Bolts focus on wins, not ‘rivalry’
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Thursday, Oct 09, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com
The hot topic of the day amongst reporters at Chargers Park Wednesday had to deal with rivalry, but for a 2-3 Bolts team looking to get things back on track, their minds were in a different direction.
“Really and truly I think that’s beyond us right now, to call it a rivalry,” running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. “One, because we haven’t beaten them; and two, this is a regular season game for us. They are in better shape than we are. I wouldn’t call it a rivalry. I would say it’s just another game on our schedule that happens to be the Patriots and we need a win, badly.”
The Chargers will have an opportunity to get back to .500 Sunday night as they host New England in a nationally-televised, primetime game. The Patriots have won the last three meetings between the two teams and have eliminated the Chargers from the postseason in each of the last two years.
While there will be much talk made this week of the recent history between the two clubs, the Chargers are simply looking at it from the perspective of their current situation.
“This one, although it is early in the regular season, has a lot at stake for us and for both teams I think,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. “As we’ve seen, this AFC is going to be tough. There is going to be a lot of teams down the stretch and we want to be one of them. This game is going to have a big impact on that.”
While Tomlinson spoke with passion about the sense of urgency he feels, he also gave a vote of confidence in the mental makeup of in the Chargers’ locker room as Week 6 approaches.
“We’re solid,” Tomlinson said. “We’re still focused on the things that we have to do to get the job done. Two and three doesn’t put you out of the race, but it definitely gets your attention. We need to start making a move fast.”
Head Coach Norv Turner also gave a positive review of the energy level in Wednesday’s practice.
“I really believe our preparation has been good for the games,” Turner said. “I think our guys have worked hard through the week getting ready. I expect the same this week. It’s important for us.”
Three rest
Tomlinson (toe), wide receiver Chris Chambers (ankle) and linebacker Jyles Tucker (hamstring) missed Wednesday practice, and fullback Mike Tolbert (ankle) was limited. LT said he doesn’t feel as bad as he has in recent weeks and he hopes to practice some Thursday and possibly increase his workload later in the week.
“I’m close to getting back to where I want to be,” Tomlinson said. “But I definitely want to take as much time and pressure off of it as much as possible. The more you play on it it’s never going to get completely healthy.”
California dreaming
After playing in San Francisco last Sunday, the Patriots opted to stay on the West Coast and practice in Santa Clara this week.
“It’s been 80 and sunny here the last three days,” Head Coach Bill Belichick said. “We’ll take it.”
Rivers fan
Belichick said Wednesday that Rivers’ performance in January’s AFC Championship game raised his already high opinion of the Bolts’ signal caller.
“I had a lot of respect for Rivers anyway and then last year in our game in January I thought that he really stepped up and played very courageously after the injury,” Belichick said. “He threw the ball well on not a great day to throw it. He played with a lot of toughness and courage and certainly gave us all we [could handle] in that game.”
Rivers completed 19-of-37 passes for 211 yards in the AFC Championship Game. The day after the Bolts’ loss, it was revealed that he played the game with a torn ACL in his plant leg.
Chris McGrath, Getty Images North America
The Chargers are talking about their need for a win Sunday, not the perceived rivalry between them and the Patriots.
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Wednesday: Norv TurnerWednesdays press conference with Head Coach Norv Turner. |
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Wednesday: Philip RiversWednesdays press conference with QB Philip Rivers. |
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Wednesday: LaDainian TomlinsonWednesdays press conference with RB LaDainian Tomlinson |
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Wednesday: Shaun PhillipsWednesdays press conference with LB Shaun Phillips. |
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