It was a huge team win, this Chargers come-from-behind victory over the moribund Detroit Lions in the oven that was Qualcomm Stadium.
It was tough to tell which was worse, the 105-degree heat on the field, or the heat Philip Rivers throwing, and the heat of the Chargers pass rush put on the Lions.

There should be more heat directed at Detroit coach Jim Caldwell, who cannot figure out whether his team should be ‘throw first’ or ‘run first’. When you have a talent like Calvin Johnson, he should have more than one pass directed his way in the first 50-minutes of the game. But that’s Detroit’s problem, and they blew a (21-3) lead in losing.

Rivers survived two interceptions in the first half. They survived a Melvin Gordon  fumble. They survived like you and I would in the hot weather, by dealing with the cold facts, you can’t stop Rivers for four quarters, and that pass rush will get you sooner or later.

The quarterback did, throwing for (404) yards on a (35-for-42) passing day. And Melvin Ingram’s crushing hit on quarterback Matthew Stafford, that led to a Kyle Emanuel interception, changed the whole chemistry of the game.

Slick and quick Keenan Allen ran precise routes, caught most everything, and put his name next to Kellen Winslow’s in the record book, for a one day outing, 15-catches for 166-yards.

Tight end Ladarius Green, who blew a block that nearly got Gordon beheaded, rallied to catch five passes too
The kids played well, Gordon breaking off some burst runs once beyond the line of scrimmage. The rookie linebacker Kyle Emanuel had a clean run at the QB for a sack, and was in the right place at the right time, to pick up a deflected Stafford pass for a pick.
They lost the right side of the offensive line, DJ Fluker with an ankle injury that did not look good, and Joe Barksdae, who got jolted and shaken up.

Credit Mike McCoy and Frank Reich. They shifted gears in the 2nd quarter, when the Lions continued to close off the run, and pressure Rivers. They went to quick hitting crossing patterns, and sideline stuff, first for Allen, then Stevie Johnson, and suddenly the air game had taken hold..
When they were done, it was nearly a 500-yard offensive day, and an example of what that side of the ball can be all season long.
You climb out of a hole like they did, it is impressive. Now they have to take that with them into Cincinnati next weekend to face the Bengals.
Against all odds, the weather, the deficit, Megatron, and the injuries, the Bolts beat the daylights out of Detroit. A pretty good start to the season, after a bad start to the day.

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It all starts tonight, when the Steelers face the Patriots in the NFL-Thursday Night opening game of the season.

Time to Pick’Em Pal.   My choices for the Divisional races.

AFC-EAST
Until somebody beats the Patriots, they still have to be the choice team, but as time has evolved, this seems like it is Tom Brady against the world. The last shred of defense is gone, Vince Wilfork, the draft picks haven’t really panned out, there is no star running back and no Pro Bowl receiver. Buffalo will be fun to watch, run the ball, go get the ball with Rex Ryan’s defense. Bluster and Belligerence, but he has risky EJ Manuel at quarterback. The Jets have defense and a new coach, but a QB quandary, Geno Smith-vs-journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Dolphins have Ryan Tannehill, a budding superstar, but holes elsewhere. Pick: New England.

AFC-NORTH
Cincinnati has all this firepower in season, but is a failure post season. Maybe this is the year Andy Dalton breaks the jinx. Pittsburgh has Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, but the defense is deplorable. Cleveland has fixed half the team (defense) but not much else. Baltimore seems to be in transition, always changing parts vis free agency, but Joe Flacco is still there. Wide open division. Pick: Cincinnati.

AFC-SOUTH
Indianapolis has been building towards greatness-this is the year it arrives. For one year at least, Andrew Luck can now lean on other veterans, Andre Johnson, Frank Gore, Trent Cole will all be difference makers. Everybody else is in grow mode. Houston has tons of talent on defense, but little to work with Brian Hoyer on offense. Jacksonville is tough on defense, but Blake Bortels does not have much help with the ball. Tennessee will be fun to watch as Marcus Mariota grows on the job. Pick: Colts.

AFC-WEST
Is there a changing of the guard in the offing? There are so many new things around Peyton Manning, including four new offensive lineman, no pass catching tight end, young running backs, and a coach who wants him to take snaps under center. The Sack Attack pass rush, now designed by legendary Wade Philips will be fun to watch. San Diego has added much to help Philip Rivers, but has gotten younger and more inexperienced on defense, and that is a negative. The Raiders have new leadership, Jack DelRio, lots of young player, with Derek Carr and Amari Cooper, and hope. Kansas City seems stuck in old school mode, run ball, try to win with defense, inability to get down the field. Has time passed Andy Reid by? Pick: Denver

NFC EAST
The Eagles, always in constant change, have great skill, with RBs-DeMarco Murray-Ryan Mathews-Darren Sproles, a new WR package, athletes on defense. Will Sam Bradford, coming off two knee surgeries, stay on the field? Dallas has firepower upfront of Tony Romo, playmaker receivers, but not much of a run game, and defense with a history of injuries. This may be the last hurrah for Giants coach Tom Coughlin and his QB-Eli Manning. Injuries have wrecked the team, and outside of the Cruz-Beckham WR-group, is there anything there? The Redskins soap opera goes on and on. Kirk Cousins has his chance at QB, but the RG3-saga won’t end. Defense has talent but injury history too. Pick: Eagles.

