Chargers try to put 'fumble' behind them
Last Updated: Monday, September 22, 2008 | 9:53 AM ET
CBC Sports
San Diego quaterback Philip Rivers and head coach Norv Turner host the New York Jets on Monday night. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)More than a week has passed, but the memory of a blown call still rankles San Diego coach Norv Turner.
That said, the Chargers will try to move on and avoid going 0-3 to start the season when they host Brett Favre and the New York Jets on Monday.
On Sept. 14 in Denver, the Chargers came back from 18 points down in the second quarter to take a seven-point lead over the Broncos with 4:22 left to play in regulation.
Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler led Denver down the field and on a second-and-goal play, the ball clearly slipped out of his hand, bouncing off the grass and into the arms of San Diego linebacker Tim Dobbins.
Game over, or so the Chargers thought.
Referee Ed Hochuli blew his whistle inadvertently, ruling it an incomplete pass, and instead of the Chargers having a chance to run out the clock, Cutler threw a touchdown pass two plays later and Denver made a two-point conversion to win 39-38.
"It was clearly a fumble," Turner said. "Ed came over, the official, and said he blew it, and that's not acceptable to me. This is a high-level performance game and that's not acceptable to have a game decided on that play."
The Chargers, who lost on the final play of their season opener against Carolina, must now regroup for Monday's game against the Jets, a contest with significant historical meaning for San Diego. Since 1990, only three teams have made the playoffs after starting the season with an 0-3 record, and none since Buffalo in 1998.
A victory against the Jets won't come easily, especially when you consider Favre has owned the Chargers.
The future Hall of Famer has won all five head-to-head starts against the Chargers during his career, including three in San Diego and a matchup last season that saw Favre guide the Packers to a 31-24 upset victory at Lambeau Field.
San Diego also has serious defensive problems.
The Chargers' defence has allowed an average of 437 yards of offence and 32.5 points per contest this season.
What's more, linebacker Shawne Merriman is out for the season after having knee surgery last week, while star running back LaDainian Tomlinson has been troubled by a toe injury and hasn't scored a touchdown in two games.
The Jets are also coming off a Week 2 loss, as they followed up an opening-day victory in Miami (20-14) with a 19-10 loss at home to the New England Patriots.
With files from the Associated Press
