Chargers Beat Rams: 38-24

Right when you think Tomlinson might be slowing down and so far this year defenses shutting him down he breaks out for over 250 total yards, 189 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. It's like Tomlinson is finding his groove for the season and looked very fresh this past weekend.

Rivers continues to look good. He started the game by completing his first 7 passes in a row. He didn't make any glaring mistakes and I think has the potential to be a solid quarterback for the Chargers for many seasons to come.

Merriman was everywhere on the field, had 3 sacks...but he has dropped his appeal for steroid use so that will be the last we see of Merriman until December 3rd against Buffalo. Unfortunately there is a game against Denver in the four games he will be out and that will most likely be for the AFC West lead if both the Chargers and Broncos win their next 2 games (Chargers vs Browns & Bengals; Broncos at Steelers & Raiders).

So it's important for the Chargers to continue to play good and beat these lesser teams...and yes, the Bengals are not as good as they were hyped earlier this year. Their defense is not very good.

Merriman's Plight Bleak

Here's an interesting article about the whole 'tainted supplement' defense. That link also cites the NFL policy on taking supplements and is summed up best by it's opening line:

“You and you alone are responsible for what goes into your body. Claiming that you used only legally available nutritional supplements will not help you in an appeal."

The article also does say that yes, some supplement companies will lace their products with steroids to get good reviews. But I think the NFL has a good policy and should have a zero tolerance level. Now granted, if Merriman's case is legit and he is somehow exonerated from these charges I would be pleasantly surprised.

The Chargers rap sheet since training camp: Steve Foley (LB) shot 3 times before the season starts, Terrance Kiel (DB) gets busted shipping codeine based cough syrup, Markus Curry (CB - practice squad) was arrested and since dismissed from the team for domestic assault and now Shawne Merriman (LB) tests positive for steroids. 2 weeks ago some sports analysts had the Chargers as one of the top 5 teams in the NFL. A loss to Kansas City and Merriman's plight have them dropping quickly.

If the Chargers can battle through these adversities as well as all the current injuries on defense, it might be the building blocks for a playoff run. Of course, such obstacles can often times be the foundation for disaster.

Merriman: Tainted Supplements

What's your excuse when you got caught cheating? Blame something/someone else...

Shawne Merriman's reason for having tested positive for steroids is that he had taken some tainted supplements. Yes, the old tainted supplement excuse.

It sounds like he can play for the next 2 games while he continues to appeal the 4 game suspension but I don't think his excuse is going to save him from the eventual 4 game suspension.

This is just an attempt to try and change public perception as done by most high-profile steroid users (see Barry Bonds, Floyd Landis, etc) and I think it would be very surprising if the NFL reversed their decision. I think the delay is done to help the team in the short term and hopefully when Merriman is serving his suspension some of the injured defensive players will return.

Chiefs Beat Chargers - Merriman Suspended - Defense Battered

What a weekend for Charger fans...

The Chargers almost come back from a 20-3 defecit to beat the Chiefs, but after tying the game the Chiefs were able to convert on a 53 yard field goal to win the game 30-27.

The Chargers were trying to hand the game to Kansas City in the first quarter, 3 turnovers on their first 4 possessions put them in a hole early. But the offense responded, especially in the second half.

The Charger defense comes out of this game extremely battered... Shaun Phillips who has been playing well left and did not return. Olshansky did not play and is likely out for a few more weeks. And to add to the mounting defensive injuries Shawne Merriman, probably the Chargers best linebacker, is being suspended for 4 games for taking steroids... great. Now is Merriman any good or just good when he is juiced up?

I did like to see the Chargers respond even though at halftime it looked somewhat bleak being down 20-6. Kaeding missed a 41 yard field goal just before the half and those points sure what have came in handy towards the end.

I think Phillip Rivers has done a fine job at quarterback so far. He still is making the occassional bad decision but he has looked fairly good at handling the pressure. The Chiefs were blitzing almost every down. Tomlinson is held for less than 100 yards rushing...again, but he did have a 37 yard td catch and he also threw for a touchdown, so his scoring stats are still quite impressive. Gates had a good game catching a touchdown pass and had 9 catches overall for 63 yards.

St. Louis is next up and they are coming off a bye week and the Chargers are coming off a very physical and mentally draining loss plus add in the Merriman story it even becomes a more defeating situation for the Chargers this week. Hopefully they will be able to respond.

Chargers Throttled 49'ers - Chiefs Up Next

Well the Chargers put on a dominating display this past weekend...at least their offense did. The Charger defense, although not too bad, did offer little resistance to the 49'er offense during the first half. The 9'ers were able to move the ball for almost all of the first half and wasn't until the Chargers got a timely interception after Rivers made a poor decision in the endzone to surrender a safety that really put the 9'ers on their heels.

Rivers had his best day as a professional throwing for 334 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tomlinson, who so far this season has yet to really post any insane yardage numbers, had over hundred combined yards and 4 rushing touchdowns. The Charger offense was definately in full gear and hope that this is a sign of things to come.

This week the Chargers roll into Kansas City who got thoroughly trounced by the Pittsburgh Steelers, the same Steelers the Chargers beat fairly handedly prior to the 49'er game. So making the simpliest correlation: Chargers beat Steelers, Steelers trounce Chiefs thus the Chargers should DESTROY Kansas City this weekend...and hopefully that is the case.

Kansas City's run game, with Larry Johnson, is not as fearful as many thought. And to me, as a whole, the Chiefs continue to field the same team they have had for the past 5 years. This just furthers my thought that the Chiefs really aren't getting better each year but rather they are just getting older.

The Chargers should be able to dictate play on both sides of the ball. Hopefully weather doesn't become an issue (not sure of the forecast) and as long as the Chargers limit penalties and turnovers, I see no reason why they shouldn't totally dominate this inferior team....but of course they are an AFC rival so that always throws an intangible in there...

