1-Man’s Opinion-Monday–10/5 “Heroes and Hurt Players”
Adversity is part of the NFL. Overcoming adversity is what separates a win from a loss.
Example-the San Diego Chargers.
What could go wrong did go wrong. And then it got worse.
End result-the Chargers (30-27) win over the troubled Cleveland Browns.
Philip Rivers overcame it all, and Cleveland quarterback Josh McCown almost did too.
Rivers, playing behind 3-backup lineman, survived 6-horrible plays, sacks, and an offense of (-9) yards to start the game.
The coaching staff changed everything, and saved the quarterback, and his beatup offensive line by going no-huddle, then no-huddle spread. It was the beginning of the end for the Browns.
But Cleveland’s quarterback stood equally as tough. The Chargers blitzed McCown 29-times in the game, sacking him four times, knocking him down 10-more times. It was a show of courage and leadership from the Browns.
Everytime you thought the Browns were about to take control of the game, someone stepped up and made a play. Danny Woodhead bailed Rivers out of a jam, by running an underneath route off a blitz, catching a pass, and gaining 62-yards. Moments later a TD.
Later on, in trouble, Donnie Inman hauled in 69-yard catch and run, and a TD came shortly thereafter.
Keenan Allen caught a perfectly placed 37-yard TD pass that dropped out of the sky on the sideline in the endzone.
Josh Lambo kicked two long field goals, then given a chance after a Cleveland penalty, hit the game winner with no time left on the clock.
It was a war of attrition too. The Chargers were down to 2-wide receivers in the second half, when concussions took out Malcom Floyd and Stevie Johnson. And Brandon Flowers went down with a head injury too.
It was not pretty, but it was a win. Maybe it saved the season, for San Diego might not have recovered had they lost and fallen to (1-3).
The Browns had chances, but kept taking penalties, and their defense wilted too. They did not survive this one, and it could be devastating for a team trying to find itself.
On this day, they were hurt and heroes surfaced for San Diego.
