Japanese Players Experience NFL

The San Diego Chargers went home with a victory, and three Japanese linebackers went home with memories for a lifetime as the first players from their country to play in an NFL game.

For the annual American Bowl, in which the Chargers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-10, Takuro Abe and Shigemasas Ito joined the Steelers on a few special-teams plays, and Takahiro Ikenoue suited up with the Chargers defense before 40,163.

“I want to keep the helmet with me [as a souvenir], though they asked me to return the duffel bag,” Abe said.

Coach Bill Cowher of the Steelers praised Ito and Abe, but was far less pleased with the Steelers’ ragged effort.

After Mike Tomczak moved the Steelers smartly on the opening drive for a field goal, the Chargers scored on their next three possessions.

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Oakland Raider backup quarterback Billy Joe Hobert sprained his left ankle in Oakland’s 35-34 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at Irving, Texas and is listed as day-to-day.