Jan 12 2009
Chargers give it their all but come up short
Weren’t you astounded that in the blowing snow and bone chilling cold, the sunny-climate Chargers were able to drive down the field on their first possession from scrimmage and shock the Steelers? The long and accurate pass by QB Philip Rivers to WR Vincent Jackson stunned the crowd and made the Chargers sit up and realize they could be in this game.
It was to be the highlight of the day for the Chargers. The Steelers took a bit longer to get going. Although they scored later in the first quarter on a Santonio Holmes kick-off return, their first points off an offensive possession didn’t take place until the 7:41 mark in the form of a Jeff Reed field goal.
San Diego scored again to take the lead after a field goal and Pittsburgh finally looked like the team it thought it would be as the first half was about to end. Willie Parker looking stronger than he has in weeks drove into the end zone for a TD and a lead the Steelers wouldn’t relinquish.
It was on that drive that the Chargers’ defense started to look tired, cold and less potent than they had earlier in the game. Adrenaline had been pumping and when that leveled off, all of a sudden the cold and bruising play of the Steelers took its toll.
While the Chargers never gave up and scored twice in the final quarter the game was beyond their reach. In a display of clock control and powerful use of all its offensive weapons the Steelers had the ball for the entire third quarter except for one lousy play. The Chargers attempted one pass that was intercepted after being deflected. The final score was 35-24.
There is no shame in this loss. The Steelers played like the home favorites they were, the only home team and higher seed to win all weekend. The biggest question for the Chargers is what to do with their running game if LT continues to struggle physically.
