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Chargers keep a straight face in pumping up hapless Vikings
By: MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | ∞
LaDainian Tomlinson takes the ball for touch down during the 1st-half of a game.
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MINNEAPOLIS -- Over and over, the Chargers heaped praise on the upcoming opponent. They complimented its talent and talked about what a challenge it will be to win today.
The extent of the gushing left one wondering if the Chargers had peeked ahead a week on the schedule and mistakenly thought they were playing the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts today instead of next Sunday.
But no, the Chargers really were talking about the Minnesota Vikings, the same Vikings that limp into the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome today with a 2-5 record.
To a man, the Chargers (4-3) insist that the record doesn't reflect the strength of the 2007 Vikings.
"Absolutely not," running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. "This is a really good team. I'm really surprised that they're 2-5. They could very easily be 5-2 because they play good defense and they have a real good running game. They can do some things in special teams. Their return game is really good -- punt return and kick return.
"This is a very explosive team that should have a better record than they have."
Minnesota has lost five of its last six games since routing Michael Vick-less Atlanta in its season opener. The Vikings have scored just 10 offensive touchdowns, and their passing game ranks 30th in the league. Defensively, they rank 32nd and last in the NFL against the pass and have allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete a mind-boggling 67.4 percent of their passes.
Yet among the Chargers expressing fear of the Vikings was quarterback Philip Rivers.
"Obviously, like a lot teams in this league, the record doesn't always tell the truth," Rivers said. "You could flip that around and they could be 5-2 with just a couple plays here and there.
"When look at them on tape, you don't have to lie to yourselves and make yourselves think they're better than 2-5. We can see it. We know what we're up against and we'll be ready."
What sticks out to the Chargers is the Vikings' play in the trenches. Minnesota's rushing attack is second in the NFL, and Pro Bowl linemen such as center Matt Birk and guard Steve Hutchinson have helped rookie Adrian Peterson rush for a league-leading 740 yards.
Defensively, there's no better tandem of run-stopping defensive tackles in the NFL than Pro Bowlers Pat Williams and Kevin Williams. Last season, the Vikings joined the 2000 Baltimore Ravens as the only teams to hold opponents under 1,000 rushing yards for the season since the 1969 AFL-NFL merger. Minnesota ranks third against the run this season.
In essence, the game will come down to strength against strength -- the Chargers' dependency on Tomlinson, the undisputed best back in the game, against the Vikings' sturdy run defense.
"We've got to do what we do," Chargers coach Norv Turner said. "You have to be smart. You have to pick the best types of runs and we have to get L.T. the football.
"The biggest thing you look at is no one runs the ball very well against them early. Some people have had some runs as the games wore on in the third or fourth quarter.
"The running game is a big part of what we do. So we have to give ourselves opportunities to run the ball, but we have to be smart in what we do."
A victory today would increase the Chargers' winning streak to four games and guarantee at least a share of first place in the AFC West. It would also further separate them from the horrendous 1-3 start and put them on pace for a 10-win season.
"We started out extremely slow and we weren't happy," general manager A.J. Smith said. "We're very, very lucky people here with the Chargers that nobody was 4-0 and 3-1.
"If we can go up there and get a victory, that would mean we would be in good shape trying to win the West with a long way to go. It would also mean that we accomplished a 4-0 record in the second quarter, and more importantly, beat Minnesota and we're absolutely, positively, without a doubt in the thick of the Western division race as we go down the stretch."
Then the focus can turn to the Colts. Turner wanted to hear nothing about the following week's opponent as the team prepared for Minnesota.
"We don't have a lot of room to have a setback," Turner said. "We had our setbacks in September. We need to take advantage of every opportunity we can, and this is an opportunity for us to go play a game."
Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com.
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Norvalous wrote on Nov 4, 2007 7:05 AM:you know.... a win today.... and I just might start liking Norvalicious...
