In what felt like little more than a mid-season walk through, the Chargers practiced on Wednesday facing one distinct difference.
For the first time all season, they’re practicing with no knowledge of who their next opponent will be.
Although any team would gladly take an extra week of rest after a tough 16-game stretch, it must be noted that the Chargers last loss of the 2009 season came after their week five-bye to the Denver Broncos. Head coach Norv Turner pointed out that this bye week has a much different feel to it.
“I don’t know how to compare the two of them,” Coach Turner said after practice. “When you’re in the middle of the season, the bye is about getting away and getting some rest, it’s more mental. This is about doing some extra work in terms of preparation.”
So the Chargers are focusing on keeping up game speed and preparation this week. Even though they’re riding an 11-game winning streak as a trendy Super Bowl pick, recent history shows that earning the first-round bye isn’t a ticket to the Super Bowl — or even the conference championship.
Since 2003, only once has the Super Bowl matchup been between two teams that had first-round byes.
It’s a fact that Charger fans know all too well. After a dominant 2006 season, the Chargers clinched the best record in the league only to fall at home to the Patriots in the divisional round.
“The team that we played against three years ago, New England — it’s not the same team,” LaDainian Tomlinson said. “Obviously the Colts team that we beat last year is not the same team.
“We’re not the same team. Obviously we’ve got a lot of the same guys on the team, but it’s not the same team.”
This year’s Chargers team is different in a number of ways, but perhaps none more important than the willingness and ability of role players to step up in the wake of injuries.
Whether it’s the “Salt n’ Pepper” (as Tomlinson proclaims) fullback combo of Jacob Hester and Mike Tolbert or the stellar play of rookie offensive tackle and former Aztec Brandyn Dombrowski in Jeromey Clarey’s stead, guys have been filling needs all over the field. As Tomlinson puts it, that is what this Chargers team is all about.
“This is a team game, and we’ve proved it by the way we play and have had to fill in for our guys.”
Jeff Creps writes for 619 Sports and SDNN
