The only even-remotely possible way the Aztecs can lose is if a freshman quarterback who has led his team to only one touchdown in the past four games suddenly starts shredding the SDSU secondary. On top of that, the Aztecs will need not only a complete meltdown offensively, but they’ll also need to mix-in a blocked, chip-shot field goal and a fumbled kickoff.
It all happens. And Wyoming scores 24 straight points to pull off a stunning 30-27 victory. The site on the stadium scoreboard showing “Wyoming 24, San Diego State 0” in the fourth quarter burns in the mind.
Now for Sunday, on the very same field with the very same stadium scoreboard lit up overhead. Playing one of their most-complete games of the season, the Chargers roll to a 28-9 lead over the Philadelphia Eagles heading into the fourth quarter.
With the Denver Broncos having lost earlier in the day, the Chargers have locked up not only their fourth consecutive win, but have remarkably pulled even with Denver in the AFC West standings.
But not so fast. Facing 3rd-and-18 at the San Diego 34 on the final play of the third quarter, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb throws one up for grabs into double-coverage. Interception. Officially game over. Nothing but garbage time for the final 15 minutes.
Only the Chargers don’t intercept it, and Philly’s Jason Avant pulls in the ball with one hand for a 21-yard gain. Well…no matter. Time to go to the fourth quarter, still holding a 19-point lead.
LeSean McCoy opens the fourth with a short run up the middle but the Eagles are handed a first down because of an unnecessary roughness penalty against the Bolts’ Stephen Gregory. No biggie. Yeah…the Chargers have just made two bonehead plays in a row, but c’mon…it’s still 19 points!
Three plays later the lead is 13 as McNabb hits Jeremy Maclin for a 5-yard touchdown. Now the Eagles can pull within 11 points — a touchdown, two-point conversion and a field goal — by going for two. But instead, coach Andy Reid astonishingly brain-cramps and settles for a David Akers extra-point.
The scoreboard shows “Philadelphia 7, San Diego 0” in the fourth quarter linescore. But it’s still a 28-16 game. Not for long.
The Chargers go three-and-out, use up only 1:41 off the clock, and punt it back to Philadelphia. Then they do something that every football team since the beginning of time does. They go into the prevent defense — even with 12:19 remaining in the game.
That's How a Coach Looks After Blowing a 27-6 Lead
All of a sudden, the Chargers are rushing only four — and sometimes only three — while dropping back deep into coverage. The linebackers are 20 yards off the ball just moments after each snap. Predictably, McNabb easily completes seven passes in a row for 11 yards, 6 yards, 11 yards, 5 yards, 10 yards, 13 yards and 5 yards.
Just like that, Philly has moved it all the way to the San Diego 28-yard-line and there’s still a ton of time left. (But, hey, the prevent defense did prevent the Eagles from completing any long ones, so we figure Ron Rivera is still feeling pretty proud).
We, on the other hand, are starting to get a bit nervous — especially when McNabb line-drives a throw between defenders to tight end Brent Celek on fourth down for a 17-yard pickup to the 11. Three plays later, Celek catches another one, this time in the end zone to make it 28-23. There’s still 7:11 left in the game.
The same scoreboard that the night before said “24-0” in favor of the visitors in the fourth quarter now says “Philadelphia 14, San Diego 0.” No way possible! It can’t possibly happen again!
But now a quiet concern has settled in among the crowd.
The Chargers ease the panic with a beautiful six-and-a-half minute drive that culminates in a Nate Kaeding field goal. It’s 31-23, but the Bolts haven’t been able to completely exhaust the clock. Thirty seconds remain when Philadelphia gets it back. Still time for a second Qualcomm miracle in a matter of hours.
The Eagles get it to the San Diego 34 with time left for one final play. McNabb throws a bullet to the end zone — and for a second it seems as if lightning could remarkably strike twice. But Antonio Cromartie steps in front of ball’s intended destination and intercepts it.
Game over. Big sigh of relief.
And the realization that, though it did get a little too close for comfort, when it comes to blowing games — and we’re talking about really blowing them — the Chargers don’t hold a candle to the Aztecs.
– Ello –
