Sports Insider

Early reports indicate that Heinz Field will live up to its reputation. A tarp was taken off the field a few hours back, uncovering a playing surface that it both soft and wet. That’s exactly how the Steelers like it, especially against a Chargers team loaded with speedy skill players, most notably shifty running back Darren Sproles.

The weather reports, which predicted a frosty but clear evening of football, seem to have missed the mark. The cold is there, but light snow flurries have come with it. How that affects the Chargers, who have played in similar weather a few times this season, has yet to be seen.

Send us a comment to let us know how/if you think the weather will be a factor in the outcome.

If you’re going to Pittsburgh for Sunday’s AFC Divisional playoff game between the Chargers and the Steelers, the North County Times wants to hear from you. Please contact us via e-mail at sports@nctimes.com or by phone at 1-800-200-1601.

LaDainian Tomlinson didn’t practice all week, and ESPN reported this morning that team sources said his groin strain suffered last week against the Denver Broncos has become a groin tear.

There are conflicting reports about the severity of the injury and whether surgery will eventually be required to repair it, but one thing is clear. Tomlinson will start tonight’s wild card playoff against Indianapolis. He’s gone through pre-game warmups, and while he took it easy on certain exercises, he’s going to play. As far as his effectiveness and his ability to make the quick cuts that made him a superstar, that won’t be known until after kickoff. 

A Chargers spokesman wouldn’t confirm or deny the accuracy of ESPN’s report, but Tomlinson seems to be moving around okay regardless of the exact diagnosis.

It should be noted Chargers officials and players haven’t been particularly forthcoming with injury information in similar situations.

Last year, on the eve of the AFC Championship game, quarterback Philip Rivers denied having knee surgery the week before the game. Turns out he did, indeed, have surgery leading up to the game.

Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (ankle sprain) will also play today. How long or how effectively remains to be seen.

Apparently the double-secret, back-way, Bat entrance into Qualcomm isn’t a secret anymore.

What is usually a smooth, traffic-free ride into the stadium was backed up for miles this afternoon. NCT photographer Don Boomer reports that, three-plus hours before kickoff, he was stuck in that line of vehicles, right behind Norv Turner.

If there was any doubt that this isn’t your average, ordinary, everyday regular season game, the crazy traffic, jammed lots and fan holding the sign “Jay Cutler punches kittens” tells me there’s something special about this one.

Oh yeah, two teams, one AFC West title, one playoff berth. Is that a cage they’re building around the field?

It will be interesting to see what Jim Steeg, the Chargers’ chief operating officer and master of pregame festivities, has cooked up for this one.

The game should be pretty good, too.

The Good Ship Chargers sails into Tampa today for what is, in effect, a playoff game against the Buccaneers.

The Chargers must win to have any hope of reaching the playoffs. We’ll see.

The Chargers were in the same situation last week in Kansas City and did not play well, yet somehow they won.  No way the same effort and execution today will result in a W.

Last season the Chargers hadn’t won a road game against a quality team until they went to Nashville and edged the Titans. That was a quality win. This would be the same.

We’ll see.

It’s a beautiful, winter day here in Kansas City. Other than the gusting winds and icy rain, I’d say this is about as good as it gets in the mid-December Midwest.

Still lots of good seats available, for those willing to hustle to the airport and catch a Southwest non-stop. You’d probably get here by the start of the second half.

“The Loudest Stadium in the NFL” has layers of orange, yellow and red seats. No doubt thousands of them will remain empty today in what very well might be “The Quietest Stadium in the NFL.”

Among the inactives listed for the the Chargers are safety Clinton Hart and linebacker Anthony Waters. For the Chiefs, ex-Charger linebacker Donnie Edwards is listed as inactive.

Today’s goal with this discussion board: For one person (non-related) to chime in with a comment.

COME ON PEOPLE, REACT TO ME!

North County already is 1-for-1 in CIF San Diego Section football finals today, with Valley Center rolling past Madison 31-20 in the Division IV title game.

Next in the four-game championship lineup at Qualcomm Stadium is Cathedral Catholic and Valhalla in Division III, and running back extraordinaire Tyler Gaffney just scored on a 19-yard run to put Cathedral Catholic ahead 14-6 late in the first half.

We’ll provide updates, obscure tidbits of information and lame attempts as humor from the rest of this game, as well as the Helix-Oceanside matchup in Division II and Escondido-La Costa Canyon in Division I to finish the night.

Feel free to chime in with your questions, comments and observations.

It’s Thursday Night Football, Qualcomm style.

Little known stat: The Chargers have won their last 10 games against the Oakland Raiders. The arrival of the Silver and Whack might just be what the Chargers need to snap out of a three-game losing slide.

A loss would only ratchet up the misery on an already excruciating Chargers season.

Either way, this should be a fun one. The Raiders already have received a hearty round of boos for warmups. Chargers fans haven’t been more than a little surly lately. 

As always, we’ll post our comments and game updates here.

We’ve got some surprising news to start the day: Chargers guard left guard Kris Dielman is out with what is listed as the flu.

That’s a pretty big surprise, given that Dielman is one of the league’s best-paid offensive linemen and there was no indication during the week that he wasn’t feeling well.

Taking Dielman’s place in the starting lineup will be Scott Mruczkowski, who has started just one game (in 2006 for an injured Kris Dielman) in his four seasons with the Chargers.

The Chargers’ offensive line already faced a huge challenge in Falcons defensive end John Abraham, who has 12 sacks this season.

Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts have invaded Qualcomm Stadium, and if any Chargers game is worthy of a title, count this as one. For something original, let’s call it, “A Season on the Brink.”

The Chargers lose this one and … well, they’re in the AFC Worst, which means they still have a chance to make the playoffs. With a win, the Chargers are just a game behind Denver, which was drilled by Oakland.

There was lots of talk this week about Norv Turner’s status. The Chargers, specifically general manager A.J. Smith and owner Dean Spanos, were asked if Turner will have a job next year. What were they going to say? No?

Maybe it’s just me, but I consider ”Votes of Confidence” about as worthwhile as the “wind-chill factor.” Feel free to ask Chuck Long, Marty Schottenheimer or 1,000 other fired coaches about their confidence in votes of confidence.

Enough of that. Feel free to drop in here with questions, comments, rants or anything else.