DE Vaughn Martin, center, says Chargers players have overcome bigger obstacles in their lives than Monday night's loss to the Broncos, and he is confident the team will regroup and persevere. (US Presswire) |
The Chargers (3-3) conducted their only practice this week on Wednesday. In general, the mood was surprisingly upbeat, despite the fact that the team is coming off a historic loss on Monday Night Football that saw the Broncos (3-3) overcome a 24-0 halftime deficit to win 35-24.
The Chargers also blew a 10-point, second-half lead on Sunday Night Football in Week 5. QB Drew Brees led the Saints to 17 unanswered points to win that game. In total, the Chargers have given up 52 unanswered points in the second half over the last two weeks.
Coach Norv Turner addressed mounting concerns. “You look at our last two games and there is a lot of thought in terms of being able to finish or put another team away,” Turner said. “It goes a lot deeper than that. The thing right now that is keeping us from winning games is the big negative play. In this game (Broncos), it was the turnovers (6). We can eliminate them. We are going to eliminate them. We have done that in the past. That will be our complete focus as we go through this bye.”
Players remain united that they are capable of being a championship caliber team, but they're well aware that Monday's loss was ugly.
SS Atari Bigby said: “If you are up 24 to nothing, the game is supposed to be over. You are not supposed to let a team come back after such a lead, when a team spots you 24 points. As far as managing the game, I don’t know what to say about that. Obviously, we let them come back from a 24 point lead, so it can’t be good.”
CB Antoine Cason: “It definitely wasn’t good. It’s really not fun to be a part of something like that. ... I look at myself first. What can I do to make more plays? How can I be better? Then go out and do what I can do to go out and be a better player on this team and help us finish our games.”
DE Vaughn Martin said the team knows it can turn it around because the Chargers have players who have already overcome greater obstacles than blowing leads on prime-time television.
“The thing that installs the faith in us is the fact of who we are,” he said. “There are a lot of people playing football in America; at the grass root level, the high school level, the college level. All of them strive to get here. Some of them more athletic than the guys that are here in this league, There are 1,500 of us. We are special people.
"We are people that have been knocked down. I’m from a different country (Jamaica and Canada). Go ask [Curtis] Brinkley why he still believes. He got shot three years ago. That’s why we still believe. It’s football. We go out there and practice, and we are still mathematically tied for first place. That’s why we believe in this. It’s not that crazy. None of us in here are crazy. We are just hard workers and people that have been through things. Antonio Garay, he was out of football (a year and a half) with a broken leg [and shattered right ankle], nothing. He is here. That is why we believe.”
Practice report: The Chargers weren't required to release a practice report because they don't have a game this week. LT Jared Gaither (groin), WR Eddie Royal (hamstring), and CB Quentin Jammer (unknown) were observed not practicing. K Nate Kaeding (groin) said he was limited but that he expects to return to full participation either next week or the week after.
What’s next: The Chargers are off until Monday because the collective bargaining agreement mandates a four-day break for the players during the bye week.
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