LaDainian Tomlinson
This is getting too easy for LaDainian Tomlinson and the San Diego Chargers. Bring on the archrival Oakland Raiders, and it's practically a guaranteed victory.
Tomlinson matched his career-high with four touchdowns, rushing for 198 yards on 24 carries and leading the Chargers to their eighth straight win over the Raiders, 28-14, on Sunday.
FULL STORY...
-
The San Diego Chargers were laughing at Philip Rivers, not with him.
-
The San Diego Chargers handed the Denver Broncos their worst home loss since 1966 by rediscovering their winning formula: hold onto the ball.
Team Report
as of Tuesday, October 09, 2007 4:59 PM.
(Sports Network) - Hear that? Probably not. It's the sound of silence. Keyboards in the blogosphere? Silent. Qualcomm Stadium upper deck? Silent. Talk radio airwaves? Silent - or as figuratively silent as talk radio can be, anyway. Just a week ago, anti-Norv Turner jargon dominated the primary auditory cortex of every brain in San Diego. But after a thoroughly convincing 41-3 win over Denver - thoroughly convincing in that the Chargers sucker- punched the Broncos, then suffocated them, then stomped on their grave - San Diego now finds itself at 2-3 and playing the Raiders for first place in the AFC West this week.
"It's a big win, but it's just one," said running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who had 73 yards receiving and 67 yards rushing on Sunday. "We've got a big game next week."
The Raiders come to San Diego, fresh off a bye and riding high with a 2-2 record, thanks to an offense that has suddenly discovered its rushing attack. "They'll be pretty confident I would imagine," said center Nick Hardwick of Lane Kiffin's team. "I've watched them on offense, and they seem to be doing a pretty good job up front - a lot better than they have been."
It has been years since a Chargers-Raiders contest was a fair fight. San Diego has won the last seven matchups, outscoring Oakland 82-24 in the last three meetings.
"The fans are so into it," says linebacker Shaun Phillips of this AFC West rivalry. "Living in San Diego there is just this mindset to beat them. It's like fans say, 'Dude, you can lose every game, just beat the Raiders.'"
You can bet that absolutely no sane fan has ever once uttered such nonsense to Phillips - hence the clamoring when San Diego was losing every game over the past three weeks - but you certainly have to admire the young linebacker's enthusiasm for this game.
GATES HAVING MONSTROUS SEASON THUS FAR
Few argue that Antonio Gates is not the best tight end in the NFL, but even with the fifth-year pro's status, few seem to realize just how dominant Gates has been in 2007. In Week 1 he caught nine balls for 107 yards and a touchdown. He followed that performance with seven catches for 77 yards and another touchdown against the Patriots. In Week 3, Gates had 11 catches for 113 yards. In his next outing, he hauled in six passes for 79 yards in Week 4. Finally, against the Broncos on Sunday, he led all players with 113 yards on seven receptions, including one for a touchdown.
Gates is currently third in the NFL in receiving yards (489) and he leads all tight ends in catches and yards. Norv Turner has flexed the already versatile All-Pro into a myriad of roles this season, including running him on deep routes down the seams, underneath routes to the sidelines, and lining him up as a tight end, split end, flanker, or slot receiver.
WHO'S HOT
Michael Turner re-established himself as the best backup running back in the league on Sunday after what had been a relatively slow start for the fourth- year veteran. Turner led all NFL rushers with 147 yards in Week 5, and it only took him 10 carries to do it. His best run was a 74-yard touchdown gallop down the sideline in the fourth quarter.
WHO'S NOT
Linebacker Shawne Merriman had another quiet game, being held sack-less for the second week in a row.
NEXT UP The Chargers head home to face the 2-2 Raiders for first place in the AFC West.
---
Visit Andy Benoit at www.benoitmedia.com