Broncos at Chargers

Well, it's here.  Sunday.  Are you ready for some football?  Some San Diego Chargers football?  Today is the 104th time Denver and San Diego will meet.  All-time, Denver is 54-48-1.  However, this includes a 19-32 record on the road against San Diego.  So, we already beat the Donkeys in their house, here are some reasons we will beat them at home.

1.  Powder blue - It is finally time to bust out the powder blue jerseys.  This is typically a win for the Chargers.  That said, they are wearing them again on 12/18, so does that mean two wins?

2.  Thanksgiving -  This is a time for giving.  Time for the Broncos to give the Chargers a few turnovers, a pick six and a run back on kickoff would be very nice of them.

3.  November - Well, maybe November is no longer our month.  I haven't heard anyone say "Norvember" for weeks, so at least some good came of the losing streak. 


4.  The ground game - Denver has not been having Tebow throw a lot yet and have depended on running the ball.  The Chargers defense will be prepared.

5.  Junior Seau - Junior will be at the game and inducted into Chargers Hall of Fame.  His presence on the field will certainly motivate the players to perform at a higher level.  Oh, and did I mention he will be introduced by Dan Fouts?  This is the game to win.


It's time for the Chargers to decide if they are going to perform or just ride out the season being mediocre.  The cheese is in the crock pot, the bar has been stocked and the TV's are all going to be tuned into the game.  The Chargers can win this game.


ChargerGirl Cindi

Note:  I looked around for a throwback jersey win-loss statistic with no luck.  Anyone know it?

Chargers at Bears - Week 11

Like Philip Rivers, I believe it is time for one of those games where we are proud to be Chargers fans.  Where we are jumping off the couch and screaming at the TV because of great plays.  Where no guacamole will be uneaten due to loss of appetite and hands will hurt from celebratory high fives.  Yes, we are due.

With week eleven here, we are looking for the Chargers to perform well in Chicago, where they will meet the Bears.  The Bears are riding a four game winning streak.  They are also 4-1 at home.  Oh, and did I mention that they love to take the ball away?  The Bears have forced twelve turnovers with six of those coming in last weeks game against the Lions.  The Bears also have Devin Hester.  He is not the guy we want to be facing when proving a point.  The Chargers strategy with him needs to be to kick it through the end zone or even take the out of bounds penalty.

Did I mention the Chargers banged up O-line with Dielman out for the season?  With McNeill and Vasquez missing practices this week as well.  Rivers random throws to the wrong team and Vincent Jackson and his inability to pay attention?  These are concerns, but not show stoppers.  We spent this week patching up the line.  Rivers, Jackson and Gates had time to rest up and work together.  Mathews spent time practicing his blocking and ball handling.  The attitude on the airplane will be to win or watch the Raiders take the division.

Ok, so where is the good news you ask?  It's all there, you just need to read between the lines.

1.  Rivers and Cutler do not like each other.  Both will be trying to show the other that they are better with many passes into the end zone.  Rivers will have more passing yards, TD's and zero turnovers.

2.  The Bears are going in thinking "we got this".  They will be over confident and facing a Chargers team that knows they need to win, and win now.

3.  Chargers are coming off a long week of rest.  Gates, VJ, Brinkley and Mathews are going to blow it up like we have not seen yet this season.  Start them in your FF my friends.

4.  Last time the Chargers played the Bears, the Chargers won 14-3.  That game also broke a four game winning streak.  Coincidence?  I think not.

5.  Check the calendar.  It's November.  It's time to win.

Boltup!

