Chargers nearly pull off yet another comeback, but fall short

Kevin Acee

Sunday, October 5, 2008

MIAMI - Almost, again.

The Chargers lost their first two games by a combined three points. Their
third loss, 17-10 to the Dolphins Sunday, was by a touchdown, but also by a
yard.

And a half.

As in another horrific first half.

The Chargers have trailed at halftime in all but one game and in all three
of their losses.

"We can do it," Philip Rivers said. "But we're making it tough."

The offense was stifled for the second straight game. The defense was
excellent except when it mattered most.

So instead of continuing a win streak, the Chargers dragged a 2-3 record
back across the country, their same five-game mark as last season.

This week, they play their nemesis, the New England Patriots, their only
game at Qualcomm Stadium this month before a two-game trip to Buffalo and
London, where they play the New Orleans Saints.

"We (fought) our way out of it," LaDainian Tomlinson said of 2007.
"Hopefully we can do the same thing this year. We've got a tough road. It's
not last year."

Down 17-3 at halftime, the Chargers got to 17-10 on a 17-yard touchdown pass
from Rivers to Chris Chambers. On the ensuing kickoff, Jacob Hester forced a
fumble and recovered it. The Chargers drove to the 1-yard line in five
plays, but on the first play of the fourth quarter, Tomlinson was stopped on
fourth down.

The Dolphins converted five crucial third downs in the final quarter,
including four as they ran out the final 5:55 of the game.

"We just got flat-out beat early," cornerback Quentin Jammer said. "And then
we couldn't get off the field at the end."



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