Super Chargers? No

By Pat Callahan

The San Diego Chargers had to go out of their way to lose to New England Sunday, and they certainly did so, in style. Here, in chronological order, is a primer on what not to do in a game against Tom Brady and Bill Belichik:

1st Quarter, SD Ball, 4th & 11 on NE 30 – Marty inexplicably decides to go for it. QB Philip Rivers – you know, the 2nd year “veteran; 1st year starter, never played a playoff game in his life” – is sacked and fumbles for good measure. Points lost: 3.

3rd Quarter, SD 14, NE 10, NE ball, 3rd down on SD 30 – Tom Brady is hit, fumbles and NE recovers, but it’s 4th down and the Pats are out of FG range. But SD DB Drayton Florence head butts TE Ben Watson and draws a 15 yard penalty. Gostkowski then kicks a FG. Points lost: 3.

2nd Half – LT carries the ball 9 times. That’s right, 9 times.

4th Quarter, SD 21, NE 13, NE ball, 4th down on SD 40 – Brady is picked by DB McCree, who eschews falling down (and winning the game) and tries to return the ball. Instead, Troy Brown strips it – that’s why they’ve won 3 of the last 5 Super Bowls – and
Reche Caldwell recovers. Brady then hits Caldwell for a TD. Points lost: 8.

4th Quarter, tied 21-21 – on 1st down after the Pats tied it, LT gains 6 yards. Now here’s an idea: give the ball to Tomlinson again, and again. But Marty (more accurately, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron) has QB Rivers throw on the next two downs. Incomplete. Punt.

4th Quarter, NE 24 – ND 21 – Rivers, his team out of time outs, hits TE Gates for 20 yards. But with the clock running, he throws to Gates for 4 yards after wasting precious time by repositioning his goofy WR all the way across the field.

So there you go: numerous mistakes, bad play calling, showboating, fumbles, dropped passes, etc. It may take some time for this organization to get over that loss.

It really is true: some teams just don’t get it.
And some, like New England, do.