With the offense charged up and raring to go, the San Diego Chargers are looking forward to another successful NFL season when they open against the defending NFC champion Chicago Bears at home on Sept. 9.
It will take a huge offensive effort again if the Chargers are to make the leap to the Super Bowl in February.
But Saturday night’s performance at the site of the next Super Bowl showed that the Chargers could put another explosive offense on the field.
San Diego averaged 365 yards per game last season, second in the AFC.
Against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., the Bolts piled up 506 yards of total offense, 265 in the first half.
They won 33-31 on Nate Kaeding’s fourth field goal of the game with 2 seconds left.
Quarterback Philip Rivers went 20-for-30 with 282 yards passing and two touchdowns. Both TD strikes went to Vincent Jackson, who had four catches for 92 yards.
“We did a lot of good things, and anytime you win a game like this, it becomes contagious,” Rivers said.
The Chargers scored 30 or more points in two straight pre-season wins, and without star running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who didn’t play in the first three games.
They had four drives of at least 64 yards against the Cardinals.
“I think the most impressive thing was the drives we sustained,” Rivers said. “Obviously, you like a big play now and then, but we’ll take those long drives.”
The big plays will come when Tomlinson, who led the league with 1,815 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns last season, returns to the field on opening day.
San Diego’s first-team offensive line did not allow a sack against Arizona.
The Cardinals got a late sack when backup quarterback Billy Volek was in the game.
The Chargers had given up eight sacks in the first two pre-season games.
Tomlinson’s backup, Michael Turner, suffered a high ankle sprain in the second quarter, but the injury was not thought to be major.
Turner gained 502 yards on 80 carries in 2006, an average of 6.3 yards per carry.
The Chargers starters played into the third quarter at Arizona, the most time they spent on the field in pre-season games.
Now they’re ready for the games that matter.
Meanwhile, the wait is on for Michael Vick’s sentencing date.
Vick pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting charge on Monday, Aug. 27, which was accepted by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.
Prosecutors have recommended 12 to 18 months in prison, but Hudson could sentence Vick to a maximum of five years.
“You’re taking your chances here,” Hudson told Vick in court. “You’ll have to live with whatever decision I make.”
The sentencing will take place on Dec. 10.
Meanwhile, Vick apologized in a statement on Monday, and vowed to change his life.
“First, I want to apologize for all the things that I have done and I have allowed to happen,” Vick said.
“I want to personally apologize to Commissioner Goodell, Arthur Blank, Coach Bobby Petrino and my Atlanta Falcons teammates, for I was not honest and forthright in our discussions.
“I was ashamed and totally disappointed in myself, to say the least. I want to apologize to all the young kids out there for my immature acts. What I did was very immature, so that means I need to grow up.
“Dogfighting is a terrible thing. I reject it. I totally ask for forgiveness and understanding as I move forward to better Michael Vick the person, not the football player. I take full responsibility for my actions. I am totally responsible. I will redeem myself. I have to.”
Vick admitted in a written plea that he helped kill six to eight pit bulls and supplied money for gambling on dogfights.
However, Vick said that he did not share in the winnings or bet on fights.
The NFL has suspended the Atlanta Falcons quarterback indefinitely, without pay.
Vick, 27, starred at Virginia Tech University and was the top draft pick in 2001.
He has thrilled and amazed fans with his athletic ability, especially as a running QB, and his No. 7 jersey was a top seller.
Vick has 3,859 career rushing yards, 1,039 of which came last season.
He has thrown 71 touchdown passes against 52 interceptions in his career with a 75.7 passer rating.
Now he has to wait to see how long he’ll get in prison and whether or not he’ll be allowed to return to the NFL when he’s released.