San Diego Chargers Stomp Baltimore Ravens 34-14, Extend Winning Streak
by John Gennaro on Dec 18, 2011 8:24 PM PST
in San Diego Chargers News
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I said that I would do this on Twitter before the game started, so here goes:
The San Diego Chargers are a good football team.
This is what we envisioned in the preseason. Philip Rivers flinging the ball around to a seemingly endless number of talented receivers, balanced by a two-headed monster of a running game. The defense barely mattered to us fans, we knew they would be able to take chances and blitz like crazy once the San Diego offense built up its big lead.
So, what happened? Who knows? Vincent Jackson was hurt. Malcom Floyd was hurt. Antonio Gates was hurt. Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert both battled injuries. Philip Rivers was probably hurt, or something. The defense has played terribly when the team doesn't have a lead because then they get too conservative. It all rested on the shoulders of Rivers, essentially, which is one reason I thought he'd win the MVP Award this season. Instead, we didn't really see the real Rivers until December.
Everyone had a great game for San Diego tonight, with the possible exception of Antonio Gates (who was getting extra attention after a strong first quarter). Nobody had a bad game. The only bad plays were a fumble from Ryan Mathews, which Jared Gaither jumped on top of, and a meaningless FG that Nick Novak missed. Both had good overall games though, and everything else went San Diego's way. Mike Scifres might've fallen asleep on the bench for all we know, because he had zero punts in the game.
Keep your fingers crossed. This could be a really fun ride if everything breaks the Bolts' way and the end up in the playoffs. Next week against the Lions is another test by another good team that is already punching their playoff ticket.
It's going to be awkward if the Chargers have both a 6-game losing streak and a 5 game winning streak in the same season, especially if they miss the playoffs.
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"...a meaningless FG that Nick Novak missed."
Speak for yourself, that miss cost me an early exit in my playoff dreams :[
As for the actual game, I only saw the second half, but the team looked strong. Pending who we bring back, coaching and personnel-wise, the true talent of the Chargers could emerge. On a side note, who’s responsible for bringing in waiver-wire talent, because he’s definitely a weapon. Na’il Diggs, Tommie Harris, and Jared Gaithers? All three have been exceptionally solid.
Actually, need to give credit to the position coaches too
A tool is no good if it is not applied correctly
Glorious
The type of win which makes you proud to be a fan.
And for at least 5 more days, hope lives. Sweet, wonderful hope, which lifts the spirits and warms the heart. After a game like this you wish the next could kick off right away.
by CABurrito on Dec 18, 2011 8:32 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
It was a good night (day here) to be a Charger fan.
For once this season I felt like my optimism was rewarded and I could enjoy watching the talent that this team has, but doesn’t always show.
Its been a weird, yet almost typical Charger season of performing not as expected (both ways), footshooting, brilliance,and boneheadedness. I haven’t known whether to be optimistic that it could only get better or pessimistic that we are our own worst enemy and have thrown wins away. Even this blog hasn’t known whether the glass is half full or empty, or irreparably cracked, judging by the wide array of articles..
But for a couple hours at least, it was nice to bask in the performance of a team that had it’s heart and mind firmly in the game and gave us a victory to remember.
by The Land Of Real Beer on Dec 18, 2011 8:41 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Playoff Scenarios
I’ll post this again later, but he it goes:
Obvious one:
Chargers go 2-0. Broncos got 0-2. Chargers win division.
Wild cards:
Chargers go 2-0. Jets go 0-2. Bengals go 1-1 or 0-2.
Chargers go 2-0. Jets go 1-1. Bengals lose to Cardinals. Bengals defeat Ravens.
Chargers go 2-0. Jets go 1-1. Bengals defeat Cardinals. Bengals lose to Ravens. Titans go 2-0.
Chargers go 1-1 with loss to Lions. Jets go 0-2. Cardinals go 0-2. Titans go 0-2. Chiefs go 1-1 or 0-2.
Reading between the lines:
Chargers have to defeat the Raiders to go to playoffs. No ifs ands or buts about that one.
Strength of victory is taken care of now. Chargers have had enough things go their way to win those tiebreakers as necessary. Any scenario where the Chargers lose a tiebreaker, it is not due to strength of victory.
"second base is the bizness." -jbox
Bolts from the Blue - San Diego Chargers Blog Created By The Fans, For The Fans
by Wonko on Dec 18, 2011 8:43 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
Whoops
That “Chargers go 1-1” scenario it should say Bengals not Cardinals.