Noodles wrote on Nov 4, 2007 7:39 AM:The Chargers haven't been exactly beating the cream of the crop in the NFL. I am not saying the Chargers aren't good, but their last three wins weren't against very good teams. As for the Vikings, their primary weakness is at quarterback. At some point the Viking QB is going to have a good game. I just hope it isn't against the Chargers.
Joe wrote on Nov 4, 2007 11:56 AM:I can't wait until next year when we can say "goodbye" to "Headbutt/Cheap Shot" Florence and say "hello" to the next coming of Dion Sanders Cromartie. 2nd year in the league and sets an NFL record with a 109.8 yard return. Before we had Martyball and now we have CROMARTIEBALL! It was cool to see Weddle directing traffic on the runback. The Vikes are very physical and have made some excellent defensive plays but their offnese is 100% AP. 2nd half should be interesting. Go Chargers!
Response to Noodles! wrote on Nov 4, 2007 1:20 PM:What do you mean the Chargers aren't good! They stink! Please! They choke when you need them. Go ahead cheer for you home team! It sorta like a family thing for you isn't it? An inbred family thing! Ha!
Sid wrote on Nov 4, 2007 1:48 PM:Well, that second half was a 2 hour enima... Say what you want about the defense giving up 300 yards rushing but when your offense puts up only 10 points and has--- I don't know how many -way to many 3 and outs...what do you want the defense to do? They played well the 1st half, they just got worn down. I've been supporting Rivers but if he becomes Good Phil bad Phil...BAD NEWS!..He may have been accurate with one pass all day...everything was overthrown, behind, and just off....He left 3 touchdown passes on the field today, that would've had the Vikings playing a whole different game, coming from behind...IF YOUR QUARTERBACK PLAYS LIKE CRAP YOUR TEAM PLAYS LIKE CRAP...Come back Good Phil and please stay... Thank God for Brett Favre... The Chargers will still win the west...and they can still be a great team...it all depends on if Good Phil can put Bad Phil to rest!
Joe wrote on Nov 4, 2007 1:56 PM:100% AP is more than enough against our EMBARASSED Chargers. How embarrassing is it to LOSE to a 2-5 team playing with their SECOND STRING quarterback? Overpowered by the Vikes on both sides of the ball and poor safety angles on the long runs. Once again Florence gets a 15 yard personal penalty. I'm sick of his act already. Start Cromatie NOW who doesn't make STUPID plays and has SPECTACULAR PLAYMAKING ability! Is it time to rethink Vincent Jackson as a starting NFL receiver who doesn't even know how to line up which costs the Chargers a FITY YARD pass yard completion (I'm sure Chambers was happy about that) which appeared to have taken the "wind out of their sails". Reprehensible and amatuerish! I have been calling for more playing time for Naanee who looked great early and then was nowhere to be seen. TERRIBLE play calling by Norval as it was, to use his favorite word, OBVIOUS to everybody that our offensive line was overmatched by their Jamalesqe tandem of Williams and Williams and that slamming LT into a brick wall time after time after time was not the solution. Lucky LT did not get hurt. Chambers was the only Charger player who played a respectable game. "Get A Clue" Cottrell now has, in addition to his COVER WHO defense, a TACKLE WHO defense which he can add to his resume. How embarassing is to have over 300 yards rushing against us by a 2-5 team? Is it time to just admit that we really are not a good football team and that last year was a fluke with a lot of luck (remember "Can't line up properly/can't catch with his hands" V.Jackson rolling the ball forward). Just because he is tall and strong does not make him automatically make him a great receiver. Some of the greatest receivers of all time have been diminuitive and fast. Sproles can't get any openings on any run backs. Is it time to let Cromartie handle all returns? Perhaps the Chargers can get back on track next week and have a good showing against the Colts. I hope so otherwise they will be looking uphill at 4-5. Better "luck" next week.
Erhhhhhh wrote on Nov 4, 2007 3:52 PM:I`m looking forward to the 08 draft & free agentcy We need some O-line & some D-line help. Does Wade Phillips have a son to take over as D-coordinator? Peterson is good but come on he could have been limited with the right schemes. Josh Johnson 4th round ?
