Bleacher Report - LaDainian Tomlinson

Stafford and Lions, Young and Titans: What We Learned from NFL Week 11

The Sportmeisters — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:16:36 -0500

The home stretch is near! Who’s gunning for the playoffs, and who’s gunning for a good draft spot?

The Best Game No One Watched

It was a “family and friends” game, meaning, only family and friends would watch Cleveland face off against Detroit in the race for the No. 1 pick. Well, it became a game full of energy, comebacks, and a game-winning drive, as the Lions edged the Browns 38-37.

Cleveland took a huge 24-3 lead to start the game, showing an offensive firepower sorely missed the first 10 weeks of the season. Detroit, led by rookie QB Matt Stafford, climbed back, until Cleveland QB Brady Quinn led a scoring drive to make it 37-31 with under five minutes to go.

Enter Stafford, who got the team to midfield before launching a Hail Mary with less than 10 seconds to go, which was intercepted and ended the game.

BUT WAIT!

A pass interference call let Detroit have one final untimed play, where a now-injured Stafford found fellow rookie TE Brandon Pettigrew for the 38-37 win.

They say it takes one play in one game to turn a team around. For Detroit, that might have been the turning point, even with Stafford unlikely to play this week against Green Bay. The Browns can take some positive in the offense that showed up, but are miles away from any signs of competitiveness.

A Bucked Bronco

A month ago, the Denver Broncos, despite all their offseason turmoil, were 6-0 and kings of the AFC West. They held a 3-and-a-half game lead over the Sand Diego Chargers. Now, as we move to Week 12, the San Diego Chargers hold a one-game lead over Denver, thanks to a five-game winning streak that culminated in a 32-3 drubbing of the Broncos on Sunday.

It was just another case of two teams changing since Denver won the first matchup.

San Diego seems to be on all cylinders, with QB Philip Rivers managing the offense, and even RB LaDainian Tomlinson having a solid performance (20 carries, 73 yards, touchdown).

Denver is falling apart at the wrong time, and three turnovers and nine penalties don’t make it any easier. The Broncos have an early game this week against the NY Giants, and have to get back on track now, or risk watching the season end before their very eyes.

Remember The Titans

I usually write this on a Monday, but due to scheduling conflicts, I got to take in the Monday night game and add it to my recaps. I picked a good week to have a scheduling conflict, as behind 151 rushing yards from Chris Johnson and 189 all-purpose yards from Vince Young, the Titans squeaked out a 20-17 victory over the Houston Texans.

The Titans, who were the source of ridicule a year removed from 13-3, have now won four straight, and while they are still a ways away from any playoff talk, now seem like they are on the right track.

Using the same method that worked last year (punishing running game, dominant defense), they no longer seem in over their heads. Against Houston, they had 228 rushing yards, and the defense had four sacks, and held Houston to 57 rushing yards.

Tennessee is clawing back, slowly but surely.

Contenders and Pretenders

The playoff picture is getting clearer, so who is in the snapshot?

The New Orleans Saints, after a few weeks of questionable football, quieted the critics with a complete performance in a 38-7 drubbing of Tampa Bay. The Saints take their perfect record against New England on Monday Night Football this coming week.

What does a 4-2 record over the last six weeks get you? For the Miami Dolphins, it’s some playoff chatter, as last years AFC East Champions beat the Carolina Panthers to get back to .500. RB Ricky Williams had three touchdowns in place of injured RB Ronnie Brown.

The Indianapolis Colts are making it happen, squeaking out another close victory, this time against the Baltimore Ravens 17-15. The Colts ran their record to 10-0, their eighth straight 10-win season, and have won 19 regular season games in a row, second only to the New England Patriots (21 wins from 2006-2008).

Pretenders come in all shapes and sizes:

Bills coach Dick Jauron was given the boot, hoping to spark something in Buffalo. Despite Terrell Owens showing up for the first time all season, the Bills still lose, 18-15 to Jacksonville. The Bills are now 3-7.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are defending Super Bowl champions, but they’re not playing like it. They lost their second straight game, this time to the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-24 in overtime. They are fighting injuries, which is a contributing factor, but they need to get their act together if a repeat Super Bowl appearance is in the cards.

After starting 4-1, the Atlanta Falcons have taken a nosedive, with their latest, a 34-31 overtime loss to the New York Giants, running their record to 5-5.

