Chargers Win Disgustingly

This past week was to be the week the Chargers make everyone forget the first half of the 2008 NFL season and revert back to the Chargers we saw from the previous 2 seasons...a defensively sound, high powered offensive team.  The high powered offense is still present in the '08 Chargers but the defense had sunk to one of the worst in the NFL.  But the firing of defensive coordinator Ted Cottrill and promotion of Ron Rivera after the London trip and with 2 weeks to prepare for the Chiefs seemed like it could theoritically be that easy of a fix...well it wasn't.

In a game in which the Charger offense seemed to struggle against a Chiefs team that carted an injured defender off the field after each play.  And the Charger defense showed little improvement... Tyler Thigpen and Tony Gonzalez shredded the Charger defense and the Chiefs rarely even tried to run the ball, knowing that passing is ticket to beating the Chargers.

The Chiefs scored a touchdown with :23 left to go after converting several 3rd downs and a 4th and 8 on the drive, but instead of settling for a tie with an extra point Herm Edwards, the desperate coach of the Chiefs, knew that this might be the best opportunity to get a win for his team...1 play against one of the league's worst defenses to gain 3 yards.  Of course the target was Gonzalez but the Chargers had a swarm of defenders around him and prevented the Chiefs from winning.

Hey a win is a win, as the saying goes, but this win is a bittersweet one.  It might be the continuing tale of the Chargers pathetic defense which will prevent the Chargers from likely even making the playoffs.  It's on the road to Pittsburgh in a game that will likely be a Steeler romp over the Chargers.  Hopefully improvement on the defense will be seen... I don't believe Thigpen was sacked at all and that would mean over 2 games with no Charger sacks.  Roethlisberger won't have to worry about getting injured and should have a good "practice" against the Chargers this Sunday...