What a stunner or as we say in Boston…'a shockah'! With many of their top players out in the second half, the San Diego Chargers still managed to comeback and beat the Colts yesterday in Indy 28-24.
The Chargers must have Indy’s number because with All-Pro RB LaDainian Tomlinson, QB Philip Rivers, FB Lorenzo Neal all out of the game and trailing 24-21 in the 4th quarter, San Diego back-up QB Billy Volek came through and led the Chargers on a 78 yard drive to put them back on top and eventually defeat the favored Colts.
Not sure why Tomlinson and Rivers didn’t come back into the game. They both looked fine walking around the sidelines but seemed more interested in jawing with each other and the Colts’ fans than playing in what could have been their final game of the season. Watching the game with two friends who are lifelong San Diego fans, it seemed like the chances for a Charger upset were vanishing. However, journeyman QB Billy Volek and 5’ 6’’ back-up running back Darren Sproles kept the dream alive.
I don’t want to hear any excuses about the Colts injuries to Dwight Freeney or Marvin Harrison. The Chargers were more depleted. San Diego also had All-Pro TE Antonio Gates banged up, had more sloppy plays and penalties, barely pressured Peyton Manning, and even missed a FG during the game. Besides, let us not forget that last year the Patriots had Rodney Harrison, Richard Seymour, Junior Seau, Lawrence Maroney, and others out when the Colts came back to beat the Pats and go on to win the Superbowl. On top of that, much of the rest of the team had the flu and in the second half they had the inexperienced backfield of Sanders, Hawkins, Baker going up against the vaunted pass attack of the Manning and the Colts. Yet, if Reche Caldwell doesn’t drop a pass in the 4th quarter, the Patriots still hang on to win that game.
The Chargers must have Indy’s number because with All-Pro RB LaDainian Tomlinson, QB Philip Rivers, FB Lorenzo Neal all out of the game and trailing 24-21 in the 4th quarter, San Diego back-up QB Billy Volek came through and led the Chargers on a 78 yard drive to put them back on top and eventually defeat the favored Colts.
Not sure why Tomlinson and Rivers didn’t come back into the game. They both looked fine walking around the sidelines but seemed more interested in jawing with each other and the Colts’ fans than playing in what could have been their final game of the season. Watching the game with two friends who are lifelong San Diego fans, it seemed like the chances for a Charger upset were vanishing. However, journeyman QB Billy Volek and 5’ 6’’ back-up running back Darren Sproles kept the dream alive.
I don’t want to hear any excuses about the Colts injuries to Dwight Freeney or Marvin Harrison. The Chargers were more depleted. San Diego also had All-Pro TE Antonio Gates banged up, had more sloppy plays and penalties, barely pressured Peyton Manning, and even missed a FG during the game. Besides, let us not forget that last year the Patriots had Rodney Harrison, Richard Seymour, Junior Seau, Lawrence Maroney, and others out when the Colts came back to beat the Pats and go on to win the Superbowl. On top of that, much of the rest of the team had the flu and in the second half they had the inexperienced backfield of Sanders, Hawkins, Baker going up against the vaunted pass attack of the Manning and the Colts. Yet, if Reche Caldwell doesn’t drop a pass in the 4th quarter, the Patriots still hang on to win that game.
Now the Chargers come to Foxboro next Sunday as 15 point underdogs with a chance to go to their first Superbowl and avenge last season’s play-off loss to the Pats in the process. If you’re a Pats’ fan, this is the best news ever! This year Indy was a bigger and faster team than the one that beat the Pats last year in the Championship game and by far the biggest hurdle in getting to back to the Superbowl. Instead, we now host a warm weather team in San Diego that is extremely banged-up and not nearly the threat they were last year when the Pats squeaked by them in the playoffs.
On the NFC side, the New York ‘football’ Giants upset the Dallas Cowboys thus eliminating yet another major Superbowl threat for the Patriots. So now it’s Eli Manning in a Championship game next week and not his brother Peyton.
What a shockah!
On the NFC side, the New York ‘football’ Giants upset the Dallas Cowboys thus eliminating yet another major Superbowl threat for the Patriots. So now it’s Eli Manning in a Championship game next week and not his brother Peyton.
What a shockah!