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Charged Up: Déjà Vu at Mile High As Broncos Choke, Chargers Top AFC West

Eric Gomez — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:09:33 -0500

Josh McDaniels, you truly are a disciple of Bill Bellichick.

You embody Bellichick's maverick spirit, going against the grain of conventional wisdom in order to storm your way to victory.

No, wait—it's one thing to go for it on 4th-and-2 in the waning moments of the fourth quarter in order to put a game out of reach, it's another thing to try and convert an onside kick in the third quarter, down by just ten points.

Really, Josh?

McDaniels' brilliant coaching mind is also responsible for three failed fourth-down attempts by the Broncos.

Also, why play Chris Simms right off the bat knowing full well that Kyle Orton could go if needed?

Did anyone really think Simms was going to lead the Broncos to anything other than misery?

Simms could have trouble running a Pop Warner offense, at this point.

Which reminds me, is it possible to sue someone for misuse of the family name? I can just see Phil Simms over the phone right now, asking Chris over and over again if he thinks this is the right career for him.

But, then again, McDaniels should also be questioned for his handling of Orton.

Having taken a couple of shots in the game, why leave him in there the rest of the way, risking injury?

Whereas Mike Shanahan was hailed after last year's Mile High Robbery for gambling on a two-point conversion at the end of the game, McDaniels will be vilified as the goat, or better yet—the donkey.

Makes you really happy we're coached by Norv Turner, doesn't it?

In other news, sound the horns and warn the defenses, LT 'S BACK!!!!!!!!!!! (version 3.0)

A lofty 73 yards on 20 carries and a hard-earned TD are shadowed by a spectacular play call by Norv having LT pass the ball back to Philip Rivers before Rivers found Antonio Gates for a big gain.

That was a good one, Norv.

That reverse off the wildcat to Vincent Jackson that went for a loss? Not so much. There comes a point where too much "surprise" is just overkill.

A big win on a big stage that vaults San Diego on the path to another AFC West title, after another slow, frustrating start.

But ah, I can hear the naysayers around the league already, downplaying the Bolts' triumph.

"You caught the Giants on a downward spiral. And the Eagles. And the Broncos. Plus, Chris Simms started the game."

I kind of have to agree with them on that last point, to be honest.

Speaking of which, what was today, anyway? "San Diego Chargers Appreciation Day"?

Not only did the Broncos do everything in their power to hand over the division lead on a silver platter, but the Chiefs and the Raiders beat legitimate AFC playoff contenders!

Kansas City knocked off the Steelers at Arrowhead putting them at 6-4 and one game behind the Chargers in the AFC playoff picture, potentially giving the Bolts a home game against them should they meet in January.

And with JaMarcus Russell's days in Oakland seemingly numbered (JaMarcus, meet Ryan Leaf. Ryan, meet JaMarcus. JaMarcus, do you play golf at all?), Bruce Gradkowski lead the Raiders over Cincinnati.

Here's how much I hate the Raiders: despite knowing full well that an Oakland victory would completely benefit the Chargers, I found myself screaming for Sebastian Janikowski to miss his go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter, just so I could poke fun at the Raiders.

The Bengals are now 7-3, tied with San Diego with a Dec. 20 game still pending at Qualcomm Stadium that as of now, has playoff implications.

Speaking of the Bengals, did anyone see Andre Caldwell's eyebrows? I wonder what the over/under of jokes aimed his way is in Cincy's locker room for those.

Child, please.

With the Chiefs coming to town next Sunday, their victory today if anything refocuses the Chargers and has them motivated to face a team that has played them hard in the recent past and shown they can beat a good team every now and then.

You know, so long as Charlie Batch is behind center during overtime.

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Chargers: Norv Turner Has Been a Better Than Average Coach in San Diego

Ian Philip — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:54:15 -0500

After the Chargers totally blew that game against the Baltimore Ravens this season, I wrote the following:

Every year, I write articles about how big a moron Norv Turner is, and then have to retract my statements at the end of the year.

Not this time.

Now I find myself defending Norv to folks who really don't know what they hell they're talking about.

You constantly hear about how the Chargers handed Norv the keys to a 14-2 team and there was a fall off the next year because of Norv.

I may have even said the same thing myself, but it was a stupid statement.

