Much of the Chargers Patriots post game talk has revolved around LaDainian Tomlinson complaints of a lack of class displayed by the Patriots in the post game celebration. According to LaDainian, the Patriots disrespected the Chargers because a few of the Patriots players mimicked the Shawn Merriman spasmodic sack dance at mid field on the Chargers logo. Apparently Tomlinson thought this was a bad example to set for youngsters. Perhaps LaDainian will bring this issue up with Merriman the next time he performs the dance himself. After all, Merriman did it 17 times during the season and he wasn't concerned for the children of San Diego.
He also had little to say about Merriman's four game suspension for steroid use during the season. He finds celebration more disrespectful than cheating. Speaking of disrespect perhaps LaDainian might also mention that victory parade planning should happen after a victory. While he is at it he might remind Merriman that sending Jason Taylor of the Dolphins popcorn to eat while he watched Merrriman in the Super Bowl was a tad presumptuous.
While Tomlinson was focused on the non issue of respect he forgot to mention a number of things that contributed directly to the Chargers loss. Despite the fact that his team is clearly the best team in the NFL he and his team mates are going to be watching the rest of the games this year because they demonstrated that they are a dumb team collectively.
The Chargers made critical errors at critical times and they were errors that smart players and smart coaches don't make. The first critical error was made by Eric Parker with 5:32 seconds left in the third quarter and the Patriots trailing by 4 points. The Patriots had to punt from their own 18 to Parker who muffed the punt. Instead of simply falling on the ball Parker tried to pick it up and run. Antwain Spann knocked him senseless and Dave Thomas recovered for the Patriots at the San Diego 31. The San Diego defense was stout and had Brady fumbling on third down as the ball was recovered by Matt Light and advanced to the Sand Diego 34. At this point it would have been 4th and 13 and the Patriots would have to try a very long field goal.
Now comes stupidity exhibition number two. As Light was trying to run the ball, Daniel Graham put a block on Drayton Edwards that made Edwards look like he was laying in a coffin. Edwards took umbrage at the block and proceeded to head butt Graham. The resulting personal foul gave the Patriots a first down and resulted in a short field goal to cut the San Diego lead to 14 to 13.
The Chargers to their credit responded two possessions later with 8:40 to go to take a 21-13 lead. Now came the back breaker of the day. On fourth down 5 yards to go from the San Diego 41, Marlon McCree intercepted Brady. As he proceeded to go up field Troy Brown stripped him of the ball and Reche Cauldwell recovered at the San Diego 32. After the game and even now two days later McCree is talking about the fact that he is a play maker and given the chance he would do the same thing again. A REAL playmaker would simply have knocked the ball to the ground and San Diego would have taken over on downs.
Now comes some coaching stupidity. Despite the fact that every one in the country watching the game could see that Mcree had fumbled, Schottenheimer wasted a time out challenging the refs call. This would come back to haunt them on the last drive of the game as twice Rivers had to stop the clock by spiking the ball. If one of those wasted plays had made another ten yards, San Diego might have tied the game by giving their kicker a chance at a last second 44 yard field goal instead of a 54 yarder.
Additional coaching blunders were the 4th down and 11 try in the first quarter. What the Hell was Marty thinking? Kick the field goal and move on. After the Patriots tied the scored in the fourth quarter with the Kevin Faulk 2 point conversion while Schottenheimer was ignored trying to call a time out, San Diego got the ball with 4:30 to go on their own 29 yard line.
So your the coach and you have the best running back in football in your back field with your entire season on the line. What do you do? Well on first down they give it to Tomlinson and with the entire Patriots defense keying on him he gains five yards anyway. Strangely on second and third down the Chargers had their young quarterback throw the ball. Inexplicably, Tomlinson had a paltry 23 touches in the entire game. So it is three and out and they punt the ball to the best clutch quarterback in football with 3:30 on the clock and the ball on his own 15 yard line.
Every one including the San Diego fans knew what was going to happen. It took two minutes and 20 seconds and Brady stuck a fork in them. It really is to bad that the best team in football, with home field advantage, two weeks to prepare and the most prolific scorer in league history
will be watching games next week. It will give them time to prepare to play in the pro bowl.
