Chargers get decimated by Panthers, 7-31

If you watched this game, you already know how awful it was right from the beginning.  If the blackout prevented you from viewing, then you didn't miss anything.  In a season of awful performances, today's game was quite possibly the worst overall performance by the Chargers, not only just in 2012, but the worst of the entire Norv/A.J. Smith era.  This blog will be brief, because frankly, there isn't much to talk about.



I will sum up everything that you need to know about this game.

• Offense
• Philip Rivers fumbled four times
• Ryan Mathews suffered a shoulder injury in the first half and did not return
• The offensive line was awful
• Danario Alexander had zero receptions
• 162 yards of total offense
• Defense
• Cam Newton: 19/33, 231 yards passing, 2 TDs
• DeAngelo Williams: 22 carries, 93 yards, 2 receptions, 51 yards, 1 receiving TD
• Mike Tolbert: 9 carries, 40 yards, 2 TDs
• Steve Smith: 6 receptions, 57 yards, 1 TD
• Personal fouls
• Antoine Cason for a late hit on Steve Smith in the 1st quarter
• Larry English for roughing the punter in the 2nd quarter

Today's game really was one of most embarrassing performances in recent Chargers history.  It didn't appear that anybody wearing blue and yellow wanted to be out there today.  Not the players, not the coaches, not the fans....not even the cheerleaders.  As much hell as I have been giving Rivers lately, I've never accused him of not caring.  Well, today, I finally saw it.  After Rivers' intentionally sidearmed a pass about 5 yards short of his running back, Philip just looked towards the sideline and shrugged.  The season might as well be over today, because the team has stopped caring.

Dean Spanos needs to stop being a coward and fire A.J. Smith and Norv first thing tomorrow morning.  The search for replacements needs to being immediately!  If the Chargers take a "wait and see" approach to the issues surrounding the team, they are almost assured to be left with table scraps as other teams take serious measures to address their losing ways.  We're playing for draft position now, friends.  There is no pride left to play for.