Since 1999, only one team that finished 14-2 or better equaled that record the following year:

1999 Jacksonville Jaguars 14-2
2000 Jacksonville Jaguars 7-9

2001 St. Louis Rams 14-2
2002 St. Louis Rams 7-9

2003 New England Patriots 14-2
2004 New England Patriots 14-2
2005 New England Patriots 10-6

2004 Pittsburgh Steelers 15-1
2005 Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5

2005 Indianapolis Colts 14-2
2006 Indianapolis Colts 12-4

2006 San Diego Chargers 14-2
2007 San Diego Chargers 11-5

2007 New England Patriots 16-0
2008 New England Patriots 11-5

When the Chargers fell back to earth and went 11-5 the next season, it was no different than other teams who kept the same coach the next season.

The team still made it to the AFC Championship Game despite injuries to Nate Kaeding, Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, Shawne Merriman, Jamal Williams, and Antonio Gates.

I remember the Chargers blowing that 2006-2007 game against the New England Patriots and losing my mind.

We all know Marty had to go after that. Norv Turner has NEVER gone 'one and done' in the play-offs. Marty went one and done at home with both a 12-4 and 14-2 team.

Like it or not, Norv has won the AFC West two seasons in a row. People like to say that it's because the Denver Broncos keep choking, but the fact is Norv has not had a bad season yet in San Diego. The slow starts are just frustrating, but the fast finishes are excellent.

Despite the 8-8 finish, Norv did some amazing coaching in 2008. Anytime a team starts out 4-8, due to injuries, it's acceptable in other cities for the team to just hang it up and get 'em next year.

In San Diego, under the historic guidance of guys like Junior Seau and Rodney Harrison, it is not.

Norv Turner's even keel and belief in his system has been a steadying influence that has resulted in a team that puts it all together from about mid-season on.

When Norv was hired, that's what he guaranteed. The team would be playing its best football at the end of the season, and that is what has happened.

When you hear this nonsense about Norv's terrible reign has the Raiders head coach, keep one thing in mind. Who the hell has won in Oakland since Rich Gannon, Tyrone Wheatley, Jerry Rice, and Tim Brown got old in a hurry?

No one, so get that out of your mind.

Turner was with the Washington Redskins seven seasons. He had a winning record in four of those seven seasons.

If you throw out the first two years, which were CLEARLY rebuilding years, Norv only had one losing season in Washington. Even Bill Cowher had losing years with the Steelers.

When Norv got the steel toe boot in Washington in 2000, the team was 7-6. They finished 8-8. Norv was replaced by none other than the beloved Marty Schottenheimer, who was promptly fired in 2001 after a second straight 8-8 season which started off with a disastrous 30-3 pounding by the San Diego Chargers; whose offense was coached by Norv Turner.

Funny thing is, Marty then beat Norv out for the head coaching job in San Diego in 2002, but kept Norv's offense after Norv refused to stay on as offensive coordinator.

Then Norv replaced Marty as the head coach in San Diego in 2007.

Norv really only drives us insane because the Chargers' slow starts, but keep this in mind when you are throwing your fit along with myself:

2007 11-5: The team had to get used to the new coaching staff. The team started off a mediocre 5-5. Once the team came together, however, I'm sure we can agree that the 2007 Chargers where one of the best teams to come around in a while until injuries derailed what may have been a Super Bowl Championship season.

2008 8-8: The injuries from 2007 carried over to the start of the 2008 season. Coupled with a last second TD pass from Jake Delhomme of the Carolina Panthers and two ridiculously blown calls by Ed Hochuli, the Chargers had to claw their way out of an 0-2 start. Once again, the team rallied and took down the Colts in the playoffs.

2009 6-3: None of us has ever experienced the rash of injuries like we did in San Diego to start the season after the team finished the pre-season in great health. With injuries to Ryon Bingham, Tomlinson, Williams, Jacques Cesaire, Merriman, Phillips, and on and on, the Bolts once again stumbled out of the gates 2-3. They have proceeded to win four in a row for the sixth straight season and are back in the AFC West title hunt.

So remember, Norv hasn't let the Chargers flop yet. Would you rather the Bolts be 12-4 or 14-2 and lose the first playoff game every year or at least winning in the playoffs?

The Chargers just need some breaks to fall their way. The window is not closing on San Diego. Not at all.

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