Bobby wrote on Nov 4, 2007 4:01 PM:Norv just can not handle a winning record? Thanx again Mr. Smith for bringing in your buddy Cottrell. Poor guy could not get a coaching last year but you in your infinite wisdom,,,,,, well you get it!
Noodles wrote on Nov 4, 2007 4:12 PM:Response to Noodles!: If you look at my initial post, you will notice that it was posted well before the game started. As for your insults, nice try. I don't get rattled that easily by someone who clearly seems to be more interested in posting something insulting instead of posting something with any intelligence involved. If you look at any of my other posts, under other columns, you will notice that I said that the Vikings have a very good run defense and that if the Chargers win, it would be via the pass. Clearly at this point, Rivers is playing more like Ryan leaf than Drew Brees. When the Vikings put that many people in the box, then Rivers has to throw accurate passes in order to get the Vikings to back off. Clearly Rivers didn't get the job done. I don't blame the Charger defense for this loss, because the Charger offense wasn't doing much to help them out by sustaining long drives which would keep the Charger defense fresh. The more disturbing thing seems to be Rivers arm. For a guy that is that big, he sure doesn't seem to be able to consistently and accurately throw the ball with some zip on it. Having LT run up the middle that many times, without any success and yet they keep calling that play, boggles my mind. I am very well aware of the Charger history and that they seem to not be able to rise up when they are facing adversity. The Chargers rise up to the occasion when they have a soft schedule, but when things get tough, IMO they fold rather easily. I am a life long Charger fan. Win or lose, they are the team I route for.
Sid wrote on Nov 4, 2007 5:00 PM:Quaterback play fellas...quarterback play... When your down 21-17 and you get a turnover from your defense...YOU CAPITALIZE...GO ON A DRIVE and put the pressure on the Vikings... Rivers was horrendous today...3 fumbles...two on snaps from center...come on...and like I said 3 touchdown passes left on the field...that's a good run defense they have...Rivers needed to step up, instead he threw up... Calling on "Good Phil"...Can someone spell away "Bad Phil"?
viking dude wrote on Nov 4, 2007 6:14 PM:listen to your players. We are a 2-5 team that should be at least 5-2.
bang wrote on Nov 4, 2007 6:24 PM:listen to your players. We are a 2-5 team that should be at least 5-2. ha ha ha. I can't keep a straight face thinking about that game :) I love it when (your) team(s) look past this weeks game towards next week.
ThorSPL wrote on Nov 4, 2007 7:19 PM:Actually he was our 3rd string QB. The 2nd stringer is out with a concussion...
plain & simple wrote on Nov 4, 2007 7:21 PM:I watched the game & our protection was not good & the play calling was not good on O or D
Sean C. wrote on Nov 4, 2007 7:30 PM:Fire cotrell ,replace him with Rivera & for gods sake tell stubborn Norv to stop sending LT into a brick wall.
California Viking Fan wrote on Nov 4, 2007 7:30 PM:Well the hapless Vikings, put a beating on the mighty Chargers. how many yards did AP run for 296 against the #7 run defense. Great game, it will be on the NFL cahnnel on Tuesday in case any of you Charger fans missed it.
Viking fan stuck in Denver wrote on Nov 4, 2007 8:21 PM:Yeah I can't believe how the Chargers players were overhyping the matchup with the hapless Vikings and...oh wait I think Peterson just ran over your #7 soon to be about #15 or so run defense again. How straight is your face now Stuff Writer? Good luck with Indy, try to keep them under 40 if you can...
Sid wrote on Nov 4, 2007 9:32 PM:Hey Viking Fan, When was the last time you guys were in the playoffs? Dude, I like how 3-5 teams talk smack...oh, what's that Chargers 4-4...scoreboard...even the sun shines on a dog's rump every now and then...enjoy your non-playoff year while the Chargers learn from looking ahead and win the west.... I didn't know there were still Viking fans out there...
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