Oh, what could've been had this San Diego Chargers team just showed up in Detroit last week.

In Norv Turner's final game as head Coach, the Bolts have turned back into an incredible offense that simply cannot be stopped (zero punts for Mike Scifres in the first half) unless they stop themselves (Philip Rivers threw one interception).

The running game, without Ryan Mathews, hasn't been particularly good. Actually, the Chargers defense hasn't been particularly good. They haven't done a great job of stopped the run or the pass, but they're scoring every time they touch the ball (including once on a Richard Goodman KO return TD) and winning because the Oakland Raiders cannot keep up with that pace.

The score is 24-13 at the half, the Chargers with the 11-point advantage. Elsewhere in the AFC West, Kyle Orton and the Chiefs hold a 7 point lead over the Broncos in Denver. I think if the Chargers and Chiefs win, the Broncos still go to the playoffs at 8-8 as the division winner. This, of course, means that the AFC West has taken over from the NFC West the crown of "Most Pathetic Division".

Although the San Diego Chargers' season is over, they have a chance to play spoiler for the Oakland Raiders today and knock them out of the playoffs.

Norv Turner is coaching his last game for San Diego, unless something really strange happens, and many other players and coaches could be wearing the blue and gold for the last time. It will be very interesting to see if the Chargers players play hard for Turner in his last game or quit on him, and worry more about preserving their bodies.

Ryan Mathews, who was voted by the team as their Offensive Player of the Year, is a game-time decision to play. Travis LaBoy is going to miss the game, but everyone else should play and the normal starters should start.

The Bolts are playing for pride in this game, after losing their last three matchups to the the Raiders. A win today, while it would not help San Diego's draft position or schedule next season, would be a good step towards taking back control over this rivalry.

The Chargers are just getting taken apart in this game. The defense can't stop Detroit at all. Manusky seems to be calling zone cover schemes on every play and the Lions continue to find the holes. The holes continue to appear to be wherever Steve Gregory should have been.

The offense doesn't look any better than the defense as they've been held under 100 yards so far in this game. Philip Rivers & co. have managed not to turn the ball over, but that's all they've managed. Honestly, this is just embarrassing to watch.

In a game they absolutely, positively had to win to have any chance of making the playoffs, the San Diego Chargers have not shown up at all in any phase of the game. It's almost hard to believe this is the same team that bullied the Baltimore Ravens last week.

Discuss the second half of this abortion of a game with us here and please do try to keep it clean or you'll be looking for a new place to discuss games next week.

Today's Open Thread is brought to you by the spirit of hate (and Bud Light, I guess). As always these posts are intended entirely in good fun and if you happen to be offended you're probably an idiot.

Congratulations, Detroit Lions fans. I'm sure the entire 2008 Detroit Lions roster indulged in a little champagne last Sunday as the Indianapolis Colts' quest for the perfect 0-16 was foiled by a really lousy Tennessee Titans squad that clearly wanted the L more. Really, though, what can you say about the only franchise to ever field a team that could go winless over a 16 game season? That sort of thing is just incredible. Think about how hard it is to lose that many consecutive games. Truly a remarkable accomplishment. My hat's off to you, Orlovsky & co.

This is a different Detroit team we're looking at this week, though. They are an unremarkable 9-5, slightly above average team that features one of the dirtiest players in the NFL. I am, of course, referring to the monstrous Ndamukong Suh and he is, in fact, a monster*. The man named Suh is as much one of the premiere defensive players in The League as he is one of its premier assholes. Here's hoping he manages not to snap Philip Rivers over his knee after the whistle this afternoon.

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That's about as good of a half of football as I've ever seen from the San Diego Chargers. Playing against what was referred to as "the best team in the AFC" before the game, the Baltimore Ravens, the Chargers' plan of building a big early lead is working to perfection.

San Diego is yet to punt in this game, converting all three of their drives into points. Baltimore had the ball 4 times, resulting in a TD, a missed FG, a punt and then time expiring at the end of the first half. The Chargers hold a 10 point lead, 17-7, at halftime and will receive the kick to start the second half. If they're able to get the lead to 17 points, they'll all but take Ray Rice out of the Ravens' gameplan.

The key to the game has simply been superior talent on the offensive side of the ball for the Chargers, specifically in the passing game. Malcom Floyd, Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates are getting open consistently and Philip Rivers is putting the ball in their hands. The Ravens, and Joe Flacco, haven't shown anything that says that they can compete in a shootout like this.

Fingers crossed for a few more TDs and zero turnovers in the second half.