2008 AFC West Champions - San Diego Chargers

I purposely did not post a blog entry after last weeks unbelievable events because I had predicted the opposite occoruance with such confidence ... there was no way the Chargers were beating Tampa Bay, in Tampa Bay and even if they did that, there was now way the Broncos were losing to the Bills, in Denver ... which would mean the week 17 matchup between the Chargers and the Broncos would be meaningless ... but no, instead, the Chargers beat the Bucs and the Bills beat the Broncos and that would mean a 1 game show down for the AFC West crown and the loser going home... 

No team in NFL history has ever lead from week 1 thru 16 and not make the playoffs.

No team in NFL history has ever lead by 3 games with 3 games to paly and not make the playoffs.

Well guess what, the Denver Broncos now hold the dubious distinction to both of the above honors ... and I know of no better team to hold those honors and it gives me such guilty pleasure in knowing the Chargers are responsible for the final blow in giving the Broncos both those honors tonight....

But WOW!

The Chargers, already penciled in as biggest disappointing team of 2008, destroy a pathetic Bronco's team, win the AFC West and avoid that moniker...likely to go to the Cowboys now...

Now it's time for the Chargers to Pride Up... being 8-8 and making the playoffs will have many thinking you are not worthy to even be in the playoffs, and even putting up a close game next week against Indy will mean nothing...

When it all came down, the Chargers got the best they could have hoped for this season if you looked at the standings after week 8... a one game show down with the Broncos with the AFC West title on the line...

And I don't think I need to regress to detail the Charger turmoils over the past few weeks, specifically against the Chiefs (and are you kidding me, the Queefs?) but my hope is that this season has instilled a mentality within the Charger team... that being, that the Chargers were once a team that some felt could make the Super Bowl and then as the season progressed were written off... 

Well, San Diego Chargers you have risen from the ashes ... now prove you deserve to be in playoffs, you got home field against the Colts ... after the way this season has gone for the Chargers, as a fan, I would be satisfied if the season ended tonight, but mainly because of the late season rally and essentially having the playoffs start tonight against the Broncos and winning the AFC West almost seems as redemption itself... but no, for some reason, being a lifelong Charger fan that I am I feel greedy. Yes, winning the AFC West does feel gratifying this season - the way the season has gone for the Chargers - but I am willing to bet that most "pundits" have the Colts already beating the Chargers ... and that is why the Chargers not only need to beat the Colts next week but also go to the Super Bowl ... earn some respect, something no one associated with the NFL is giving you these days...

GO CHARGERS!

Winter Is Here, Christmas Almost - Time For Vacation

To say that I have tapered off towards the end of 2008 in my blogging is an understatement and now it will likely all but stop until next year with maybe an exception here or there...or maybe not...

But with the Chargers likely to be one of 2008's biggest disappointments - as many have already labeled them and are just waiting for the inevitable playoff elimination to officially crown the Chargers as 2008's biggest disappointment - I really haven't had much to blog about and that is primarily because I have remained fairly busy for the past few months.  I started 'moonlighting' to make some extra cash and it has really helped my financial situation, but then again, when does earning more money hurt a person?  Unfortunately I have to work more to earn more and as soon as I can earn money without working, I will be signed up for that!

But last week I was surveying my time off I needed to use by the end of the year and then when I am needed to work and I realized that I needed to start taking days off RIGHT NOW!  So I did and will continue to do so!  I am essentially working just 4 days from today until next year so I will likely not be posting as much until I return... my children make sure to keep my computer use to a minimal when they are around.  I really don't have any big holiday plans but I almost enjoy doing nothing over then packing up and staying somewhere for an extended stay...usually by the end of a lengthy stay with someone else, I know I am anxious just to return home and settle in again...  but who knows...with having a bunch of time off and nothing to do, something might come up or maybe just on a whim I could be going somewhere and/or doing something because what else do I got going on?

