Bolts survive to make it nine

Sunday, Nov 26, 2006
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

Once again, all is well that ends well. 

After struggling to find an offensive tempo and trailing for most of the game, the Chargers got two clutch interceptions from their starting cornerbacks and LaDainian Tomlinson delivered his usual magic as the Bolts pulled out a 21-14 victory over the Oakland Raiders Sunday. 

“I think it’s a real tribute to our football team, coaches and players alike, that they understand very clearly that the only time the score is of any consequence is when the game is over,” said Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer, who picked up his 200th career win despite playing without five starters.  “We finished the game and it was a tough grind.”

Facing a defense that entered the day eighth in the NFL in total yards allowed, the Chargers gained just 55 yards in the first half while allowing Oakland to control the ball for 21 minutes. 

The Raiders took a 7-0 advantage early in the second quarter, but that was short-lived thanks to a 91-yard kickoff return by Antonio Cromartie.  Two Tomlinson runs later, one for eight yards and a second for four, tied the contest at 7-7. 

“It definitely picked me and the team up,” Cromartie said.  “They had just scored and we tried to come out and tried to give them good field position.  It worked out.” 

Oakland reclaimed the lead midway through the third quarter when quarterback Aaron Brooks found tight end John Madsen for a 57-yard gain immediately followed by a two-yard scoring strike.  

While quarterback Philip Rivers struggled to find a groove, a handful of big plays from the Chargers’ defense allowed the Bolts to hang around.  Linebacker Shaun Phillips and company sacked Brooks five times.  Early in the fourth quarter, Oakland drove to the Chargers 20-yard line before Phillips tipped a pass that Quentin Jammer intercepted and returned 35 yards.

“We don’t have to play great offense to win every week,” Rivers said.  “We lean on one another and it’s a full team effort.  We kept playing and there was no sense of panic on our sideline.”

After Tomlinson’s legs delivered their first score of the day, the Chargers turned to his arm. With the Raiders in heavy pursuit, Tomlinson lofted a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Antonio Gates to even the score at 14-14. 

“When LT has the ball, everyone is going to run to him,” Gates said.  “He put it right over my shoulder and made it easy.”

A Marques Harris sack forced a Raiders punt on Oakland’s ensuing drive, and moments later, the Chargers had their first lead of the game.  Tomlinson ran for 44 yards on the play’s first drive, and five plays later he found the end zone from 10 yards out to make it a 21-14 advantage with 3:39 remaining.

Oakland still had one last shot, but linebacker Matt Wilhelm tipped a ball that landed in the hands of Drayton Florence and end the Raiders’ last threat. 

“We know whatever happens, we’re still going to find a win,” Florence said.  “You can call us the Cardiac Chargers are whatever you want.  As long as we keep winning, it’s all good.”

Tomlinson finished the day with 109 yards and two touchdowns on only 19 carries.  It was his fifth-consecutive game of at least 100 yards.  Gates led the team with six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown.  Rivers completed 14-of-31 passes for 133 yards and an interception.

“It wasn’t our best effort,” Rivers said.  “It’s the sign of a great team when you can have a guy that touches the ball every play and not play very good and still win.  We’re a heck of a team and that’s what we’ve known all along.”

The victory was the Chargers’ fifth-consecutive victory and their seventh straight over the Raiders.  The Bolts improved to 5-0 at home as well.  The Chargers’ 9-2 start is their best start since opening 10-2 in 1963.

“We all understand the importance of winning football games at home,” Schottenheimer said.  “We are 9-2 and by this time tomorrow, no one will care about today. They will be looking forward to the next game (at Buffalo), and that one will be a tough one, too, I guarantee you.”