Chargers Secure Home Field
The Chargers made it interesting today, but they held on to defeat the Arizona Cardinals, 27-20, to secure home field advantage in the AFC throughout the playoffs. The Chargers will have next week off and await the lowest seed to advance from the Wild Card round next weekend.
The Chargers did have a few nervous moments, though, as Philip Rivers appeared to injure his ankle early and may not have been able to come back in if Arizona had gotten any closer. We’ll know more about his condition tomorrow, but it’s probably a good thing that he has two weeks to heal.
The Cardinals cut the San Diego lead to 7 points as the game wound down, but elected to kick off instead of attempting an on-side kick, and that was pretty much the game right there. Kurt Warner gave the Chargers’ defense some work to do, though, as he passed for 356 yards.
Regardless, the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC runs through San Diego, and if you’d like to see it unfold live, go to StubHub.com for NFL Playoff tickets.
Does Home Field Equal an Automatic Super Bowl Birth?
The Chargers can secure home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs today if one of two things occur:
1. They beat the lowly Arizona Cardinals, who come into the game at Qualcomm Stadium with a 5-10 record;
2. The Ravens lose to the Bills.
The Chargers need to finish ahead of the Ravens in the loss column, as a tie would give the top seed to the Ravens, who beat the Chargers earlier in the season. Obviously, home field is a tremendous advantage, but it’s hardly a guarantee. Statistics show that only two top seeds in the conference in the past ten years have gone on to win the Super Bowl, and just last year, the Steelers made an historic run towards the Lombardi Trophy as the AFC’s sixth seed.
However, any team would obviously like the prospect of their next “road” game to be in Miami for the Big Game, and the Chargers can assure themselves of that as long as they don’t get complacent and take care of business against a Cardinals team that has nothing on the line today.
If you’d like to see the Chargers in the playoffs, go ahead and head to StubHub.com for all the playoff tickets you could ever want to use.
Tomlinson’s Historic Season
A local San Diego newspaper today put together a telling piece on just how historically significant LaDainian Tomlinson’s season has been. Everyone knows that Tomlinson has been extraordinary all year, but it really hits you when you compare his season to the best seasons of the likes of Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders and Gale Sayers.
Overall, Tomlinson has outdone all of them in one way or another, and most importantly, he’s led his team to the AFC playoffs with a lot of momentum and confidence. Every team needs a few breaks along the way to get to a Super Bowl, but you also need great players, and Tomlinson has only further cemented his status as such with his 2006 production and intangible leadership of this otherwise-young team.
If you’d like to see Tomlinson live, grab some Chargers tickets at StubHub.com.
Rivers Shows He’s More Important than Stats
In the game against the Seahawks last week, QB Philip Rivers’ stats were awful. He was 10-30 for 181 yards. Most QB’s aren’t going to keep their jobs if they only complete 1/3 of their passes. However, Rivers’ play has shown that he’s more than just statistics.
With the game on the line, Rivers completed a long ball to Vincent Jackson with under a minute to go to win the game for the Chargers, and that’s becoming a bit of a theme for the up-and-coming QB. Rivers, like any young QB, is going to struggle from time to time. The important thing, though, at least to his team and fans, is that he has a knack for coming through when it matters most, as he’s done more than once this season.
Rivers simply wins games, which is the only stat that counts at the end of the day. As a result, fans in San Diego are busy gobbling up Chargers tickets for playoff games at Qualcomm Stadium.
Don’t Overlook Chargers’ Secondary
The Chargers are known for a few things: LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates and an intimidating front seven on defense. However, in recent years, the Chargers’ secondary has come under fire for their statistical rankings, and that general reputation continues to persist even during a 13-2 season. That reputation is proving to be inaccurate this season, as the Chargers’ pass defense and overall secondary play has improved dramatically in 2006.
The reason the team feels it’s improved is expanded film study and other off-field work that prepares them for any eventuality on th field. That study not only allows them to understand their opponents better, but also each other as they work in concert to slow other teams’ passing attacks.
What this all means is that the Chargers really don’t have a glaring weakness heading into the playoffs, so get your Chargers tickets now from StubHub to watch the team march towards history.
New Heroes in San Diego Chargers Camp
I have to admit. I give LaDainian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers a lot of attention. Merited, no doubt, but a lot of attention. The Chargers need both Rivers and Tomlinson hot if they plan to make it through the post season. But what made last weekend’s surprise victory over the Seattle Seahawks so uplifting were the late-game heroics of an unknown. In a game featuring a number of pro-bowlers and the reigning NFL MVP Shaun Alexander, it was the slick maneuvering of rookie receiver Jackson that made the difference at the end of the day.
So the Chargers put a nice little check-mark in the W-column and now stand at 13-2. Everyone who caught the game is going to remember that play for a long time. Want some thing that people will forget from the game?