Chargers Rally To Improbable Win Over Chiefs

The San Diego Chargers were being soundly beaten by the Kansas City Chiefs this past Sunday, down 21-3 in the 3rd quarter with most of the few remaining fans heading out of Arrowhead because the Chiefs appeared to have this game all but won.

The Charger offense was totally stagnant against the Chiefs' 30th ranked defense.  In fact, if you watched the Charger offense you would have thought they were playing an all-pro caliber type defense.  The Chiefs are on pace to set a record for the fewest sacks by a team in a single season...I think they had 3 against the Chargers on Sunday...

But, the Chargers somehow found a way to eek out a win... The Chargers score with 1:13 left in the game to close within 5 points, 16-21... they try the 2-point conversion and fail ... now that makes it even more difficult because it takes away the field goal to send the game to overtime, if you should be lucky enough to recover an onside kick... well, luck would be on the Chargers side because the Chiefs fumble the onside kick, the Chargers recover the ball and are in business...having 1:11 on the clock and all three of their timeouts...

The Chiefs defense decided to take the rest of the game off because the very first play after the onside recovery was a 42 yard pass play and 2 plays later Rivers hits Vincent Jackson for the game winning touchdown.

The Chargers had no business winning that game...the Chiefs had slowly and methodically beaten the Chargers for 55 minutes ... but fortunate for the Chargers a game is 60 minutes and the Chiefs just didn't close the deal.

The Broncos lost to the Panthers and so the Chargers are still 'mathmatically' still in the playoff hunt via the AFC West championship but the Chargers play Tampa Bay, in Tampa and I find it highly unlikely that they will beat the Bucs... and the Broncos will host Buffalo and if they win, which I think they should do, but if either the Chargers lose or the Broncos win the Bronc's will win the AFC West Championship ... and good for them...their prize will be an ass-kicking given to them by one of the wild card teams (as it would be the same for the Chargers) in the first round of the playoffs....

 

Oprah Fat Again And Going To Stay That Way

Oprah Winfrey released an upcoming article in her magazine that says she has gotten fat and intends to stay that way.  Now I really don't even bother to waste my time with anything Oprah Winfrey does because she is just a glorified salesperson that has developed an empassioned group of women consumers.  But it is the empassioned group of women consumers I more openly mock...you see, these women IDOLIZE Oprah and she can do no wrong.  Her weight loss a few years ago was so inspirational and the women that idolize Oprah propped her up to near god status... now Oprah admits that her last significant weight loss was accomplished through starving herself and not through proper diet or exercise.  And now, she is openly abandoning any effort to try and stay thin again...I am sure this will be very inspirational to all the overweight women you inspired to exercise and diet...if Oprah can quit so can I ...

Seau Unretires...Again

I've must have missed a few memos...

First I didn't know that Junior Seau retired...again... at the end of last season, but it's not really a big deal because he just unretired...again... and re-signed with the Patriots.  I knew he broke his arm last season and I figured he would return this season with the Pats...after they didn't sign him, I figured it was the typical trick of just waiting until they need him and then they would re-sign him...which is what they did... 

I don't understand why Junior feels the need to say he is retired at the end of each season only to play agian... it is almost as bad as Favre's wishy-washiness....

I still respect Seau's years with the Chargers but to "retire" yearly only to play again is just a desperate gasp to gain some attention... When Seau does actually retire, I doubt anyone will even notice anymore because they have already previously attended a Junior Seau retirement announcement at some time in the past....

Winter Has Arrived

The weather forecast for my region is one that will plunge us ful throttle into winter.  Up to now we the region has slowly been cooling off but there has been no drastic drop in the temperature, just a slow easing of it and for the most par the temperature has been 'seasonal' ... low's in the 10's high's in the 20's ... still brisk.  Add that there has been very little snow and it hasn't been windy, the beginning of winter hasn't bee too rough at all...

The forecast has that all changing... in fact, today is likely the last day the area is above 20 degrees for who knows how long and that will give everyone the 'wake-up' call that winter is really here.

