Chargers Disappear in a Flash
The unreal odyssey of the San Diego Chargers -- from 4-12 to 12-4 in one season -- came to an abrupt end Saturday, one so jolting that many of the vanquished, rain-soaked players looked more stunned than saddened.
“It hasn’t hit me what really just happened, just the finality of it,” linebacker Ben Leber said, minutes after the Chargers had lost in overtime to the New York Jets, 20-17, at Qualcomm Stadium. “I can’t believe that the season’s over. We were so geeked up for this game ... it’s shocking right now.”
Before losing at the end of the first overtime period on a 28-yard field goal by Doug Brien, the Chargers blew a prime opportunity. Rookie kicker Nate Kaeding pushed a 40-yard field-goal attempt wide right four minutes earlier, allowing the Jets to mount their winning drive.
Kaeding, who set the team’s rookie scoring record this season, sat patiently at his locker and quietly answered question after question about the lowest moment of his young career. It was the first time he could remember missing a kick that cost his team a game, no matter what the level.
“I could sit here and I’d be soaking up the accolades right now if I went out there and made that kick,” he said. “So I’m going to sit here right now and take responsibility for costing us the win. That’s my job, that’s my responsibility, and things aren’t going to always be great.”
The Jets won the first meeting this season, 34-28, handing the Chargers their only home loss of the season. Curtis Martin was New York’s most effective weapon in that game. Saturday, it was quarterback Chad Pennington who did the damage. He completed 23 of 33 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns.
“He won another playoff game -- on the road,” Coach Herman Edwards said. “I just think our whole team together had a mental fortitude and toughness. We talked about it all week. We felt if we played our game we could come in here and get a win.”
The Jets were plenty pleased with the way things turned out Saturday. Despite making a huge mistake at the end of regulation, New York strolled away with a stunning victory.
The Jets had backed into the playoffs, losing three of their last four games of the regular season. After starting 5-0, they went 5-6. Some ugliness lingered. At one point Saturday, a sideline argument between Edwards and running backs coach Bishop Harris almost came to blows. Players had to step between the men.
Then came the big mistake. Trailing by a touchdown, the Chargers had fourth and goal at the two with 24 seconds remaining. Drew Brees dropped back to pass and almost immediately had two Jet defenders in his face. He kept backpedaling and, as he was about to be pulled down, flung a futile toss toward the end zone that fell incomplete. Game over.
However, as he was tackling Brees, linebacker Eric Barton gave him a little extra, striking him in the helmet with a forearm. Barton was flagged for roughing the passer, giving the Chargers a first down at the one.
On the next play, Brees threw a touchdown pass to Antonio Gates, and Kaeding’s extra point tied the score, 20-20.
“I didn’t see the flag at first,” Brees said. “It’s nice to get those second chances.”
San Diego Coach Marty Schottenheimer has gotten second, third and fourth chances in the playoffs, but the outcome seldom has worked out the way he wants it to. Schottenheimer saw his postseason record drop to 5-12. The game ended on an all-too-familiar note: He made conservative decisions down the stretch, and his team failed to produce when it had to. It happened when he was coaching in Cleveland, then in Kansas City, now in San Diego.
“I’ve been through this before, as we all well know,” Schottenheimer said. “That has been well documented. My disappointment, quite frankly, is for the players in that locker room and for this community. That’s what my disappointment is about.
“In the passing of time, there will be an appreciation for what this football team, this organization has achieved in 2004. That’s the cornerstone with which we move forward into the future.”
There will be no more moving forward for the Chargers this season, even though they have come further than any team. Schottenheimer started the season with his job dangling by a thread and Brees on his way out the door.
Four months later, Schottenheimer was named NFL coach of the year, and Brees was comeback player of the year.
“It’s hard to describe the disappointment in that locker room right now,” Schottenheimer said. “As disappointing as it is, and it will linger ... nobody thought we would be anywhere near here this season.
“That’s the kind of thing we’ll use to build on.”
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NFL Playoff Overtime Games
*--* Date Teams Round Time Jan. 8, 2005 New York Jets 20, San Diego AFC Wild Card 14:55 Chargers 17 Jan. 11, 2004 Philadelphia Eagles 20, NFC Divisional 4:48 Green Bay Packers 17 Jan. 10, 2004 Carolina Panthers 29, St. NFC Divisional 15:10 Louis Rams 23 Jan. 4, 2004 Green Bay Packers 33, NFC Wild Card 10:35 Seattle Seahawks 27 Jan. 11, 2003 Tennessee Titans 34, AFC Divisional 2:15 Pittsburgh Steelers 31 Jan. 19, 2002 New England Patriots 16, AFC Divisional 8:29 Oakland Raiders 13 Dec. 30, 2000 Miami Dolphins 23, AFC Wild Card 3:34 Indianapolis Colts 17 Jan. 17, 1999 Atlanta Falcons 30, NFC Championship 11:52 Minnesota Vikings 27 Jan. 8, 1994 Kansas City Chiefs 27, AFC Wild Card 11:03 Pittsburgh Steelers 24 Jan. 3, 1993 Buffalo Bills 41, Houston AFC Wild Card 3:06 Oilers 38 Jan. 7, 1990 Los Angeles Rams 19, New NFC Divisional 1:06 York Giants 13 Dec. 31, 1989 Pittsburgh Steelers 26, AFC Wild Card 3:26 Houston Oilers 23 Jan. 3, 1988 Houston Oilers 23, Seattle AFC Wild Card 8:05 Seahawks 20 Jan. 11, 1987 Denver Broncos 23, Cleveland AFC Championship 5:38 Browns 20 Jan. 3, 1987 Cleveland Browns 23, New AFC Divisional 17:02 York Jets 20 Jan. 2, 1982 San Diego Chargers 41, Miami AFC Divisional 13:52 Dolphins 38 Dec. 24, 1977 Oakland Raiders 37, AFC Divisional 15:43 Baltimore Colts 31 Dec. 25, 1971 Miami Dolphins 27, Kansas AFC Divisional 22:40 City Chiefs 24 Dec. 26, 1965 Green Bay Packers 13, NFL Western Conf. 13:39 Baltimore Colts 10 Dec. 23, 1962 Dallas Texans 20, Houston AFL Championship 17:54 Oilers 17 Dec. 28, 1958 Baltimore Colts 23, New York NFL Championship 8:15 Giants 17
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