Team of Unrequited Destiny: San Diego Chargers Lose to Pittsburgh!

Six weeks ago, the San Diego Chargers were a written off as a lost cause by nearly everyone. They had lost eight of twelve regular season games and had no real chance of even having a winning season let alone reaching the playoffs. Then something happened on the way to the funeral. They were revived - one game at a time, a week - by - week survival march to the postseason.

First, they defeated a pathetic Oakland Raiders team in a close game at home on Thursday night, December 4th. Next came Kansas City, a trip away to an unfriendly stadium known to be loud and hostile to visiting teams. Another win and the Chargers were on a roll. Then they traveled to Tampa Bay where they were the underdog, but played well enough to come away with a convincing win and new life. They needed only to beat the Denver Broncos the last game of the season, December 28th, in San Diego. They did - compellingly.

Since Denver had folded in the final weeks of the season by loosing two of their last three, and since San Diego had won four straight games, Denver was out of the playoff picture and for only the fourth time in modern NFL history an eight win team was in the playoffs as the AFC West Division Champs.

"Preposterous!" the sports purists and talking heads raged. Their point: no team with that meager of a record should be going to the playoffs when teams such as the popular New England Patriots with a winning record (11 - 5) were left out. Records be damned – win your division and you´re in! That´s the rule.

Euphoria broke out in San Diego. By luck of the draw and a weak AFC West Division, the bewildering Chargers who, weeks earlier not considered a factor in postseason play, were now headed to the playoffs and would play an opening game at home against the vaunted Indianapolis Colts who would come to town sporting their newly selected Pro Bowl and 2008 MVP selection quarterback, Peyton Manning. Odds were against the Chargers beating Indy and going any further.

The unpredictable Chargers played head to head in an epic game against the favored Colts. Even without their star running back, LaDamian Tomlinson, for most of the game, the Chargers demonstrated an unwitting ability to confound even their most steadfast fans as well as the bewildered Colt defense. They unleashed Special Team weapon and part-time running back, Darren Sproles, who showed the Colts a stunning knack to run up and down the field nearly at will. Sproles played the game of a lifetime accumulating a total of 328 yards receiving, returning, and rushing – an astounding accomplishment especially for the littlest man in the NFL. He capped it all off by scoring the game winning touchdown in overtime by eluding pursuing Colt defenders as he raced around left end for 22 yards through hostile territory to the end zone at six minutes and some seconds into the first overtime sudden death period.

The incredible adventure would continue for at least another week when the Chargers hit the road to Pittsburgh, PA. Hopes were high in San Diego for the team that was given up for dead only weeks before. Could they continue the odyssey?

Late on Sunday afternoon, January 11th, 2009, the warm weather Chargers took the field at snowy, blowy Pittsburgh´s Heinz Field. Game time temperature at field level: colder than a well diggers´ butt! Myron Cope´s inimitable ´Terrible Towels´ were frozen solid!

San Diego has not faired well in regular season games in Pittsburgh with an 0 – 13 record there. However, going in they had the reputation as ´Steeler Killers´ in the post season establishing a 2 - 0 history of knocking the dreaded Steelers off in uncanny fashion. This time would be different. Sunday the Steelers outplayed the Chargers who were outcoached offensively and defensively.

Sunday in snowy and cold Pittsburgh, they have again proven that while miracles do happen occasionally, winning football games is the product of skill, will, and not miracles.

When this incredible quest began the first week of December, the team seemed to suddenly come to their senses and realize all was not lost, anything´s possible - let´s finish strong and see what happens. Play for pride if nothing else. As Pro Bowl shunned quarterback Philip Rivers said when asked many times if the Chargers could win out and go to the Superbowl: "Why not us?"

Why not, indeed! Not when you are outplayed in the 3rd quarter by the opponent allowing you to only run one offensive play while themselves running 22, and you turn the ball over 2 times in that quarter – once on a careless pass in the red zone by your gun slinging quarterback who should not have tried to force the throw. Not when your defensive back commits a personal foul resulting from frustration and from a lack of discipline at a crucial point in the game. Not when you don´t put pressure on a Pro Bowl type quarterback allowing him to take advantage of you dropping back to prevent the long strike while he sits in the pocket unmolested and picks you part with the short pass. Not, especially not, when you are outcoached – again!

There are those who will bemoan the loss as a shame and the year as a total failure of a football team deemed destined for the Superbowl. They have every right to feel that way. But, there are others who will recognize that Pittsburgh is the better team – better coached especially. The Chargers gave it a go, but came up short when it was most important to play inspired football in a town known for its fans being wildly enthusiastic. The Chargers came up unflatteringly short on fulfilling the miracle they sought when they traveled east for what would be the last game of the season for them.

Better luck next year. Better yet, hide all press clippings in the preseason and do not let any player read them.