Two NFL teams whose fans entered 2007 with lofty expectations left week 12 with mixed emotions.
The San Diego Chargers (6-5) handed the banged-up, wing-clipped, underachieving Baltimore Ravens a 32-14 beating at Qualcomm Stadium.
Last January the two were the AFC’s top seeds, hoping to meet in a conference championship game that never saw the light of day. Instead, that contest was played indoors in Indianapolis between the Patriots and Colts.
Perhaps San Diego and Baltimore's playoff upsets at home early in the calendar year were a sign of disappointing things to come. As one is presently fighting to stay above .500 in an enervated AFC Western division, the other is now trying desperately to end a 5-game losing streak.
“As a team we just have to keep fighting," says all-pro Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis, who suffers his first loss to the Chargers since 1998. "I've been here 12 years and we've had some bad records. But it's not about the losing streak. As a leader I have to keep my team going."
The loss drops Baltimore to 4-7 and into last place in the AFC North. Divisional foe Cincinnati owns the same record, yet swept the Ravens, giving them a tie-breaker.
Some Raven experts will make the injury excuse for the San Diego trip. Again there was no Steve McNair. Todd Heap didn't play. Chris McAllister remains missing in action.
Regardless, another two turnovers and three fumbles altogether in Sunday's affair add to the Ravens season-long misery in that department.
"We have a lot of young guys playing for injured people," adds Lewis. "My job as a leader is to just keep our heads up, and just keep running out there and play...and not turn the ball over and give them short fields. I think that's our biggest improvement to make."
The game's brightest spot belongs to Charger running back Ladanian Tomlinson. He crossed the 10,000-yard rushing mark in this, his seventh pro season. Although it was his second straight outing against Baltimore with a sub-100 yard rushing performance, his 36-yard dash early in the third quarter sent him over the 10K milestone.
"I knew all I needed was 19 yards going into the game," says Tomlinson. "We knew playing against the number one ranked defense against the run in our conference was going to be tough. But we stayed with it today and I think that's why some of our pass plays opened."
San Diego tight end Antonio Gates caught 6 balls for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Charger quarterback Philip Rivers completed 25 of 35 passes for 249 yards, and threw a touchdown to Chris Chambers in addition to the Gates pair. Tomlinson's 6 catches for 45 yards complemented his 77 rushing yards on 24 carries.
Baltimore quarterback Kyle Boller finished with 191 yards completing 21 of 33 passes. Seven of those throws were complete to wide receiver Derrick Mason, who tallied 99 yards. Running back Willis McGahee collected 59 yards on 17 carries.
The Chargers now travel to Kansas City as they look to stay ahead of second-placed Denver (5-6) in the AFC West.
Meanwhile the Ravens get a chance to make members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins happy. Baltimore hosts unbeaten New England next Monday Night.
"That'll be our super bowl," says Raven safety Ed Reed.
Every NFL season when the last undefeated team loses its first game, retired teammates from the '72 Dolphins, still the only team to go perfect (17-0 counting playoffs and Super Bowl VII), open bottles of champagne in celebration.
Expectations will surely be bubbling over on Monday December 3, 2007!
