Chargers: Vindication?
Do you remember how much abuse I took at the beginning of the NFL season for my prediction in the Sun's preseason football preview section that the San Diego Chargers would win the Super Bowl? And that was before their first-half collapse that almost took them out of playoff contention.
Obviously, I'm some kind of prognostication prodigy, because the Chargers are building momentum for the playoffs and are starting to look like a very formidable contender for the Super Bowl title.
I know, there are some people who are shaking their heads and saying that this is just typical Chargers football. Slow start. Fast finish. Quick postseason exit. Maybe so, but there's something about this Chargers team that makes me think this year might be different.
For one thing, it's still a team with some talent in reserve. There are some quality players -- like tight end Antonio Gates -- who aren't even in the picture right now, and receiver Vincent Jackson has hit stride with a fury. Phillip Rivers hooked up with him three times for touchdowns last night against the San Francisco 49ers and that was before the Chargers shut down the offense early in the fourth quarter.
The 49ers are no great shakes, but the Chargers defense ran off seven straight scoreless quarters before San Francisco scored a meaningless TD last night. Everything seems to be falling in place, though there's still the small matter of overtaking the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.
Details. The Chargers will win their last two road games against the lowly Bengals and Broncos, leaving the Chiefs needing to win their last three games to hold them off for the division title. That's not going to happen, and the Chargers will either get to the playoffs on the division tiebreaker (if the Chiefs lose to Oakland), the common opponent tiebreaker (if the Chiefs lose to the Rams this weekend) or the conference record tiebreaker (if the Chiefs lose to the Titans next week).
The Chargers also have a chance to overtake the Jets for the last wild card spot if they can win out and the Jets lose two of their last three, which is possible with road games remaining against the Steelers and Bears.
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Comments
I'm not a big Matt Cassel fan, but if he is able to play by this weekend, KC will win out. St. Louis is their only road game and they can handle both Oakland and Tennessee at home. The Chargers best bet would be the Jets' Wild Card slot.
If they get in that way, they're looking at having to go to New England in the second round and that's where their playoff run would end.
Posted by: Chris in Hawaii | December 17, 2010 11:46 AM
The Chargers will never win a Super Bowl as long as Norv is the coach. He will get too conservative in the playoffs, try to sit on a slim lead and blow the game in the final minute or two. It seems like it happens every year.
Posted by: teej | December 17, 2010 2:20 PM
Umm, the Chargers in the Super Bowl? This year? I'll bet $10 against that and give 10-1 odds. Ten times. I could use an extra hundred bucks now that I'm languishing in second place in the office pool.
Posted by: waspman | December 17, 2010 3:16 PM
The buzz in San Diego is that the Chargers are firing on all cylinders now and that, with the addition of Gates, they could be unstoppable. I've been out here (from Baltimore, of course) for 8 years and I've seen many good Charger's teams fail in the playoffs. So, I'm a little hesitant to crown them just yet. On a side note, if it's Ravens vs. Chargers in the playoffs I'm wearing purple.
Posted by: Mike in San Diego | December 17, 2010 4:27 PM
Pete
I have Chargers as my back up team . If Ravens fall out of Wild Card , or become one and done . Then I am rooting for Chargers . The thought of Patriots OR Steelers making the Super Bowl makes me vomit .
Posted by: Allan | December 17, 2010 4:34 PM
Hey, Pete -
When are you going to start holding AMPGA's a$$ to the fire?
Posted by: blah, blah, blah | December 17, 2010 8:46 PM
If the chargers can make the playoffs and Antonio Gates and othere receivers return, then I'll take that 10-1 bet!
The key to this team is Phillip Rivers. He is having a Hall of Fame year, again.
Posted by: mark baird | December 18, 2010 9:38 AM
Hey Pete, off topic here but nice little blurb you wrote about Bob Feller. Can you imagine anyone on the current Orioles or Ravens putting their careers on hold to join the service and fight for their county during a war? My bet is the only one who would do it is Luke Scott. Can you imaging Ray Lewis joining the military? What a joke. Bob Feller was the true difference between a man and a wannabe. Ray Lewis couldn't hold Feller's jock strap.
Posted by: TruthBeTold | December 18, 2010 10:30 AM
@TruthBeTold
Yeah... because that worked out so well for Pat Tillman...
He gave his life for his country and then his country gave his family lies in return.
These are different times, my man.
Posted by: Chris in Hawaii | December 18, 2010 12:35 PM
TruthBeTold -
I don't know about the military, but I could definitely see Luke Scott on Fox News.
I love how Scott's the only Baltimore athlete who cares about his country. And why? Because he's red-blooded, gun-carrying American who doesn't think that Obama was born in the U.S.
Nice.
Posted by: not brooks | December 18, 2010 7:16 PM
Pete -
Off topic here but thanks for the great article on Ralph Friedgen. The Terps are doing the man dirt and they know it. The Fridge doesn't deserve to twist in the wind like this. He brought Maryland back from football obscurity. This reminds me of the way the O's left Joe Altobelli swing in the wind a quarter of a century ago after he'd led them to a world championship in 1983. Fridge deserves not only 2011 but an extension which, unfortunately, he isn't going to get. Happy Holidays to you and yours! I toast you with my Diet DP raised!
Posted by: dave taylor | December 18, 2010 10:05 PM
Pete,
Instead of writing about the Chargers....
How about writing about the new incoming O's
Reynolds - Project - Looking to put '10 behind him.
Hardy - Project - Looking to put 09' and '10 behind him.
Accardo - Project - Looking to put '08, 09, '10 behind him.
Those are the additions to add to the horrific additions of AM's '09 and '10 class.
Just thought I'd bring these players to your attention - just in case you haven't noticed them.
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Pete's reply: Wayne, what in the world are you talking about? You already torched me for writing a column about Reynolds. Are you losing it?
Posted by: wayne | December 18, 2010 11:42 PM
Looking forward to another season ending in Foxborough!(...just sayin').
Posted by: Pats Fan | December 21, 2010 8:47 PM
Looking forward to another season ending in Foxborough!(...just sayin').
Posted by: Pats Fan | December 21, 2010 8:48 PM
Though I like the end result you are suggesting (about chargers going to playoffs & winning superbowl), I do not think that KC losing is a good possibility ...
Posted by: Indian movies and TV shows | December 22, 2010 7:58 PM