Fans cautiously look forward to a Chargers playoff run

By: David Garrick - Staff writer | Sunday, November 26, 2006 8:12 PM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- Cautious optimism about a possible playoff berth was the mood among thousands of fans at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday morning as they ate hot dogs, drank beer and prepared for a clash between the Chargers and their arch rival, the Oakland Raiders.

No one wanted to speculate about who the surging Chargers might face in the playoffs, what the weather will be like in Miami during the Super Bowl in February, or whether the Bolts would beat the 14-point spread that had been set for Sunday's game.

"Talking about the playoffs and other stuff is on hold today," said 29-year-old Oceanside resident Brian Goldberg.

He said the hype surrounding the Chargers has gotten out of control in recent weeks as the team has run its record to 8-2. "I don't even want to talk about that stuff, because we're expecting a stiff challenge from the Raiders today," Goldberg added.

And a stiff challenge is what the Chargers got. The Raiders, with just a 2-8 record coming into the game, led 14-7 midway through the final quarter, and did not trail in the game until running back LaDainian Tomlinson scored the winning touchdown from 10 yards out with less than four minutes remaining.

Just about everyone in the stadium parking lot had something to say about Tomlinson before the game. Some said he was the best all-around player the Chargers have ever had, while others simply called him "Superman."

The stadium was flooded with thousands of blue and yellow jerseys featuring the No. 21 worn by Tomlinson, who is on pace to break the league record for most touchdowns in a season.

A couple from Vista ---- Alicia Astorga and Moggie Baz ---- said they both wore Tomlinson jerseys on Sunday because he is simply that good.

"He's 'it' right now," said Astorga.

Some of the 66,000 fans at the game were sporting jerseys with the No 56 of suspended linebacker Shawne Merriman, the No. 17 worn by quarterback Philip Rivers and the No. 85 worn by tight end Antonio Gates ---- but those were nowhere near as popular as the Tomlinson jerseys.

Ed Morales, a lifelong Carlsbad resident, said he has no problem with Tomlinson's popularity and the wild proliferation of No. 21 jerseys. However, he said, Chargers teams of the past did not have any single player that was crucial to their success.

Morales was wearing a No. 14 jersey to show reverence for former Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts and the great Chargers teams of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

He said that fans at Chargers-Raiders games have become less rowdy in recent years, which has made the game more about football and less about fights in the stands or shouting matches in the parking lot.

And he counted himself among the fans that have adopted a new demeanor.

"As you get older, you realize it's more about the game than yourself, and it's more about feeling good when you head to work on Monday morning," said Morales.

A group of Raiders fans made the trek from Victorville on Sunday, saying that they would support the Raiders no matter what their record because that is the definition of a true fan.

"You've got to support your team regardless of whether they are winning or losing," Eddie Cortez said.

Cortez also said there are some positives to the shift in fortunes for the Chargers and Raiders in recent years, with the Raiders going from strong to weak and the Chargers going from weak to strong.

There is now less pressure and stress for Raiders fans on game day because they are expected to lose.

"Sometimes it's better to be the underdog," said Cortez.

Some witty Chargers fans said the shift in fortunes for the two teams is the best example of karma that they have ever seen.

As the Chargers have become more popular in recent years, long-time fans said they have chosen to embrace newer fans, instead of calling them out for "jumping on the bandwagon" when the team started winning.

"For the fans that have stuck by the Chargers all along, I give you credit," said Goldberg. "We welcome the fans just starting out, but we could have used your help a long time ago."

Goldberg and several other fans refused to talk about the playoffs, saying they didn't want to put a jinx on the Chargers.

But many fans admitted that they are not making any plans to travel or do anything else on weekends in January and early February, because everything seems pointed toward a long playoff run for the home team.

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