January 9, 2005
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Headlines
"There is hope but not this year."
Buffalo News
"How could anybody blame Eli Manning for not wanting to get stuck (there)?"
The Record, Bergen Co., N.J.
"Wide receivers are horrendous"
Houston Chronicle
"No. 1 pick Philip Rivers better get ready to play."
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
"The Chargers merely stink."
Alabama Times-Star
"Expectations have been racheted down to anthill level."
San Diego Union-Tribune
"If it weren't for Arizona, this would be the worst roster in football."
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
"2-14"
Miami Herald
"Strengths: Tomlinson
Weaknesses: Everything else."Florida Today
These were the headlines from early in the season that adorned the San Diego Union-Tribune's special section on the San Diego Chargers reaching the playoffs after a long absence. They were printed in a pale blue color, perhaps to indicate that their sentiments were fading away. Below them, in much larger, darker type was another headline that simply asked, "Say what?".
The Chargers played the New York Jets. The weather was expected to be nastier than it was. A penalty for roughing the passer in the last minute of the game gave the Chargers a chance to tie the score and send the game into overtime. In August, nobody expected them to get so far.
It has been a good year.
