San Diego Chargers fans witnessed something last Sunday evening they rarely saw last season ” the Bolts lost.
Seattle’s Josh Brown kicked a go-ahead field goal with 7:18 remaining in the game, and the Seahawks added a late touchdown in the 24-16 win over the Chargers in San Diego. It was the pre-season opener for both teams.
As per usual during pre-season, MVP LaDainian Tomlinson did not suit up for the Chargers. Tomlinson, who has not played in a pre-season contest since the 2005 season, is not expected to play this Friday night either when the team visits St. Louis.
San Diego’s prior home contest to the Seattle game was the 24-21 meltdown loss to New England in last season’s second round of the playoffs. At least on this night, the Chargers didn’t blow a sure thing.
The contest was the first for Norv Turner at the helm of the Chargers. Turner, who previously served as a head coach in Oakland and Washington, replaced the fired Marty Schottenheimer in the off-season.
Seattle took an early 7-0 lead as Deion Branch hauled in a 31-yard touchdown pass from QB Matt Hasselbeck.
San Diego got its points off a 14-yard TD pass from backup QB Billy Volek to Malcom Floyd and three Nate Kaeding field goals.
This year’s squad will look to whom many consider to be the top running back in all of football, Tomlinson, to lead the way. Quarterback Philip Rivers, linebacker Shawne Merriman and the rest of the team look to head to Phoenix in February for Super Bowl XLII.
Off-season moves for the team saw San Diego retain the services of offensive guard Kris Dielman, draft explosive wide receiver Craig Davis and say goodbye to linebackers Donnie Edwards and Randall Godfrey.
On the coaching side, the Chargers said goodbye to offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who left to take the head coaching job in Miami, and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, now the head man in Dallas.
This year’s schedule is highlighted by home games against last year’s two Super Bowl contestants. Chicago visits on Sept. 9, with champion Indianapolis in town for a primetime game on Sunday, Nov. 11. San Diego will also host AFC rivals Kansas City (Sept. 30), Oakland (Oct. 14) and Denver (Dec. 24).
San Diego, who hosts San Francisco (Aug. 30) in its other home pre-season contest, began summer training camp last month at Chargers Park. Formerly held in years past at UCSD, the camp will run until Aug. 22.
The Chargers have a pair of fields in back of the facility that offer fans a good view. In addition to bleacher seating, fans are welcome to bring their own beach chairs.
Chargers Park is located at 4020 Murphy Canyon Road, just west of I-15 between Aero Drive and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.
For further information, visit www.chargers.com.