Volek answers the call in the clutch
By: LOREN NELSON - Staff Writer | ∞
Chargers quarterback Billy Volek working in the 4th quarter.
BILL WECHTER Staff Photographer
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INDIANAPOLIS ---- The hotel alarm clock was set. So was the cell phone. A wake-up call had been ordered.
And still, Billy Volek worried about missing the team bus Sunday morning.
"It's tough to sleep the night before a game," said Volek, the backup quarterback who played a starring role in one of the Chargers' most stunning victories in franchise history. "At one point, I woke up and I was like, 'I've got to hurry or I'm going to miss the bus.' And it was like 2 o'clock."
Volek caught the bus, then took the field for injured starter Philip Rivers in the fourth quarter, leading the Chargers on their game-winning drive in a 28-24 shocker Sunday over the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts.
The Colts led 24-21 with 10 minutes, 7 seconds left in the fourth quarter when Volek found his rhythm. He connected with Chris Chambers for 15 yards, Vincent Jackson for six and rookie Legedu Naanee for 27 on the 78-yard drive, which he completed with a 1-yard plunge into the end zone with 4:50 left.
"He didn't blink," Chargers guard Mike Goff said. "He just went in there and said, 'OK, I'm going to get the snap count, I'm going to get the snap and we're just going to play ball.'"
With a crowd of 56,950 going berserk in the final minutes of the last football game played at the soon-to-be-replaced RCA Dome, Volek had trouble making himself heard at the line of scrimmage and in the huddle.
"A man can only yell so loud," Goff said. "It was deafening in there.
"If you notice, everybody almost had their heads together, and if you didn't hear him, you just asked your buddy or somebody who did hear him."
Volek, who became only the fourth player in NFL history to have back-to-back 400-yard passing games while backing up Steve McNair for the Tennessee Titans in 2004, said his first completion settled him down. Volek rolled to the right to buy time as he waited for Chambers to come open.
"It's not even thinking about it, just reacting and putting the ball there and him making the catch," Volek said. "It's just like practice."
For as much worrying as he did the night before, Volek seemed unfazed by the enormity of the situation.
The Chargers were nine-point underdogs on the road, trailing in the fourth quarter against the defending champions, who featured the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year, Bob Sanders, at safety.
"It kind of is (easy), because that's my role in this team right now," said Volek, 31, who was acquired in an early-season trade with the Titans in 2006 and had thrown only two meaningful passes (one of which was an interception) since. "I've enjoyed playing this game so much, I just have fun out there."
Volek's final stat line was an effective, if meager, 3-of-4 for 48 yards. But he did what was asked of him and even a little more, improvising on the throw to Jackson.
More than that, he led the Chargers to a victory, sleepless night and all.
"I had all these plays running through my head," he said about the night before, "and you've got (NFL Defensive Player of the Year) Bob Sanders running all over the field.
"But it turned out to be a fun day."
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Bring on those cry babies! wrote on Jan 13, 2008 11:48 PM:We beat them last year. They were crying like babies! Whaaaaa! I'm angry! I want to fight and vandalize thigs! We will beat them again this year! Go Pats! Get ready for some snow, Ghetto Boys!
Get ready America for the biggest loosers in the NFL! wrote on Jan 14, 2008 2:49 AM:Here come the Chargers in the sorriest league! Like the can even dream of coming into the Pats house and do naything! Please!
Charger Fan wrote on Jan 14, 2008 8:37 AM:Thanks Volek for stepping up and doing the job! The Chargers are ready and are going all the way to the Superbowl! Everyone thought they could not beat the Colts and the Bolts won!
West Coast wrote on Jan 14, 2008 9:28 AM:So, does anyone know what does "naything" mean?
psychojon13 wrote on Jan 14, 2008 10:27 AM:Mr. Brady, meet Mr. Cromartie. Bolts roll to Glendale!!!
Jon wrote on Jan 14, 2008 10:28 AM:Mr. Brady, meet Mr. Cromartie. Bolts roll to Glendale!!!
Jon wrote on Jan 14, 2008 10:31 AM:Chargers going to Glendale!!!!!
Markus wrote on Jan 14, 2008 10:40 AM:I believe "naything" is a little celtic smurph, of sorts. Legend has it a magical "naything" performed a Richard Gere on Brady this offseason giving him magical powers to break all records. Perhaps we need to knock the little fella out next week.
Chargers!! wrote on Jan 14, 2008 10:55 AM:"Naything" um...it's slang meaning.. "Nothing" --> "they aint get naything but penetration" A line from Biggie...
and.. uh.. GO CHARGERS!!!!!!!!!!!
Chris wrote on Jan 14, 2008 2:26 PM:Look Charger Fans, I'm not taking anything away from your team. The Chargers just put up one of the greatest playoff preformances of all time, pulling a massive upset over the defending world champions, in thier home stadium, despite key injuries and penalty calls that made the officials appear to be bribed- power to you. But don't start assuming that a big upset win in the divisional round automatically punches a ticket to the Super Bowl. You can't deny that our offense is one of- if not the- best of all time, or that Brady and Belichick have never lost a home playoff game. Plus, LT is hurt, won't be 100% for that game (even if it is a week away), and the Patriot's defense is a lot better than most people have given it credit for. I won't go so far as to say this will be a blowout, but the Patriots will win: 38-27
RustyWD40 wrote on Jan 14, 2008 3:38 PM:Hey Chris,
Thanks for probably the most balanced contribution from a Patriots' fan. I'm hoping for a good game like last year's playoff match up. If it stays close, the Chargers have a good chance of pulling this off. Actually, I think it is a pretty good chance.
As to the use of the word "will" in front of the word "win" - one has to think you are speaking about the law of gravity and not the game of football.
Chris wrote on Jan 14, 2008 3:39 PM:Oh and one more thing: Given Rivers' immature and highly unprofessional jawing of the Indy crowd Sunday, no Charger player or fan has the right to call the Patriots' class into question. If Rivers wants to avoid getting a beatdown from Seymour and Wilfork, he'll keep his eyes foward and his mouth shut.
Jimbo wrote on Jan 14, 2008 4:30 PM:Volek is the man!!! Watch out, Miami may soon be calling in the off season.
Naything means you Chargers lose! wrote on Jan 14, 2008 6:42 PM:See you in the snow!
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