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SDUT: Chargers irked by failed finishes
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Robin Miller
Nov 13, 2012, 10:35:05 AM11/13/12
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Chargers irked by failed finishes
Antonio Gates says team still has fight
By Michael Gehlken
Monday, November 12, 2012
The Chargers jumped all over the Broncos.
They were a penalty away from a three-score lead in New Orleans.
They contained the Buccaneers offense and had three 80-yard touchdown
drives of their own.
�Flashes of greatness,� safety Atari Bigby said Monday. �And then we
don't win."
San Diego's 4-5 record includes three glaring incompletions � three
games in which it held a halftime lead but failed to complete the
effort. The latest of the losing trend came Sunday in Tampa, but no
letdown was more substantial than an October meeting with the Broncos,
with whom the Chargers have a rematch Sunday in Denver.
The Chargers led 24-0 after the first half. They were outscored 35-0 in
the second.
Against the Saints, Broncos and Buccaneers, the team's halftime lead was
a combined 62-31. It was outscored 69-10 in the second half.
Every game is different, not allowing a single explanation to summarize
the struggles, but turnovers clearly have been a factor.
In four wins, the Chargers have one turnover in the second half. They've
committed 11 turnovers in the second half of their five losses. Three
were returned for touchdowns. The eight others led to 13 points.
It's a two-way street.
In the wins, the Bolts defense has forced four second-half turnovers,
all coming in two games against the Chiefs. The unit has two takeaways
in the second half of five losses, intercepting a pass against the
Falcons and Saints.
The defense also has one second-half sack in the three comeback losses.
"We're trying to pinpoint it every week, and there are no excuses for
what we've been doing," safety Corey Lynch said. "We've had a lead
against Denver, a lead against the Saints. The list goes on and on.
We're doing everything we can to stop the downward cycle, if you want to
call it that.�
There was an understanding Monday inside the Chargers locker room.
This can't continue.
Winning the division, multiple players said, begins with putting
together a four-quarter game against the Broncos to prevent falling
three games behind with six to go.
Denver would have the tiebreaker for winning both head-to-head matchups,
so the Chargers would essentially be four games back in the AFC West.
"We've got to put it together to win," Bigby said. "I think we're
capable, and everybody knows we're capable because you can see it. At
times, we're running up and down the field, and we're stopping people,
and they can't do anything on us. We're killing everybody in the kicking
game.
"All these accolades, and the only thing that matters is your win-loss.
But at the same time, it's still the middle of the season. We're in
position to reach all of our goals, besides going undefeated."
Tight end Antonio Gates said he felt the Chargers outplayed Tampa Bay.
They needed to finish, play better simultaneously as an offense, defense
and special teams, he said.
Because of one quality, Gates expressed confidence the team can finish
this season.
"Fight," Gates said. "I think that's the one thing you have to have as a
team. We are still fighting. The will. I think it starts with the
coaches. It starts with the guys that lead you. You see it in Norv
(Turner). He's still able to get us going.
"It's baloney when I hear people talking about the Chargers' direction.
'Is the coach going to be here?' This and that. I guarantee you there
are a lot of teams with better records that don't have the same fight
and the coaching staff and the discipline and the way we prepare and all
those things that add up and make up a good team. We're just not able
yet to put it together for four quarters."
Seven games to go.
Finish or be finished.
Antonio Gates says team still has fight
By Michael Gehlken
Monday, November 12, 2012
The Chargers jumped all over the Broncos.
They were a penalty away from a three-score lead in New Orleans.
They contained the Buccaneers offense and had three 80-yard touchdown
drives of their own.
�Flashes of greatness,� safety Atari Bigby said Monday. �And then we
don't win."
San Diego's 4-5 record includes three glaring incompletions � three
games in which it held a halftime lead but failed to complete the
effort. The latest of the losing trend came Sunday in Tampa, but no
letdown was more substantial than an October meeting with the Broncos,
with whom the Chargers have a rematch Sunday in Denver.
The Chargers led 24-0 after the first half. They were outscored 35-0 in
the second.
Against the Saints, Broncos and Buccaneers, the team's halftime lead was
a combined 62-31. It was outscored 69-10 in the second half.
Every game is different, not allowing a single explanation to summarize
the struggles, but turnovers clearly have been a factor.
In four wins, the Chargers have one turnover in the second half. They've
committed 11 turnovers in the second half of their five losses. Three
were returned for touchdowns. The eight others led to 13 points.
It's a two-way street.
In the wins, the Bolts defense has forced four second-half turnovers,
all coming in two games against the Chiefs. The unit has two takeaways
in the second half of five losses, intercepting a pass against the
Falcons and Saints.
The defense also has one second-half sack in the three comeback losses.
"We're trying to pinpoint it every week, and there are no excuses for
what we've been doing," safety Corey Lynch said. "We've had a lead
against Denver, a lead against the Saints. The list goes on and on.
We're doing everything we can to stop the downward cycle, if you want to
call it that.�
There was an understanding Monday inside the Chargers locker room.
This can't continue.
Winning the division, multiple players said, begins with putting
together a four-quarter game against the Broncos to prevent falling
three games behind with six to go.
Denver would have the tiebreaker for winning both head-to-head matchups,
so the Chargers would essentially be four games back in the AFC West.
"We've got to put it together to win," Bigby said. "I think we're
capable, and everybody knows we're capable because you can see it. At
times, we're running up and down the field, and we're stopping people,
and they can't do anything on us. We're killing everybody in the kicking
game.
"All these accolades, and the only thing that matters is your win-loss.
But at the same time, it's still the middle of the season. We're in
position to reach all of our goals, besides going undefeated."
Tight end Antonio Gates said he felt the Chargers outplayed Tampa Bay.
They needed to finish, play better simultaneously as an offense, defense
and special teams, he said.
Because of one quality, Gates expressed confidence the team can finish
this season.
"Fight," Gates said. "I think that's the one thing you have to have as a
team. We are still fighting. The will. I think it starts with the
coaches. It starts with the guys that lead you. You see it in Norv
(Turner). He's still able to get us going.
"It's baloney when I hear people talking about the Chargers' direction.
'Is the coach going to be here?' This and that. I guarantee you there
are a lot of teams with better records that don't have the same fight
and the coaching staff and the discipline and the way we prepare and all
those things that add up and make up a good team. We're just not able
yet to put it together for four quarters."
Seven games to go.
Finish or be finished.
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