November and December are the months that really make a winter season really bad or not... there have been times when the temperatures and weather plunged full force into winter mode at Halloween and never let up until March, making it a long and hard winter... other years I have seen it be mild and pleasant to Christmas time... a few years ago we didn't have any snow until a few days before Christmas... I do not think I have ever witnessed a 'Brown Christmas'.  So any day(s) we can get through November and December that are mild, not so cold or windy are good winter days.

Once January hits the temperatures can remain below zero for weeks and not let up until March.  I don't recall a Super Bowl Sunday that hasn't been freezing cold here...the upside to this is after living almost 2 full months in temperatures that single-digit or lower, as soon as the sun comes out and it gets to 20 degrees, the temperature it is about right now, it means we get rid of the winter jackets and break out the spring appareal... right now, I am already cold and am not looking forward to the winter blast that I know will be showing up soon...

 

Chargers Destroy Raiders - Media Mocked

The San Diego Chargers completely and utterly destroyed the Oakland Raiders last night winning 34-7.  As I listened to the game last night and sports talk this morning it was very clear that both these teams are not respected at all.  Granted, Collingsworth ragged on the Raiders considerably more but had plenty of shots at the Chargers as well.  The national media couldn't find enough deragotory terms to describe the two teams playing last night as well as the game itself.  It was as if everyone in the sports world was apologizing for this NFL game offering.

And I guess that about sums it up...

I haven't cruised through any of the Charger forums yet but I would guess there are a few super-homers that are still reserving hope that the Chargers are going to somehow pull this season out of their ass and last night was proof as to how 'awesome' the Charger team still is.

Well, I hate to break the news to these guys, but the Chargers only beat what many consider to be one of the worst teams in the NFL... all the Chargers have done is prove that they are not totally shitty... yet.

Chargers go Kansas City next week, a team they barely beat after the bye week only because the Chiefs couldn't convert a 2 point conversion for the win and ending up losing by 1.  The Chiefs host the Broncos this week so KC is a critical part in determining the AFC West Champion...

But I really don't see the Chargers beating Tampa Bay in 2 weeks and that would be the death-blow and it really doesn't even matter... the Chargers have put themselves in a position where they no longer control their own destiny ... instead, they are praying for the Broncos to lose 2 games before they meet up for the final week of the season.  The Broncs are at KC, at Carolina and the Bills before they finish up in San Diego.  The only game that I think is a 'sure' loss (as sure as it can be in the NFL) is the Carolina game.

But it was good to see that the Chargers did come to play last night and haven't fully mailed in this season...yet.

Chargers - Raiders In 3D

Tonight's Chargers-Raiders game the NFL will be testing a 3D broadcast version of the game for team owners, the media, vips, etc...

They really should send that signal to the national audience because there really isn't a reason to watch tonight's game and at least seeing crappy football in 3d might bring some entertainment value to the game...

BTW, the line for tonight's game is still Chargers favored by 9.5 points... are you kidding me?  Of course I don't think I've won a NFL bet this year against the line but I would think taking the Raiders and the 9.5 points is a sure bet....Even if the Chargers win they may not score 10 points total....

Morning Driving

I am not a 'morning' person, never have been one and likely will never be one either.  I am not fresh and perky in the morning, I am usually tired and slow.  It takes me a good hour or two before I hit my stride for the day....but that is really just my personal traits and is just a little background information.  My true topic is that of morning driving and probably more specifically, crazy morning drivers.

You see, I guess I am lucky, I have a job where I really am never in a rush to get to work...sure, I am to be at work by 8:00 AM most days and I do try to get there by 8:00 AM each and every day but I am not reprimanded or punished if I am not here at exactly 8:00 AM.  So I drive to work in a non-rushed manner.  Now mind you, I am not a pokey or slow driver either... I usually go at least 5-10 MPH over the limit in town - at least whatever traffic is doing.  But each and every morning there is at least 1-5 cars that I will encounter on my way to work that you can see are breaking any and every law they can to get to whereever they need to be as fast as possible.  As I see these people my first thought is "Man am I glad I am never in such a hurry that I have to drive like that!"  The speeding tickets, potential for accident and bodily injury are written all over these crazy morning drivers.  What makes it even worse is once it snows around here and the roads become icy and snow covered.  That is of little concern to crazy morning drivers and because other drivers are usually more cautious when conditions are worse traffic, as a whole, slows down ... so now the crazy morning driver needs to double their insanity in their driving to get to wherever they need to go to even faster.

