The NFL notes. Born in the USA. . . .
There are road trips, there are long road trips, and there are road trips that never seem to end.
And then there’s the road trip the Chargers just concluded.
They flew 11,000 miles and lost two games in two countries. They didn’t have a sack or force a turnover in either game. They were called for 134 yards in penalties Sunday. Oh, and did I mention the quarterback who beat them in London used to wear their uniform? Chap name of Drew Brees, who threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns . . . by halftime.
The losses dropped the Performers Formerly Known as the Big, Bad Bolts to 3-5. Two more defeats and Philip Rivers will match the total from his first two seasons as the team’s starting quarterback.
“The Chargers are no good. Got it?” That’s how San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Nick Canepa summed up the Bolts’ day, not to mention their half-season.
Their problems are too many to detail in the space I have here, so let’s focus on the most glaring one. It’s called defense. The Chargers went into Week 8 ranked 28th in the league in “D,” including 32nd vs. the pass.
San Diego has forced 10 turnovers, putting the Chargers on pace for 20. They forced 48 last season, helping them rack up an incredible plus-24 turnover margin. This season, they’re at minus-1 and counting. . . .
How shaky is the San Diego defense? Consider this: The Broncos’ pass rush, long a sore subject in this dusty old cowtown, has accounted for 17 sacks in seven games. The Bolts have 17 in eight. . . .
Not that the Chargers are sunk in the AFC Worst. The four teams in the division have combined for a 10-19 record, tied with the NFC West for the worst in the league. . . .
If the Chargers are the NFL’s most disappointing team, the AFC South is the most disappointing division. The South produced three playoff teams in ’07 but went into Monday night with one team above .500. . . .
Brian Westbrook accounted for 167 rushing yards, six catches and two touchdowns in the Eagles’ win over Atlanta. Not bad for a guy with broken ribs. On a bad day, Westbrook is the most versatile tailback in the league. On a good one, he’s the best in the business. . . .
By the numbers: On top of everything else he brings to the Sunday picnic, Westbrook doesn’t make mistakes. He has three fumbles since the start of the 2005 season, a span of 1,015 touches. . . .
Broncos linebacker Boss Bailey, on Westbrook’s amazing versatility: “He could be a No. 1 wide receiver for some people. He’s that good.” . . .
He has a quarterback’s number, but he’s all wideout. Ted Ginn Jr., that is. Why does Ginn, coming off a career-best 175 receiving yards vs. the Bills, wear No. 19? It was his father’s number in high school. . . .
What, you think the Raiders are inexorably trapped in the past? The Lions, a team with four league championships and 17 Hall of Famers, are celebrating their 75th NFL season. To mark the occasion, they’ve gone out and lost seven straight. . . .
At this point, Detroit and Cincinnati are serious threats to lose out. On a more positive note, the Lions scored in the first quarter Sunday. They had been shut out 54-0 in the opening quarter in their first six games. . . .
If you’re wondering why owners fire coaches so quickly, don’t. Sometimes a new voice is the best thing for an organization. To wit: The Falcons switched coaches and have matched their win total (4) from last season. The Ravens did, too, and are one win away from last season’s total of five. The Dolphins, meanwhile, are 3-4 under Tony Sparano after losing 15 games under Cam Cameron. . . .
From the e-mail bag: “O Great One, I posit that the best thing for the 49ers would be the return of Mike Shanahan to Baghdad by the Bay.” Probably not, but at least you got the “O Great One” part right.
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
Turnover tales
Turnovers are a major factor in NFL teams’ success, or lack thereof. Last season’s top five teams in turnover margin and how they are doing this season:
2007
Team Take Give +/- W-L
San Diego 48 24 +24 11-5
Indianapolis 37 19 +18 13-3
New Eng. 31 15 +16 16-0
Tampa Bay 35 20 +15 9-7
Seattle 34 24 +10 10-6
2008
San Diego 10 11 -1 3-5
Indianapolis 10 8 +2 3-3
New Eng. 12 9 +3 5-2
Tampa Bay 15 12 +3 5-3
Seattle 7 11 -4 2-5
