Bolts confident they’ll bounce back

Monday, Sep 24, 2007
By Tom Shanahan , Chargers.com

The Chargers are 1-2 after three games, and the slow start has players and coaches alike disappointed.

But quarterback Philip Rivers pointed out Monday that the Chargers haven't been known for their quick starts in recent years, even in the 2004 and 2006 seasons when the Bolts went on to win AFC West titles.

"I wasn't involved in the '04 season," Rivers said of his rookie year as a backup. "But we were 1-1, we were 2-2 and we were 3-3. And then we went on a tear. I'm not trying to make comparisons. We're a 1-2 team and we're not playing great; I'm not trying to avoid that. But there is a ton of football left, and we've got the right guys to get it going."

The Bolts are counting on a return home to Qualcomm Stadium Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs (1-2) to rejuvenate their season and fix mistakes from the losses at New England and Green Bay.

In 2004, the Chargers dropped to 1-2 with a loss at Denver after a 1-1 start. They came home to win two in a row against Tennessee and Jacksonville but then lost at Atlanta to drop back to .500. The next week they returned home to start an eight-game winning streak en route to a 12-4 overall record.

In 2005, the Chargers started 0-2, but they rebounded to 8-4 with a five-game winning streak. It was the late-season collapse -- a 1-3 finish -- that resulted in a 9-7 record and missing the playoffs.

Even in 2006 with a 14-2 record, the Chargers were at one point 2-1 and later 4-2. They faced the prospect of falling to 4-3 if they didn't beat the St. Louis Rams without Shawne Merriman in the lineup.

But the Chargers did beat the Rams on their return home, which began a 10-game winnings streak.

"We're disappointed, but we're not down," Rivers said. "We've got the right guys. You've got to have the right guys in these situations. This is when you find out about who you are. We can talk all we want about what kind of team we have when you're 6-0. Every team is great and the chemistry is great when you're 6-0. But when you're 1-2, that's when you find out. This is the week we'll find out about us. I think we'll be right in our thinking of who we are."

Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson pointed out the Bolts face three straight games against their AFC West division rivals, with two at home.

After playing host to the Chiefs Sunday, the Bolts travel to the Denver Broncos on Oct. 7, return home against the Oakland Raiders on Oct. 14 and then have their bye week. The Chargers, Chiefs and Raiders are 1-2 and the Broncos are 2-1.

"I think the main thing we all have to understand is we haven't played a division game yet," Tomlinson said. "This is our first one. Winning championships starts in your own division. So we have to take care of our own division. We have to make sure, when it comes to these three game, we have to be ready to play a complete game. We have to be ready to go the extra mile."

He added an unbeaten start wasn't expected for the Chargers considering the schedule, with road games at New England, Green Bay and Denver among the first six games.

"I'm concerned, but I'm not as concerned as I would be if this was the team that year we went 4-12," he said of the Bolts' 2003 record. "I'm concerned because it's easy to continue on a downward spiral if we let it. But I think I know this team. Everybody is disappointed with the way we started, but, again, we said the first six games would be a tough stretch.

Tomlinson said before the season began the players felt a 5-1 or 4-2 start would have been a strong beginning to the season.

"We wanted to be at least 5-1 after six games or 4-2," he said. "We obviously know we're not going to be 5-1. So without worrying about that, we have to focus on this week. We have to win one game and that's this week.