ChargerGirl Cindi

The Punch List - Week 10

By popular demand, here is the first installment of my new weekly blog called The Punch List.  Obviously, this will be a list of those who have made us so angry that we would like to punch them.  I think I will handle it in similar fashion to a musical top 10 list.  So, people will stay on the list and drop off based on comments, news and my mood.
Originally, I thought this might just be for the Chargers.  Then I realized some others in the NFL needed to be added.  However, after events of the last couple weeks, college football needs to be included as well.  Here we go.
10.  The entire OL for the Chargers.   Seriously boys, you are not manning a turnstile at an amusement park here!
9.   Greg Manusky - What can I say?  You need to learn how to run a defense.
8.   Hal Hunter - Sorry Hal, you doing a less than stellar job of making sure your guys keep Rivers safe.
7.   Vincent Jackson - He isn't even trying to catch the ball!
6.  The Oakland Raiders - This is a San Diego Chargers blog site.  Of course they are on the list.
5.  AJ Smith - One of the worst GM's in the NFL.  The more I read on this guy the more punchy I get!
4.  Rex Ryan - Telling fans to STFU is very uncool.  He thinks he is such a bad ass, but he is just a big jerk.
3.  Norv Turner - See previous post on Norv Turner (he may never get off the list).
2.  Joe Paterno - Penn State will forever be tainted because he chose football over children.
1.  Jerry Sandusky  - No explanation needed here.  I feel so badly for his victims and the parents that trusted him. (click the link and watch Jon Stewarts take)
I do not think anyone will disagree with this weeks number one choice.  Chime in for next week.
ChargerGirl Cindi

Rivers - I still believe!

Philip Rivers did a radio interview today with XX Sports Radio's Darren Smith.  You can read it all here (http://sportsradiointerviews.com/2011/11/15/nfl-week-11-previews-afc-west-standings-san-diego-chargers-qb-stats/) but here are some highlights.

When asked if having a Thursday game was nice, Rivers had to take a deep breath.  Then he talked about how losing four in a row and the last one being to the Raiders was tough.  He said that is was good to have a long week for letting mind and body heal.

On his large number of interceptions Philip said "I think it’s a combination of some things."  Really?  I think it has been too.  He also admitted "There’s a fine line between being smart and being carless".  Philip basically takes full ownership of what has happened, admits he trying to stay aggressive and still not give the ball away and that it's bugging him.

Smith asked if Rivers thinks the Chargers will make the playoffs.  “It remains to be seen but I certainly still believe that we can be a playoff team."  As long as Philip still believes then so do I.   With our division performing so poorly, it really still is any teams division to take.

Last question peaked my interest.  Smith asked Rivers if he has thought about having to answer questions about Norv Turner getting fired.  Rivers response, “I haven’t because I believe we’re gonna get it turned around. You even said I’m the ultimate optimist so I don’t expect to have to answer any of those questions.”

Philip Rivers still believes and I believe in Philip Rivers.

ChargerGirl Cindi

Top 10 Reasons to Fire Norv Turner

I thought coming up with this list would be tricky.  Turns out, I had to scale it down. Turner has some NFL records, but they are in spite of his coaching ability and the fact that he keeps getting hired.   One of those records has him as the coach who has LOST the most games.  With that record, why he was hired in San Diego after being fired from Oakland and Washington will forever remain a mystery.  Another mystery is why, with his continued inability to coach does he remain?  I took the liberty of coming up with some notes that the Spanos family can use during his exit interview.

1. Pushed LT out. The season Before Turner arrived the Chargers won every game where LT touched the ball more than 11 times. Turner came in determined to enlist a 'passing offense' not only limiting  LTs carries, but essentially breaking what worked, San Diegos ability to move the ball and win games.

2. Cannot read a clock. Poor time management and the inability to run a hurry up offense is inexcusable.  Even if you are in the lead, if you have 30 seconds left use them.

3.   Lackluster play calling. Okay, let's not sugarcoat it. Turners play calling is about as exciting as a trip to the dentist. I look forward to it with about the same anxiety.  He has no understanding of a run or pass offense and needs to go back to football 101.

4.  Poor use of players. I am not sure if he knows coaches are allowed to use more than one player at each position during the game.  It's crazy not to use all the tools in your toolbox.

