He will break your All-Pro CB's ankle like a piece of dry shit.
I was only able to see one NFL playoff game this entire weekend. Luckily, it was the late Sunday game: Patriots at the Chargers.
I had high hopes for this one and they were realized. I've been rooting for the Chargers (or rather, LaDanian Tomlinson) all year (all sad Redskins sad year) and the prospect of a Saints-Chargers Superbowl made many neutral fans salivatorial.
4th Quarter, tied at 21. The Chargers had the ball on their own 30 yard line with 4:30 on the clock. LaDanian Tomlinson, who had already run for 117 yards (5.3 yard average) and two TDs (as well as 64 receiving yards, accounting for 64 % of the Chargers offense), was the obvious choice for a gut-busting 40 yard drive to kick the game winning FG with the clock expiring. Tomlinson, the best player in the NFL this year & and a young, passionate, classy, hungry and purely-blessed athlete, took the ball up the churning gut for six yards on first down.
On second down, Martyballs got cute with a play-action call that went to the check-down TE and was incomplete. On third down, Martyballs called a pass that was not delivered accurately by his young QB. Punt to the Patriots with 3 1/2 minutes left? Bad idea.
There were lots of bad ideas and poor playing on exhibit today. Brady was as erratic as a garden sprinkler that had been up all night getting free tea-bags at the "Man Shack." The Patriots have been committing too many penalties all year, and were careless with the ball.
Nevertheless, the Chargers gave the game to the Patriots with dropped passes, fumbles, inattentive play, personal fouls & questionable play calls. That sure smacks of bad coaching. Why go for it on 4th and 11 early in the game, when Nick Kaeding is in the top 5 of the league in FG percentage, with a 40-49 yard percentage of 77.8%? Do you think those three points might have been useful later in the game?
The Chargers looked overwhelmed on offense ... unless LaDanian Tomlinson had the ball. In which case they were unstoppable.
The Chargers had a dynamic defense, a good O-line and the best football player I've seen in a long, long time. With the game in hand, and the full playbook available, Martyball Pulled a Romo.
Should have kept handing the ball off, Martyballs. Ladanian Tomlinson was your lightning. You got to ride the lightning. 
How do you not give it to this guy?
3 comments:
As you know, I've been totally convinced that there is no god for quite a while now. (Mainly as result of the people who contribute to this site) But games like yesterday's SD/NE match-up make me believe in the possibility of a grander plan. Sure the Charger's should have used LT more, and there were some other demonstrable tactical errors (namely the completely pointless challenge in the second half), but that notwithstanding, there is no explanation for that fact that Tom Brady throws yet another interception, which is then immediately fumbled back to the Patriots in better field position. That's just unpossible. And actually as a Raider fan, its gratifying to know that as much as God hates (if he exists) hates us. He hates Marty Schottenheimer more.
Anybody think the speculation of Martyballs being fired is accurate?
Is this a proper move?
Martyballs coached them to 14-2, and even presided over the NFL PLAYCALL OF THE YEAR: THE BUMAROOSKI.
Yet in the playoffs, he once again pulled a Romo.
Practically, they've got to give him another year, though the fact that he loses in an excruciating way everytime his teams come close to victory suggests that they should cut him loose. I think its a similar situation to Tony Dungy in Tampa. Sure he can build a team, but is he capable of winning in the playoffs? Ultimately, probably not. Unless of coarse he meets Tony Dungy.
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