Chiefs, Chargers going in opposite directions

KCJohnny · 11-30-2007, 12:14 PM

Chiefs, Chargers going in opposite directions

By SAM MELLINGER

The Kansas City Star

Adam Teicher’s Vlog | Reliable kicker too late

The laws of time are indisputable, and good thing, because otherwise you might want to double-check this fact:
Just two months ago, the Chiefs beat the Chargers by two touchdowns in San Diego, setting off a flurry of stories about how the Chiefs were getting better and the Chargers much, much worse.
Turns out we all had it backward.
Sixty days later, the Chiefs are in a fall that has coach Herm Edwards talking more about “giving a professional effort” than making the playoffs and the Chargers, well, they’re doing just fine, thank you.
Chargers coach Norv Turner, you are now off the hot seat (at least for now).
“Everyone talks about hitting it on a roll, playing great, all that,” he said. “Last year, a lot of people had doubts about Indianapolis. They struggled in December, they had some tough times.”
The Chargers hope their tough times are behind them, replaced by five wins in seven games since that (un)forgettable loss to the Chiefs on Sept. 30. Included in their run is a 41-3 smackdown of the Broncos in Denver, a win over the Colts, and last week’s 32-14 victory over Baltimore, which Turner calls the team’s most complete game of the season.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs have lost five of seven, switched quarterbacks, might have to switch back because of injury and have lost their two best running backs. Sweet.
Yes, we’re a long way from that September day when the Chiefs were looking like contenders and the Chargers like a disaster. These may not be the 14-2 Chargers of last year, the machine that some viewed as the most talented team in the NFL, but check the back pages of this newspaper and you’ll find them in first place.
Pretty good place to be.
“From the point we’re at right now, we feel real good moving forward,” said running back LaDainian Tomlinson. “We’ve just got to try to get some momentum and keep it going. Winning breeds confidence, and the more games we’re going to win, the more confident we’re going to get.”
Some of the hand-wringing over Turner and Chargers has centered on a changed offense that’s taken some of the burden off Tomlinson — who set an NFL record with 31 touchdowns last year — and relied more on quarterback Philip Rivers — who’s thrown more interceptions this year (12) than he did all of last year (nine).
Entering this week’s games, Tomlinson is fourth in the AFC with 872 rushing yards, which is well behind last year’s pace, but is leading the AFC with 1,279 total yards and is tied with nine rushing touchdowns.
It may not be the way Tomlinson would want it, but he’s at least playing nice publicly.
“This is the ultimate team sport,” he said. “Obviously I want to be successful, but sometimes you have to put your own ego aside to help win games, whether it’s blocking more or catching the ball out of the backfield.”
Tomlinson has 277 total yards the last two weeks, and some of the Chiefs see his involvement as the biggest difference between the team they beat in September and the one they’ll play on Sunday.
“He’s running harder and they’re finding ways to get him the ball,” said Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson. “Earlier, they weren’t giving him the ball like they should. They’re finding ways to get him the ball at all costs. Finding routes for him, putting him in the slot, bringing him back, they’re getting him the ball.”
None of this is particularly good news to the Chiefs, losers of four in a row. A win would pull them to within a game of the first-place Chargers — with the tie breaker — but a loss would put them three back with four to go.
Johnson said the team’s focus this week is “stopping the run, stopping the run, especially in the fourth quarter.” Jared Allen said the best thing the Chiefs could do is force turnovers, particularly from Rivers.
If it helps, this is expected to be the Chargers’ first cold-weather game. Turner joked the team will be ready for the elements since it got all the way down to 55 in San Diego the other day.
Whatever, those who remember anything at all about the Chargers from the first game against the Chiefs might as well forget it. Both teams are now in completely different situations.
Seems as if Tomlinson and his teammates have mostly forgotten about that first game.
“We don’t get caught up in the revenge games,” he said. “We just gotta take care of our own business. We need a win. We’ve got to keep winning.