And I will say that my view might be a little skewed because I reside and drive right by a large University and there is no question that the majority of these crazy drivers are young adults/college aged people.  This only makes things worse because college kids think they are smarter than everyone else because they are in college, so you extrapolate that and they are obviously now the greatest drivers in the world but in both instances the exact opposite is more close to the truth.

And really I don't have a problem with any and all crazy morning drivers that need to get all the way across town in 2 minutes.  I just want to drive undisturbed and peacefully to my destination and if you leave me be that is exactly what happens.  But no, the crazy morning driver has to first drive right on to your bumper and almost meld with your vehicle.  You see, that no matter how fast you are driving it will not be fast enough for the crazy morning driver.  They will literally be within inches of your bumper in an effort to persuade you to speed up.  Of course my favorite tactic is to slow down as much as possible...you can then watch a person in the rear view mirror begin to unleash a tirade of profanity and become increasingly animated is the usual result...as I smirk to myself.  And I do nothing to provoke or try and incite crazy morning drivers , but I do get frustrated that because they are in a hurry it then justifies their driving habits ... and is there anything more sweet then seeing a crazy morning driver on their cell phone weave in and out of traffic and fly by you just to see them wreck a few blocks ahead of you... I always like to give those folks a honk and a wave for a job well done... I hope the rush you were in was worth it!

Back At It

Well it has been a busy past few months, as they always are from August - December and things are just beginning to settle down a bit for me so I hope to get back to some regular posting.  I have been asked by some why my blogging has been so light lately and it is simply I have been busy with work.  And let's be honest here... I don't think there is anyone that is really 'Jonesing' for some of my observations but I'll get back at it here for everyone that might have begun to feel some form of withdrawal symptoms...

Chargers Lose, Season Over

Not that it was a shock to anyone that has watched the Chargers at all this season, but the Chargers were beaten easily at home by the Atlanta Falcons yesterday essentially squashing any playoff hopes for the Chargers.

The Chargers had 3 turnovers yesterday and it still wasn't enough for a win.  One of the turnovers was when Eric Weddle recovered a fumble and ran it in for a touchdown, but after looking at the play, I thought it would have been overturned and rule an incomplete pass, but it wasn't.  This was a rare site to see from the Charger defense, but really didn't mean the defense was any better than it has been all season.  The Falcons had little problems with the Chargers and controlled most of the game on both sides of the ball.  The Charger offense was ineffective, only able to score 1 touchdown on a short field after a Falcon muffed punt.  If the Falcons would have taken care of the ball better this game would have been a lop-sided affair...in fact, the Falcons were actually stopped on the goal line in the first half and if they would have scored there, the game would have been out of hand quickly.

Even the 'faithful' homers of the Chargers have been meek and quiet after this loss.  They were still reserving hope that the Chargers would be able to rally in December to challenge for the AFC West crown.  They are now resigned to the fact that the Chargers won't be going anywhere but golfing after December.

The Chargers have a short week and play the Raiders on Thursday night.  It might be a contest to see which AFC West team is more incompetent and right now I think it might be a coin toss.  It will likely be a close game, quite possibly a low scoring affair...Charger offense is now awful as is the Raider offense.  The Raider defense is probably better and that might be the edge that tilts the game in their favor... either way, it will be a lack-luster game that I am sure only few will even bother to watch.

I would hope that Norv Turner is fired after this season but AJ Smith, GM for the Chargers, came out last week to state that Norv was here to stay...if that is the case then maybe AJ Smith needs to go along with Norv.