Mile High Mugging

The Chargers got jobbed today. The lack of working replay equipment cost them a vital turnover. A whistle that shouldn't have been cost them the game at the end.

Like most Charger fans, my emotions have run the gamut in the wake of this travesty. Shock. Depression. Anger. Frustration. Wrath. Envy. General pissed off-ness. If PMS is anything like this I really feel sorry for women. At least I had an excuse: my team got screwed over big time. If your body makes you like this monthly for no reason, well, that sucks.

Ed Hochuli made a terrible call. In fact, its worse than that, because it wasn't even a call. It was a whistle that shouldn't have been. It took a win from the Chargers column and gave it to the Broncos. Yes, the Chargers still had a chance. Yes, they could have stopped the Broncos on 4th down or on the 2pt conversion. But fuck that, they shouldn't have had too, since they already stopped them!

I like Ed Hochuli. He's generally a good ref, a good personality, and fun to watch. I don't blame him for the equipment malfunction. I do blame him for his call at the end. Ed's human like all of us. I don't think it was malicious, biased, or intentional. I don't think he was "paid off" and I really hate when that's the first response to a big blown call. That said, he was in the wrong and it gave the Broncos an undeserved last chance. Jay Cutler should be a goat for fumbling away the game. Mike Shanahan should be taking heat for losing an 18 point lead at home. Instead Cutler is praised as the new hot QB in the league (despite being outplayed by Rivers in this game) and Shanny is being stroked by all the pundits as "gutsy", "ballsy", and "more man than you'll ever be".

It sucks, it truly does, to lose a game in that fashion. To have your team fight its way back from 21-3 on the Road, fight though injuries to most of your top players, and come all the way back to take a 38-31 lead. To get what should be the game sealing turnover, only to have it taken away.

Ok, so whats to be said about this?

Nothing.

It doesn't matter what we say. How much we complain, whine, bitch or gnash our teeth.

This is the NFL. In the NFL there is one constant, unbreakable law:

"You are what your record says you are."

The Chargers are 0-2.

They are 2 games back of Denver in the AFC West.

Things are bad.

The defense is starting way too slow and soft in games. The offense is good but still is stalling out early as well. Injuries are mounting. Norv is gonna have a stroke, while half of the fan bases is on suicide watch.

There's only one thing to do: win.

Beat the Jets on Monday. Protect the House.

Go to Oakland and beat them.

Head down to Miami beach and beat the Dolphins.

Come back and beat the Pats.

Win, and keep winning.

This year can take two directions: it can be like 2005, when the Chargers were perhaps the most talented team to not make the playoffs.

Or it can be like the last two years, where early season struggles are washed away with the sweet balm of victory.

Get it done.

You are what your record says you are. Period.