"second base is the bizness." -jbox
Bolts from the Blue - San Diego Chargers Blog Created By The Fans, For The Fans
I see someone has been messing around with the playoff machine
I hate scooter pie
by Lmbs2slaghtr on Dec 18, 2011 8:48 PM PST up reply actions
Thanks for doing the work on this one.
Bolts from the Blue // "At least when Wade is spewing vitriol he does so with an intellectual flair." - insanebolt21
Bloody Elbow // "I think we're poking fun at Leland's 'boner.'" - Michael Fagan
by Richard Wade on Dec 18, 2011 8:51 PM PST up reply actions
THANKS !
Figuring this kinda stuff out isn’t my forte….I am comfortable with our fate either way at this point. I would rather have a ‘good’ team that doesn’t make the playoffs than a ‘bad’ team that doesn’t make the playoffs. I do not buy for one second that our window has shut. Make the O-line decent and improve the pass rush…..we could go far. Here’s to the rest of this year and next year!
by chaplinesque on Dec 18, 2011 8:58 PM PST up reply actions
Forgot one
Chargers go 2-0. Jets go 1-1. Cardinals go 0-2. Titans go 2-0.
"second base is the bizness." -jbox
Bolts from the Blue - San Diego Chargers Blog Created By The Fans, For The Fans
Bengals. Bengals. Not Cardinals
Geez.
"second base is the bizness." -jbox
Bolts from the Blue - San Diego Chargers Blog Created By The Fans, For The Fans
What is it with you and the Cardinals?
Bolts from the Blue // "At least when Wade is spewing vitriol he does so with an intellectual flair." - insanebolt21
Bloody Elbow // "I think we're poking fun at Leland's 'boner.'" - Michael Fagan
by Richard Wade on Dec 19, 2011 8:56 AM PST up reply actions
Looks Like
if bengals end 9-7 no matter who against as long as the dolphins is the jets loss we also get in.
Week 17
NYJ@MIA
BAL@CIN
are our biggest games besides our own. Im sorry. I don’t see the Tebows collapsing ala 2008 (although it would be fantastic!)
I agree with you
because i fell that this was Tebow’s best game. W / L isn’t everything, especially when up against an elite offense. If anything, I am more worried about our future against him b/c he seemed to succeed more as a passer…..that said F him and his stupid team I wanna make the playoffs.
by chaplinesque on Dec 18, 2011 9:00 PM PST up reply actions
I Don't Know
It’s not as if Denver’s really been blowing teams out honestly. They’ve just been riding a wave of momentum. Once that bubble pops, we’ll see if they can gain momentum back.
I honestly think they’ll lose in Buffalo next week.
"You play to win the game."
by MrWayneKeller on Dec 18, 2011 10:44 PM PST up reply actions
Dammit, Norv - this is not the script that leads to your firing.
by Lenny Suckerpunch on Dec 18, 2011 9:35 PM PST reply actions
one more win pretty much guarantees he will be
back next year
On the other hand, you have different fingers.
If they're going to play like this, why fire anyone?
Bolts from the Blue // "At least when Wade is spewing vitriol he does so with an intellectual flair." - insanebolt21
Bloody Elbow // "I think we're poking fun at Leland's 'boner.'" - Michael Fagan
by Richard Wade on Dec 19, 2011 8:58 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Great victory tonight!
Chargers showed the nation that not even the Baltimore Ravens can contain us once we’re firing on all cylinders…. If we finish 9-7 as well as the Donkeys, do we win the west??
by Ino (BoltsFanInBakersfield) on Dec 18, 2011 10:06 PM PST reply actions
Time..
that’s what Phillip needed but never got the whole season. Time to throw the ball. it’s unfortunate Gaither and Greene had to be the reason for it. at 6’ 9" and 300 plus pounds, he’s hard to get around. what does that say, Dombro and Murcoski were never the answer behind McNeil. and now i ’m not sure if McNeil or Dielmen are either.
However Barnes is proving he belongs here, longer than 2 year deal. speaking of pass rusher while i was at the game i saw English cruising around in his Charger hoodie. hes’ still good at being invisible, because i lost sight of him several times.
anyway a win is a win….
The peanut gallery has spoken!!!
Goodness
Man I’m so upset right now. It’s going to kill me if the Chargers are playing this good and can’t make it to the postseason.
"You play to win the game."
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