Chargers' receivers have an up-and-down day

Sunday, Jan 14, 2007
By Tom Shanahan, Chargers.com

Chargers receivers Vincent Jackson and Eric Parker made crucial fourth-quarter catches, but on an up-and-down day for them that ended with the Bolts being upset 24-21 in the Divisional Round of the AFC playoffs Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium, their down plays will be hard for them to forget.

Jackson, a second-year receiver playing in his first playoff game, caught two passes for 43yards, with one of them a 31-yarder in the fourth quarter that set up the Chargers’ third touchdown for a 21-13 lead with 8:35 remaining in the game.

But Jackson also dropped a pass in the third quarter that could have given the Chargers the ball at midfield and led to a field goal if not a touchdown drive.

“I tried to go with it before I caught it,” Jackson said. “I didn’t secure the ball.”

Later in the third quarter, he was unable to get both feet down in the back of the middle of the end zone, and the touchdown catch was ruled out of bounds.

“It was really close,” Jackson said. “I tried to get the second one down as quick as I could. You think later, maybe I should have tried to fall down, but that’s why we play the game.”

Eric Parker, a sure-handed fifth-year receiver, caught two passes for 42 yards, including a 21-yarder to the Patriots’ 36-yard line in the game‘s final seconds.

The catch gave the Chargers a desperate attempt to try a game-tying field goal after quarterback Philip Rivers spiked the ball to stop the clock with eight seconds remaining in the game, but Nate Kaeding’s 54-yard attempt fell short.

But earlier in the game Parker fumbled a punt at the Chargers’ 31-yard line that led to a New England field goal, trimming the Chargers’ lead to 14-13 at halftime. He also dropped a first-down pass on the Chargers’ opening possession that ended with a punt.

Parker took the loss so hard, he didn’t emerge in the locker room to meet with the media. Parker isn’t the type of player to seek the limelight after good games, and when he was having a difficult time dealing the loss, veteran wide receiver Keenan McCardell pulled him aside.

“I told him this is going to make him a better football player,” McCardell said. “I told him to tell me that he wouldn’t have this same feeling after a game at any other time in his football career.”

Even tight end Pro Bowl Antonio Gates, who finished with six catches for 61 yards, was unusually quiet in the first half with just two catches for 12 yards.

“Throughout the whole game, it didn’t feel like we were playing well, even though we were winning,” Gates said. “We were trying to get the running game going and we were trying to get efficient in the passing game. You take your hats off (to the Patriots). They’ve been in this situation before, and they were able to make the big plays down the stretch.”

The Patriots (14-4), who are seeking a fourth Super Bowls in six years, won for the second straight week in the playoffs and advanced to the AFC Championship game Sunday at the Indianapolis Colts (13-4). The Chargers (14-3), AFC West champions, will try to gain from the experience of being in the playoffs for the second time in three years.

“I think some anxiety built up over time with having the week off,” Gates said of the Chargers‘ first-round bye. “People were putting the Chargers in the Super Bowl, saying this the best team in the NFL. We didn’t maintain our poise and play Chargers football. We hurt ourselves in the fourth quarter.”

Jackson said he’s confident he’ll learn from his first playoff experience, and those were similar words McCardell left with Parker.

“I can’t say enough about everybody in this locker room,” Jackson said. “I learned a lot from Keenan, Eric, Lorenzo (Neal), LT (LaDainian Tomlinson and all the guys. They have been great mentors for me. There is a lot I can take from this into the offseason and come back more prepared for next year.”