So I'll say Chargers win 31-17.

Chargers at 49'ers

This week's matchup for the Chargers - on paper - looks like it should be all one-sided. Chargers, in theory, should have little trouble with a still young, but improving, 49'er team. But the Chargers of recent like to play to the level of competition. Last year they beat the (up until then) undefeated Colts and looked impressive doing so. It kept the Charger playoff hopes alive at the time and appeared as if it would energize the team for the final few weeks of the season. Instead they lose the following week to a woeful Miami team essentially ending any hope for the playoffs. This will be the first test of this season to see if the Chargers - after rising up and winning a game against a formidable opponent (Pittsburgh) - can keep their intensity level and beat what should be a fairly beatable opponent. Schottenheimer apparently wasn't happy with the exucation and level of play during practice yesterday, so the team may already be taking this week off.

I like to think that the Ravens loss was one that would linger with the team for a while and further give them drive to play at a high level at all times. Phillip Rivers has yet to look bad in any game and I suspect he will again be allowed to pass fairly frequently. Teams have been keying on the run which shows in Tomlinson's early season numbers so far but I think once Rivers gets more comfortable and the team has more faith in the passing game will only make Tomlinson a bigger threat down the road. Word is that the defense is getting the stigma of being a top-tier defense for 55 minutes of a football game but can't seal the deal when the game is on the line and many want to prove that is not the case... I don't think this week it will matter. I think the Chargers should win this game and do so going away.

Chargers 27 49'ers 13

Winter...Already?

In the barren wasteland we have no use for autumn....it goes straight from summer to winter.... I mowed my lawn this last weekend, I maybe shoveling snow tomorrow....

A picture from today at about 5:30 PM...In the photo you should be able to see a large complex across the street but because it was snowing and pretty windy you are unable too... plus not very warm...

Of course, I'll post the photo from November when it's 75 degrees....

Chargers Beat Steelers 23-13

The Charger fan-dom was heard.... Marty had to abandon his conservative play calling and Rivers was finally allowed to throw the ball. Yes, the Steelers stopped Tomlinson...good job... but you lost the game because Phillip Rivers was allowed to throw the ball.

Jamal Williams had an excellent game. The Charger defense looks real good and once teams forget about Tomlinson...which will be the case soon because 'he isn't a factor right now' will happen at the right time...

Big win for the Chargers... no let down next week as they play the 49'ers....

Go Chargers!

Marijuana May Help Alzheimer's

I am fairly certain that if people keep trying they will find a way to eventually legalize marijuana...which I am in full support of. The most recent findings from smoking pot:

The active ingredient of marijuana could be considerably better at suppressing the abnormal clumping of malformed proteins that is a hallmark of Alzheimer's than any currently approved drugs prescribed for the treatment of the disease.

Scientists report the finding in the Oct. 2 issue of the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics.

So to quickly recap the bad effects from smoking pot are: hunger and laziness - really bad societal issues. The positives are: increased creativity, pain reliever for cancer victims, cure for glaucoma and now potentially a way to avert Alzheimer's desease. Not sure how much longer the American government can continue to demonize probably the least abused, most widely illegally consumed drug when most are beginning to realize that pot is not that big of deal.

Week 5 - Steelers at Chargers

The rumblings among the Charger fans have begun to focus in one entity...Marty Schottenheimer. The outcry for him to no longer coach the team began to brew last season and after last weeks 4th quarter collapse those rumblings not only instantly resurface but began this year but now begin to be louder and more angst-filled. I tend to agree with the Charger masses. Marty-ball is worthless and will not get the Chargers anywhere. I think the Chargers have the talent that would rival the best teams in the league and yet have a coach that will choke anyone with talent down. Marty plays to not lose, not to win and that coaching philosophy in itself should mean that you do not coach an NFL team.

So, saying all that...

I think the Chargers should win this Sunday against the Steelers. The Steelers do not appear to be a dominate team of any sort. They struggled against Miami in week one, got shutout by Jacksonville in week 2 and got beat by Cincinnatti in week 3. Of course the NFL always likes to make sure the Chargers play a team after their bye so the Steelers come in rested. This game will likely be a battle of the defenses and whichever offense makes the fewest mistakes...a bit cliche, yet appropriate.

As I said, I think the Chargers should win but until Marty proves that he will take less pressure off the defense and open the offense up a more on a consistent basis I think the Steelers will do the same thing that other disciplined teams in the NFL can do against the Chargers. That is, the Chargers will jump out to a 10, 14 point lead and go into the half. Then the 2nd half the Chargers will get no first downs, never attempt a pass and the Steelers will end up with the ball, down by 2 points with 2 minutes to play and then proceed to move down the field with no resistance and put up the game-winning points with little or no time left.

Ok, I'll still pick the Chargers to win 24-17 but if my above scenario plays out the result will be the same as last years game... Steelers win 24-22...

Choke In Baltimore

The San Diego Chargers had the game won after 3 quarters but the Chargers are becoming well-known for choking and showed just how to choke properly.

The Ravens had no timeouts left with over a quarter to play. The Chargers then muff a field goal try that would have likely been the death nail. The Chargers hold the Ravens and get the ball back with 4 minutes to play. After what seemed to be 50 Charger false starts, end up taking a safety and punting the ball away. The highly touted Charger defense just had to keep the Ravens out of the end zone and the Ravens did so easily.

This could have been a game the Chargers emerge as an AFC power instead show the incompetence of Marty Schottenheimer. Ultra-conservative play late in the game meant the Chargers were trying to sit on a lead rather than dictate the game and, as this has shown in the past, the Chargers come up as losers.