Chargers Embracing Underdog Role

With yet another impressive victory, Sunday’s 51-14 demolition of the Lions, their fourth in a row, the San Diego Chargers clinched their second straight AFC West title and finally are starting to show the look of a bona fide contender. New England and Indianpolis may be the titans of the AFC, and deservedly so, but one would be foolish to overlook the talented Chargers when handicapping the AFC Playoffs because they are finally starting to show signs that they can contend with the bullies of the AFC, a list that includes Jacksonville and Pittsburgh.

Following last year’s miserable postseason defeat to the Patriots as the NFL’s best team, the latest in what has become a brutal January routine in San Diego, the Chargers underwent a dramatic face lift, hiring a new coach in addition to new offensive and defensive coordinators. Inevitably, the move was anything but smooth, as San Diego stumbled to a 1-3 start and dealt with constant whispers of a franchise headed downhill. Norv Turner, a man no one would confuse with Vince Lombardi, was immediately tagged with the designation of ruining another franchise, LT was labeled a one-hit wonder, and Shawne Merriman became the NFL’s Barry Bonds, a steroid user that no one respected.

But, a funny thing happened when everyone discounted the quality of this team. They finally started winning. Eight wins in their last 10 has San Diego in great position to capture the league’s third seed and avoid being drawn to the dangerous Jaguars, who already beat the Chargers earlier this season. During the team’s turnaround, Tomlinson has finally started to look like the league’s MVP from a year ago. He’s averaged over 100 yards rushing a game in his last 10, - compared to 66 during the team’s 1-3 start - and has hit pay dirt five times in the team’s last three games. Turner has finally made the commitment to get the ball into the hands of his playmaker as often as possible, and with #21 finally starting to find his groove, its effects have trickled down to the entire team. Turner swallowed his pride and stopped trying to overuse shaky quarterback Phillip Rivers; instead, he finally realized that Tomlinson is why San Diego’s offense was great in the first place, and he got him the ball.

San Diego’s defining moment came two weeks ago when they faced a two-touchdown deficit on the road to Tennessee. With Rivers struggling to move the ball with the passing game, San Diego failed to get anything going. With their season on the line, San Diego responded with a stirring comeback in the final minutes that was highlighted by a dazzling LT touchdown run in overtime. Everybody was crucial in the comeback victory: the defense held Vince Young and the Titans down the entire 4th quarter, Phillip Rivers finally showed some guts and heart by anchoring a courageous comeback, and the offensive line absolutely wore down Tennessee’s physical defense. At long last, San Diego had finally shown that they could win a playoff style game in hostile circumstances.

That game was only the first step towards realizing their potential as a championship contender, but it demonstrates what this team is capable of when it keeps its head on straight. Many improvements still need to be made, including getting consistent production out of Rivers as well as a below-average wide receiver core. In addition, skeptics will look to San Diego’s tragic playoff history as a reason to believe that this surge is only a mirage. But, entering January, the Chargers will be under the radar, and that is just the way they like it.