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Hart relishes redemption story

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Sunday, Nov 09, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

As Kansas City broke the huddle Sunday afternoon to attempt a potential game-winning two-point conversion, Chargers safety Clinton Hart was praying they’d target him.
 
“Come at me,” Hart said. “Let me redeem myself against this guy.” 
 
Hart got his wish, and he delivered in the game’s biggest spot. 
 
Chiefs quarterback Tyler Thigpen rolled to his right and threw up a prayer in the direction of tight end Tony Gonzalez. However, Hart had positioned himself perfectly and threw the ball to the ground, preserving a Bolts win.
 
“We were in man-to-man,” Hart said. “I said to myself, ‘I’m not letting Tony Gonzalez catch this ball on me. I don’t care what I’ve got to do. I kind of got underneath him and got the ball down.” 
 
The play allowed Hart to right a wrong that he was involved in four plays earlier. On 2nd-and-10 on the potential go-ahead drive, Hart appeared to deliver a key stop when he batted the ball out of Gonzalez’s hands just shy of the goal line. But a late flag changed everything. Hart was penalized for pass interference, and instead of 3rd-and-10 it was 1st-and-goal from the Bolts’ one yard line. 
 
Gonzalez scored moments later, and when the Chiefs went for two, Hart got the mulligan he so desperately wanted. 
 
“I felt like one was taken from me,” Hart said. “To end it like that, I couldn’t even celebrate for a second because I was still so angry. I didn’t hit him with my body. I came around him and didn’t make contact. We went on. All is well that ends well.”
 
Like he does with many defenders, Gonzalez gave Hart a few fits Sunday afternoon. The nine-time Pro Bowler caught 10 passes for 113 yards and two scores. But Hart got the best of him on the day’s most crucial play, and the Bolts’ starting strong safety was proud of the way he kept his composure.  
 
“Your head is just about to explode because you’re so mad,” Hart said. “You’ve just got to refocus on the task at hand. I’m glad I got another chance and I’m just glad it worked out.”  
 
Moving on up
With 78 rushing yards Sunday, Bolts running back LaDainian Tomlinson moved to 15th place on the NFL’s all-time rushing list. LT now has 11,279 career yards on the ground. He passed O.J. Simpson and Corey Dillon Sunday and now eyes John Riggins, who is 14th with 11,352. LT needs 73 yards next week in Pittsburgh to pass Riggins.
 
Feeling good
 
Tight end Antonio Gates says he feels better every week, and having 14 days between games paid off Sunday. Gates caught eight passes for 66 yards and a touchdown against the Chiefs. 
 
“The bye week was huge,” Gates said. “To be rested and take treatment and do the necessary things to get back to the point I was at a year ago, two years ago, that was huge for me. I’m grateful that I’m still able to run like I’m used to being able to run.” 
 
Gates underwent major surgery on his toe this offseason after suffering a gruesome injury in the playoffs. While he’s performed well, he hasn’t felt completely like himself in his sixth NFL season. 
 
“I was able to run, cut, and block pretty much pain free today,” Gates said. “It’s a big relief.” 
 
Heads up
 
Fullback Mike Tolbert knows it’s always good to get the ball in LT’s hands, and he found a creative way to do so Sunday.
 
After catching a short pass in the second quarter, Tolbert pitched the ball back to Tomlinson, who gained 11 more yards on the play.
 
“I just saw him right there,” Tolbert said. “I was getting tackled and I saw him right there. Everybody was coming towards me. I just pitched it to him and he got some more yards.” 
 
Big day
 
Quarterback Philip Rivers completed 75 percent of his throws Sunday (27 of 36) and enjoyed his fourth 300-yard passing game of the season. It was his eighth-career 300-yard day, and his 106.3 passer rating on the season is still tops in the NFL.  
 
Takeaway
 
The Chargers were able to come away with a victory Sunday although they lost the turnover battle 0-2. While turnover battle usually tells the story in the NFL, Kansas City is plus-8 in their last three games but have lost all three games. 
 
Quick hits
 
-Sunday’s game marked the 11th time a Chargers-Chiefs game has been decided by one point, the highest total of one-point games in any series since 1960.
 
-The Bolts reported two injuries Sunday: safety Steve Gregory (stinger) and cornerback Cletis Gordon (knee).
 
-With his 113-yard effort Sunday, Gonzalez tied Chargers Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow for the most 100-yard games by a tight end in NFL history. Like Winslow, Gonzalez has reached the century mark 24 times. 
 
-Cornerback Antonio Cromartie led the Bolts with 11 tackles Sunday.
 
-Sunday’s win allowed the Bolts to keep pace with the Broncos in the AFC West race. Denver won Thursday night and holds a one-game lead in their effort to de-throne the reigning two-time division champion Chargers. 
 
-When Chiefs receiver Mark Bradley found the end zone in the first quarter, it marked the first time in 11 home games that the Bolts have allowed an offensive touchdown.   




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