5.  Attitude.  Turner stands on the sideline and acts bored. It pisses me off. I want to see spit flying out of my coaches mouth because he is screaming at someone for making a mistake.   I kid you not, If I was coaching the Chargers and one of the guys got a stupid penalty, three times, I would be grabbing their face mask and screaming in their face.

6.  Inability to learn.    Not sure if this is the same as #7, but we know certain things do not work and certain things work. Norv does not know how to grasp this concept.

7.   Stupidity. "we gotta find a way to finish games".  No shit. Is this something you just realized?  How did he say that and not get fired that very day?  I don't care if it was mid-season, anyone could come in and do better. Literally anyone.

8.  Accountability.  Norv has a leave the players alone attitude. Players need curfews, rules and babysitters during the season. It IS a big deal if they are at a strip club until 2 am the night before a game.  It's the head coaches job to make players accountable and do what is right for the team.

9.   Evasive. When asked about Deilmans concussion and the steps that were taken to ensure his safety, Turner got mad and refused to answer further questions. Sounds to me like he felt guilty.  Man up.

10. Makes every single Chargers fan angry.   There is not a single San Diego Chargers fan who wants him as our head coach.  I did a survey of Chargers and non-Chargers fans. 100% voted him out and 80% said they would like to see me punch him in the face.  (that last part was not on the survey!)

Time for you to chime in with yours and vent.

ChargerGirl Cindi

Packers at Chargers - Stats vs. Interceptions

Now that the game is over, I realize my previous headline (Packers at Chargers – Upset of the week!) was unclear.  Of course, we are all upset.  But we are upset because the Chargers lost, not exactly what I meant.   At least they came back after halftime ready to get the job done, which is something we have not seen very much of this year.  But the agony of three interceptions, with two for touchdowns and the loss in the last minute is killing me.

It's not like there was no chance we could have won the game.  If you take the 45 to 38 final score and remove the fourteen points the Packers defense scored off Rivers in the first quarter, the final score would have been 31 to 38 with the Chargers taking the win.  This Sunday was the most active and dominant I have seen the Chargers play all year.  This is on both sides of the ball.  I am not sure if we just headed into an upswing or the Chargers elevated their level of play to their opponent.  Chargers fans everywhere are hoping the upswing has begun.


If you take a quick peek at the game leaders without knowing the score you might have thought the Chargers won.  Rodgers threw for 247 yards, where Rivers threw for 385 yards.  Starks ran for 66 yards where Tolbert ran for 83 yards.  Nelson had 105 yards receiving while Jackson pulled in 141.  Chargers dominated on first downs, total yards and scored 100% of the time they got into the red zone.  Where the stats lead you to the fact the Packers won is that the Chargers led with turnovers as well Packers 0, Chargers 3. 

I remember my dad telling me at an early age.  The team with the most turnovers loses.  Thirty years later, this is still true. 

ChargerGirl Cindi

Packers at Chargers - Upset of the week!

I only wrote the headline once.  I believe, as do many rabid Chargers fans, that this is the week we turn it around.

Sure, the Packers are undefeated (7-0) and coming off a bye week, but the Chargers (4-3) have the edge, the will and the collective hope of the fan base that they have been perplexing week after week.   This week will remind us why we love our Super Chargers and why people who wear cheese on their heads stink.

Here are my top five reasons the Chargers will beat the Packers on Sunday:

1.  Home field advantage.  Rodgers has yet to start a game in California.  This is his home state, so we need to welcome him back with a big serving of West Coast Offense.  Rivers is starting fresh this week and will put up big numbers.

2.  Green Bay secondary.  Fortunately, for the Chargers,  the Packers rank 31st against the pass, giving up 288.9 yards per game.

3.  Tolbert.  Our favorite RB is going to blast through the Packers line and get many more yards than the 130 average they have allowed.  Watch him.

4.  Chargers modus operandi.  The Chargers have a long history of breaking undefeated teams.  Green Bay will be no exception.

5.   It's November.  Time to start a winning streak.

ChargerGirl Cindi