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CHARGERS: Defense falters in clutch

By LOREN NELSON - Staff Writer | Sunday, November 16, 2008 11:56 PM PST ∞

PITTSBURGH ---- The Chargers didn't allow a touchdown. Stephen Cooper didn't care.

"We lost," the Chargers' fiery linebacker said.

Despite being on the field for a mind-numbing 36-plus minutes, the Chargers' defense allowed just three field goals in the Pittsburgh Steelers' 11-10 victory at Heinz Field on Sunday.

So what, says Cooper.

"There's never anything positive to take out of a loss," he said.

The Chargers had gone 11 games, dating back to a January playoff win over the Tennessee Titans, since holding a team without a touchdown. The Chargers sacked Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger four times, tying their season-high for sacks in a game this season.

But with the game hanging in the balance, the Chargers were unable to stop the Steelers from traveling 73 yards on their final, 13-play drive. That march ended with Jeff Reed kicking a 32-yard field goal with 11 seconds left.

"As a defense, you want to be in that position," Cooper said. "You want to be able to go out there and win games. We did it last week (against Kansas City)."

The Chargers fired their defensive coordinator, Ted Cottrell, before the Kansas City game. Ron Rivera was promoted from linebackers coach to replace Cottrell, and Rivera has tweaked, not overhauled, the schemes and play calling.

"He's putting us in position to make plays," Cooper said about Rivera. "But guys are breaking down technique-wise and not doing their jobs. And it is taking its toll on us, especially on that last drive.

"We had to be able to get off the field and close the game out."

While the Steelers had trouble scoring touchdowns (a safety accounted for their other points), moving up and down the field wasn't nearly as difficult.

Roethlisberger passed for 308 yards, Hines Ward had 124 receiving yard and Willie Parker had 115 rushing yards. The Steelers last such 300-100-100 game came in 2004.

Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson said the zero, as in Steelers touchdowns, pitched by the defense should have been enough to ensure a victory.

"Our defense holds a team from scoring a touchdown, they only kick field goals ---- those are games we are supposed to win and we expect to win," Tomlinson said. "And I think for me, that is what is so disappointing. Because our defense played a heck of a ballgame."

Contact sports editor Loren Nelson at (760) 740-3551 or lnelson@nctimes.com.