Superbowl Match Up: Eight Years In The Making

I know what your thinking. What kind of headline is that and what does it mean? Well, I'll tell you.

Think about it. What two teams have we been waiting to see face off in the Superbowl for the last eight years or so? For the last eight years, millions of people, including sports announcers, commentators, journalists, and fans have been predicting this great match-up.

It was supposed to be a match-up of two great offenses with defenses that are just as good. Both teams have playmakers at nearly every position. The quarterbacks are easily ranked in the top ten in the league and are surrounded by tons of talent.

The running games, once great, are still very capable of closing out a win. Some still consider their offensive lines to be among the best in the league and the wide receivers are fantasy favorites.

Both teams possess two of the best pass rushing defenses in the NFL along with some capable players in the secondary.

So who are the two teams? I'll give you a few small hints. Drew Brees, LaDanian Tomlinson, Philip Rivers, Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates, Malcolm Floyd, Shawne Merriman, and Antonio Cromartie. Ring a bell? How about, Tony Romo, Juluis Jones, Marion Barber, Jason Witten, Roy Williams, Miles Austin, Terrel Owens, Demarcus Ware, and Terence Newman?

Nothing? Oh, I've got it. How about Norv Turner and Wade Philips?

Thought so. Yes, it's the San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys. For years now we've all been waiting for what the experts have been calling "a matter of time." For, it's only "a matter of time" before these two teams get it together.

Well, we're still waiting.

I must admit, there was a time when I thought the Chargers were getting close. Drew Brees was showing amazing promise before his injury and Philip Rivers has made significant progress year after year. When LaDanian was in his prime the offense was tops in the league. I'm not sure where they went wrong or why they haven't been able to get it done, but that Super Bowl appearance for the Bolts is non-existent.

I also thought that the Cowboys were putting the pieces of the puzzle together one at a time. I thought their best chances were with Bill Parcells at the helm through the years of 2003-2006. They were a much more disciplined team back then with far fewer penalties. Since 2006, the team has fallen further and further away from that herald day.

So far this year, both teams seem to be a few more years away from hoisting the Lombardi, and that's putting it nicely. The Cowboys have only won one out of their five games and the Chargers only two of their six.

It may not be too late for these two not-so good NFL teams, but it's going to be a long hard climb to the top from where they stand.

With the Chargers missing Shawne Merriman (injured reserve\possible trade), Vincent Jackson (holdout\suspension), Antonio Cromartie (traded to Jets), Ladanian Tomlinson (traded to Jets) and possibly Antonio Gates (toe injury), their chances seem very bleek. But, as we all know of the Chargers, you can never really count them out until the last game of the season.

As for the Cowboys, they better get it together in a hurry. They reside in a hard-nosed division where they wait on no one to "get it together."