11-30-2007, 12:14 PM	Topic Starter
KCJohnny Blind, deceived homer Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Maryland, USA Casino cash: $10004900	Chiefs, Chargers going in opposite directions Chiefs, Chargers going in opposite directions By SAM MELLINGER The Kansas City Star Adam Teicher’s Vlog \| Reliable kicker too late The laws of time are indisputable, and good thing, because otherwise you might want to double-check this fact: Just two months ago, the Chiefs beat the Chargers by two touchdowns in San Diego, setting off a flurry of stories about how the Chiefs were getting better and the Chargers much, much worse. Turns out we all had it backward. Sixty days later, the Chiefs are in a fall that has coach Herm Edwards talking more about “giving a professional effort” than making the playoffs and the Chargers, well, they’re doing just fine, thank you. Chargers coach Norv Turner, you are now off the hot seat (at least for now). “Everyone talks about hitting it on a roll, playing great, all that,” he said. “Last year, a lot of people had doubts about Indianapolis. They struggled in December, they had some tough times.” The Chargers hope their tough times are behind them, replaced by five wins in seven games since that (un)forgettable loss to the Chiefs on Sept. 30. Included in their run is a 41-3 smackdown of the Broncos in Denver, a win over the Colts, and last week’s 32-14 victory over Baltimore, which Turner calls the team’s most complete game of the season. Meanwhile, the Chiefs have lost five of seven, switched quarterbacks, might have to switch back because of injury and have lost their two best running backs. Sweet. Yes, we’re a long way from that September day when the Chiefs were looking like contenders and the Chargers like a disaster. These may not be the 14-2 Chargers of last year, the machine that some viewed as the most talented team in the NFL, but check the back pages of this newspaper and you’ll find them in first place. Pretty good place to be. “From the point we’re at right now, we feel real good moving forward,” said running back LaDainian Tomlinson. “We’ve just got to try to get some momentum and keep it going. Winning breeds confidence, and the more games we’re going to win, the more confident we’re going to get.” Some of the hand-wringing over Turner and Chargers has centered on a changed offense that’s taken some of the burden off Tomlinson — who set an NFL record with 31 touchdowns last year — and relied more on quarterback Philip Rivers — who’s thrown more interceptions this year (12) than he did all of last year (nine). Entering this week’s games, Tomlinson is fourth in the AFC with 872 rushing yards, which is well behind last year’s pace, but is leading the AFC with 1,279 total yards and is tied with nine rushing touchdowns. It may not be the way Tomlinson would want it, but he’s at least playing nice publicly. “This is the ultimate team sport,” he said. “Obviously I want to be successful, but sometimes you have to put your own ego aside to help win games, whether it’s blocking more or catching the ball out of the backfield.” Tomlinson has 277 total yards the last two weeks, and some of the Chiefs see his involvement as the biggest difference between the team they beat in September and the one they’ll play on Sunday. “He’s running harder and they’re finding ways to get him the ball,” said Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson. “Earlier, they weren’t giving him the ball like they should. They’re finding ways to get him the ball at all costs. Finding routes for him, putting him in the slot, bringing him back, they’re getting him the ball.” None of this is particularly good news to the Chiefs, losers of four in a row. A win would pull them to within a game of the first-place Chargers — with the tie breaker — but a loss would put them three back with four to go. Johnson said the team’s focus this week is “stopping the run, stopping the run, especially in the fourth quarter.” Jared Allen said the best thing the Chiefs could do is force turnovers, particularly from Rivers. If it helps, this is expected to be the Chargers’ first cold-weather game. Turner joked the team will be ready for the elements since it got all the way down to 55 in San Diego the other day. Whatever, those who remember anything at all about the Chargers from the first game against the Chiefs might as well forget it. Both teams are now in completely different situations. Seems as if Tomlinson and his teammates have mostly forgotten about that first game. “We don’t get caught up in the revenge games,” he said. “We just gotta take care of our own business. We need a win. We’ve got to keep winning.
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