Full Article Bizarre play, ruling help Chargers recover from sloppy start By Kevin Acee UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER November 27, 2006 JIM BAIRD / Union-Tribune When it was finished, when LaDainian Tomlinson had again taken a game into his hands and continued his dash toward immortality and a defense had returned some favors and the ghost of the Holy Roller had been partially exorcised, the Chargers were able to walk off the field hollering. “Nine and two,” it echoed as players marched up the tunnel to their locker room. What they should have done is fallen on their knees, looked skyward and finished off this Thanksgiving weekend with a hymn. “We didn't play our greatest,” defensive end Jacques Cesaire said. “But God blessed this team today.” Something might well be at work this season, because yesterday's 21-14 victory over the Oakland Raiders was the type of happening that prompts talk of destiny. “It seems like it is magical, the way things are happening for us,” Tomlinson said. “It's just kind of going right for us. Even with the injuries we have had, things are still going right. Let's just hope it ends in a magical season.” Down two offensive and three defensive starters, the Chargers played what might well have been their worst game of the season and still won for the fifth straight Sunday, opening a two-game lead in the AFC West with five games to play. They knew they were fortunate. They know things must change. “We've got to play better,” fullback Lorenzo Neal said. “We've been sloppy in the first half, and in the second half of this game. These kind of games will catch up with you. . . . Is it a big win? Heck yeah, it's a great win. But I'm getting too old for wins like that. We need to get it going.