Fact: Philip Rivers fumbled his first two snaps of the game, giving the Seahawks a 14-0 lead.
Fact: Philip Rivers misfired on his first nine passes against the Seahawks.
Fact: Nobody cares. It goes to show that at the end of the day, numbers-be-damned, what matters is the win.
The Chargers will go into the playoffs with the number 1 seed in the AFC. San Diego Chargers Playoff Tickets are available through Stubhub.com.
Is there any other MVP candidate besides Tomlinson?
LaDainian Tomlinson has had an historic season. He is not only the face of the Chargers, but could and perhaps should also be the face of the NFL. Tomlinson has it all - superstar talent, record-breaking results, good looks and a humility that’s truly rare with uber-athletes.
Much debate is raging about this year’s NFL MVP, and it appears that three players above all others are getting attention - Tomlinson, former Chargers QB Drew Brees and Colts QB Peyton Manning. Our position is that Tomlinson is far-and-away the league’s MVP, and that goes well beyond is league record of 32 touchdowns this season.
Publications are starting to notice Tomlinson’s success, and it says here that hopefully the voters will do the right thing. Tomlinson makes everyone around him better, and that includes his own defense. Phillip Rivers is going to have a successful career in the NFL, and he should donate part of his salary to Tomlinson. However, Tomlinson would probably just donate it to charity.
You can’t stop Tomlinson, as he can do it all - he can run, block, catch and even throw the ball, and you never know how he’s going to be used on a given play. No player in the league causes more insomnia on the part of defensive coordinators than LDT, and that coupled with the Chargers’ record should be plenty to give him the honor he deserves.
Does Shawne Merriman Deserve Postseason Honors?
Shawne Merriman is one of, if not THE, best defensive player in the NFL. As such, accolades and honors should follow him this postseason, as has always been the case with players of his stature. However, Merriman is becoming a bit of a lightning rod, as even though he’s posted 16 sacks to rank among the league leaders, he’s done so even though he’s missed four games due to a suspension as a result of a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.
Therefore, the debate rages on. Other notable players, including Miami DE Jason Taylor, have vehemently come out against Merriman’s inclusion in the Pro Bowl and/or for consideration as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year because of his suspension. However, others disagree, believing that Merriman has served his punishment and should be given a clean slate.
Our view is that Merriman has served his punishment, and nowhere in the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement does it say that a player who gets suspended is removed from consideration for postseason awards. Regardless of the voting and subjective opinions that persist, Merriman already faces carrying a stigma for the rest of his career. That, and missing four paychecks, is enough of a punishment.
Chargers’ Unsung Hero
The Chargers are a team that’s loaded with stars. LDT, “Lights Out” and others are all household names, and that’s not necessarily easy when you’re playing in a market that’s often overlooked on a national scale. These players have earned their recognition, but there’s one vital cog on the roster who almost never gets any notice, and that needs to change.
Who’s the guy that makes all of this offensive production possible? FB Lorenzo Neal, one of the most feared blockers in football. Neal has been at it for a long time, and he’s paved the way for several great RB’s, including Eddie George in Tennessee, Corey Dillon in Cincinnati and now LDT, who’s having an historic season of his own.
Neal finally got some notice recently, but overall, he’s fine working behind the scenes. Neal doesn’t even necessarily want the ball, but every time you see LDT running through a huge hole, look for #41 - he’ll most likely be standing over a defensive player who’s lying on the ground.
Will “Marty Ball” Cause a Playoff Stumble?
Fans in San Diego are thrilled that Chargers tickets are going to be available in January, as the road to the Super Bowl appears to run through Qualcomm Stadium. No team in the NFL appears to be more complete, as the Chargers have a fearsome running game, are efficient through the air and have a physical, tough and nasty defense, particularly in the front seven.
However, every team in the NFL headed to the playoffs has at least one bugaboo to deal with, and that includes the Chargers. Indianapolis may have to worry about its run defense, the Patriots may have to overcome a WR corps that doesn’t scare anyone, etc., but the Chargers’ main potential problem could come from the sidelines if you believe in reputations.
That bugaboo would be “Marty Ball,” which has taken on a life of its own now that the Bolts are looking like a Super Bowl favorite. “Marty Ball” is the reputation that’s been attached to Coach Marty Schottenheimer, as he’s been known to get too conservative in big games. Is that a valid concern? Perhaps in the past, but this year’s Chargers have opened up the playbook and are letting QB Phillip Rivers loose. Rivers is winging it, and even LaDainian Tomlinson is liable to throw a pass or two, which means that opposing defenses have to be ready for anything.
Will the Chargers go conservative in the playoffs? Schottenheimer is smart enough to continue with the style of play that got the Chargers to this point, so it says here that this won’t be a concern over the next month.