Jackson thankful for outcome

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

The feast of turkey and dressing may be over, but wide receiver Vincent Jackson was still verbalizing his gratitude Sunday. 

“It’s Thanksgiving, right?,” Jackson said.  “I’ll give thanks for that.” 

What started out to be one of the biggest catches of his career quickly became perhaps the most bizarre play of the Chargers’ season and almost cost the Bolts a victory.

With the Chargers trailing 14-7 in the fourth quarter, Jackson hauled in a 13-yard pass from Philip Rivers on 4th-and-2.  As he got up, thinking he’d been touched down, the second-year receiver spiked the ball in celebration.  

“It was a silly mistake,” Jackson said.  “I should have known better.  I thought I was down, but I didn’t hear the whistle.  You just have to play through the whistle.” 

The officials initially ruled that Jackson had fumbled, and the Oakland recovery would have given the Raiders the ball early in the fourth quarter with a 14-7 lead.  Both sidelines appeared confused as the Chargers offense ran on and off the field several times, not knowing whose ball it was. 

“I didn’t know what was going on,” running back LaDainian Tomlinson said.  “You are on the field, you are off the field.  You’re on the field, and you’re off again.”

After several moments of confusion, Jackson’s spike was ruled an illegal forward pass, which is a five-yard penalty.  The Chargers maintained possession at the Oakland 32-yard line. 

“Vincent started yelling out to the Oakland guys, ‘God is good!,’” Tomlinson said.  “I don’t know what the Oakland guys were thinking after that.  Everyone told Vincent to forget about it and let’s go play the next play.”

Jackson finished the game with three catches for 32 yards and, most importantly, the Chargers pulled out the 21-14 win.

“He is very bright and let his emotions get away from him,” Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer said.  “That’s how you develop young players.  Unfortunately they have to do things that make you say, “What in the world are you thinking?”

Said Jackson, “It was an honest mistake.  We came out with a win, so we just put it behind us.  We won, so it’s okay.”