San Diego Chargers

San Diego Help Themselves And 72 Dolphins

2005-12-18T18:42:00.000-05:00

San Diego's future looked a little brighter today as they forced Indianapolis' unbeaten season to come to an end - 26-17.

The Chargers went ahead on a field goal by Nate Kaeding with 6:42 left after the Colts fought back to cover a 16-0 deficit with a field goal and two touchdowns in a six-minute spell during the third quarter. Then Michael Turner clinched it with an 83-yard touchdown run after Luis Castillo sacked Peyton Manning to knock the Colts out of field-goal range.

The win keeps San Diego, now 9-5, alive for an AFC wild-card spot and prevented Denver from clinching the AFC West. It also allowed the Colts (13-1) to rest starters for the final two games of the season, as they already clinched home-field advantage for the AFC playoffs.

The Champagne celebrations started again by members of the 1972 Dolphins, the only team to complete a season undefeated.

The Colts will be happy to know that the last team to start 13-0 and lose, the 1998 Denver Broncos, went on to win the Superbowl.

Dungy admitted that his team had been outplayed.

Gates Looking Good

2005-11-27T09:18:00.000-05:00

The San Diego Chargers are feeling positive about Antonio Gates' chances of playing against the Washington Redskins. Gates practiced on Friday after injuring his foot last week in the win over the Buffalo Bills.

Gates was questionable, but appeared to be fluid during practice.

"It was basically the same as yesterday - it got a little bit better," Gates said. "I think it's still going to be a game-time decision for us."

After sitting out midweek practice, Gates returned on Thursday and Friday.

"I tested it out and basically I'm going to wait until and see how it feels," said Gates, the team's top receiver with 56 catches for 784 yards and seven touchdowns. "We'll just decide from there to see if it's sore or I have any pain.

Coach Marty Schottenheimer said Friday that it would be a game-time decision for them. "He did some work out here today," Schottenheimer said. "It was positive."

Gates no longer needs to wear the walking boot his foot has been encased in since he was hurt in the third quarter of Sunday's game. Neither is he limping any more.

For those of you football betting, San Diego are -3 on the spreads, giving up three points to the well organised Redskins.

Chargers' Phillips Eager To Coach

2005-11-11T12:34:00.000-05:00

Wade Phillips' San Diego run defense is ranked No. 3 in the NFL. It's young, it's good with linebackers Merriman, Phillips (Shaun) and defensive ends Castillo and Olshansky.

But Wade Phillips wants to be an NFL head coach and isn't shy in discussing his desire. This off-season, he hopes the market for head coaches could be considerably bigger - after there were no takers last time around.

"I've been a successful head coach, and not many guys can say that," said Phillips, who went 47-36 in stints with the Bills, Broncos and Falcons.

The Chargers' previous team was 4-12 and out of the playoffs. But last year's squad flipped to 12-4 and advanced to the play-offs for the first time in nine years.

"How many guys can come in and in their first year go to the playoffs?" Phillips asked. "I've done it six times as a head coach and a defensive coordinator. I feel like I've got something to offer."

"I think because you get fired, sometimes it carries a stigma that you didn't do good enough and I don't think that was the case," said Phillips. "They don't realize you were 29-19 (with the Bills) which was one of the top records in the NFL.

Desitiny In Chargers' Hands

2005-11-04T09:14:00.000-05:00

The San Diego Chargers should be among the AFC's elite - but it hasn't really happened for them - they lost games - close games which are always harder games to lose. They wear on a team psychologically. They have lost four games this season by a combined total of twelve points.

Standing at the 50% (4-4) mark heading into November, would once have been more than satisfactory for the Chargers. But more is expected now.

Schottenheimer has now done what good coaches do - get the players to focus on the future and what might be in store instead of reflecting on the missed opportunities of the past.

"It all lies in front of us," Schottenheimer said. "If we take care of business in front of us we're going to be OK."

The Chargers will enter Giants Stadium to face the Jets a little weary after a five-game stretch. The New York Jets knocked them out of the playoffs last season and also beat them in the regular-season - both at Qualcomm Stadium. If the Chargers are to keep pace in the wild card race - then victory is really a must in this game.

Gates Top of the Tree

2005-10-31T09:54:00.000-05:00

Gates caught three touchdown passes from Drew Brees and the Chargers also got a scoring pass from LaDainian Tomlinson in beating Kansas City on Sunday. It goes some way to showing why the Chargers think Gates is the best tight end in the NFL.

Gates put the game out of reach with his third score, when he rumbled through strong safety Sammy Knight for a 28-13 lead with a little over nine minutes left.

Brees threw for 324 yards. Gates had 10 catches for 145 yards, both career bests, and the three touchdown catches tied his career best. Last year, his thirteen touchdown catches set an NFL record for tight ends.

He has six touchdowns in seven games. He missed the opener while finishing his suspension for missing a team-imposed deadline for ending his training camp holdout.

Gates' big day for the Chargers (4-4) came against a team that features six-time Pro Bowler Tony Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, for the Chiefs, had seven catches for 97 yards and one score.

"Any time we play against each other, he makes me elevate my game" Gates said. "that is just the competitive nature about me."

Gonzalez was suitably impressed with Gates' performance:

"I am happy for Antonio. He came out and played great today, one of the best games I have ever seen by a tight end," Antonio Gates showed why the San Diego Chargers think he's the best tight end in the NFL.

Gates, a former college basketball player, continues to improve no matter how teams try to cover him.

"They just get him in a one-on-one situation and he wins that battle," Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said.