."

The reversal of fortunes for these teams smacks of the turn of events late last season, when the Broncos collapsed down the stretch and became the first team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to blow a three-game division lead with three games to play, allowing San Diego to claim the division crown.

That meltdown seemed so unlikely to be repeated. Denver, with a rebuilt defense and new coach Josh McDaniels, started 6-0.

Yet here we are again. A Broncos collapse has coincided with a Chargers rally. "It's resiliency," Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie says.

The Chargers seemingly thrive on beating such long odds. They entered December last season left for dead at 4-8. In 2007, during Norv Turner's first season as coach, they started 1-3 before winning the division and advancing to the AFC title game.

Now this.

"We've been in this situation before, so it's not anything new to us," linebacker Shawne Merriman says. "You hate to start off the season the way we start off sometimes, but when your back's against the wall, we've shown we can go out and perform."

Turner praises the character and talent he's working with, but maintains that the early season struggles in each of his campaigns were unique in each case.

Two years ago, he actually projected a slow start as the team was adjusting to a new staff and system. Last season, they started 0-2, losing on the final play against the Carolina Panthers in the opener and the following week falling victim to referee Ed Hochuli's erroneous ruling that an apparent fumble by Denver quarterback Jay Cutler in the final minute was an incompletion.

This time, Turner points to injuries as the key factor. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson, nose tackle Jamal Williams and center Nick Hardwick were among five players injured in the season-opening victory at the Oakland Raiders. Williams, anchor of the 3-4 front, was lost for the season with a torn triceps. Hardwick hasn't returned from an ankle injury.

Tomlinson missed two games with a sprained ankle, and Turner saw his performance in Sunday's 31-23 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles (24 rushes for 96 yards and two TDs) as a sign that he's healthy again.

"We were beat up and banged up," Turner says. "We played that first month with guys on the offensive and defensive lines who were just feeling their way and learning how to play in this league."

Merriman's gradual return to form, after missing virtually all of last season with torn knee ligaments, also has been a boost for the defense.

Says Turner: "Merriman is a lot healthier than he was in September. He and (linebacker) Shaun Phillips, the month they've had, they've been on a tear."

San Diego's defense was on the field for 71 snaps and allowed 462 yards against the Eagles, but three times forced them to settle for short field goals when backed up in the red zone. A week earlier, the unit kept the New York Giants from scoring a game-clinching touchdown late in the fourth quarter, forcing a field goal. That allowed quarterback Philip Rivers to lead a game-winning 80-yard drive in the final minutes that was capped with an 18-yard scoring pass to Vincent Jackson.

"Right now, we're on the cusp of being a good defense," inside linebacker Kevin Burnett says. "We can talk about being great later. If we can be consistent and then put together a string of victories — six, seven, eight in a row — then you can say we're a good defense."

The Chargers know all about winning streaks.

They won five in a row last season before an AFC divisional playoff loss at the Pittsburgh Steelers. Two seasons ago, they took an eight-game streak into the AFC title game. In 2006, they closed the regular season with a 10-game winning streak before a playoff-opening loss that cost Marty Schottenheimer his job as Turner's predecessor.

"We know how to rally," cornerback Quentin Jammer says. "When we put our minds to it, we know how to get it done as a team."

They'll soon get another chance to prove that to the Broncos.