NFC NORTH
The Packers always develop from within. But they are hurting inside now with injury issues at WR and RB. Eddie Lacy and Randall Cobb has to stay healthy, as does LB-Clay Matthews. The Vikings are coming, and now you add Adrian Peterson to newly acquired Mike Wallace and fast developing QB-Teddy Bridgewater, and they will be fun to watch. Defense is a question. In Detroit we keep waiting for it all to come together around QB-Matthew Stafford and WRs Calvin Johnson-Golden Tate. Massive changes on defense. They will score, but they will give up points too. Chicago tries to match old school coach John Fox and free spirit quarterback Jay Cutler. Good Luck with that. Pick: Packers.

NFC SOUTH
A new era in Atlanta after two horrible seasons. QB-Matt Ryan has Julio Jones, but not much else unless these rookie RBs pan out. Tampa Bay is giving the ball to QB-Jameis Winston, but will he be a big play guy or a turnover machine? Transition is a tough thing to watch and many think that is what Drew Brees is about to experience in New Orleans, where his offensive pieces are not what they used to be, and the defense has been non-existent. Carolina lacks help at WR and RB for Cam Newton. Coach Ron Rivera has kept this thing afloat for a couple of seasons, but it might sink this year. Pick: Falcons.

NFC WEST
Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch carry the Seahawks. They do have young, athletic wideouts, but a leaky offensive line. Over a two year period, alot of key defensive players have left, and you wonder if you wake up one morning and the Richard Sherman crew is no longer what it used to be?. Arizona is on the brink of greatness, with talent in various places. If Carson Palmer stays on the field this year, they should go deep into the playoffs. The Rams have enormous defensive talent, but injuries at RB and a new QB in Nick Foles. They might be a year away. San Francisco has nothing but Colin Kaeperneck. Make a list of the players who have left over the last two years, and tell me how they compete? Pick: Seattle.
 

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Assisted suicides are supposed to be illegal, since the days of Dr. Jack Kevorkian.

 
Meet Bill Belicheck, who has likely committed ‘Hall of Fame’ suicide, as detail after detail comes out in the aftermath of the Spygate scandal seven years back.

 
You remember the story. Eric Mangini, former Belicheck assistant, who became head coach of the New York Jets, turned his boss in to the NFL for taping signals of opposing coaches during games using sideline cameras.

 
How would Mangini know all this? He was one of Belicheck’s trusted assistants before becoming a head coach.

 
ESPN’s Outside the Lines investigative show, spilled all the sewage out on the table yesterday, and as it came pouring thru your TV, you could sense NFL fans and the media, will never view this Super Bowl winning head coach again in a positive spotlight.

 
Document after document detailing how Belicheck illegally taped opposing coaches during 40-different games over a seven year period. That depsite having been warned by the NFL league office, it was against the rules.

 
His tepid response, hey 80,000-fans in the stadium are looking at the same signals too.

 
Now we find out he hired a Director of Information to break down the Spygate tapes, and come up with game plan information that was fed from the Coaches booth to Belicheck during the game.

 
The report confirmed assistants went into opponents locker rooms during pregame warmups, looking for Play-Call sheets, that could detail formations and play scripts at the start of the game.

 
Indications are at least 19-teams hired special secujrity to sweep locker rooms at Gillette Stadium looking for bugs, micorphones or cameras.

 
And it went on and on-till Mangini, working with NFL security, on a sting operation, nailed a Patriots employee, decked out in NFL Films gear, with video of sideline signals during a game at the Meadowlands.

 
This was a forerunner of course of Deflate-Gate, so once a cheat, always a cheat.

 
Sure Belicheck has been blessed with great quarterbacks like Tom Brady and before that Drew Bledsoe. And of course, you can always say h was just looking for an edge in a game.

 
Or you can buy the forever ‘we are innocent’ press releases put out by New England owner Bob Kraft.

 
Now when you think of his name, it should probably make you think of Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez. You know how they’re viewed these days.

 
Of course the coaches response, “I’m just getting ready for Pittsburgh’ on Thursday night in the NFL opener.  Maybe he doesn’t care right now.  Some day he will wake up and understand how he will be forever viewed.  The NFL has been his life of accomplishment.  You’d think he’d want to leave a better legacy-memory.

 
I’m not sure you’d ever want to see a suicide in person. But here nationwide, we are looking at a Hall-of-Fame suicide by the Patriots coach, who probably will now never get voted in.

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Assisted suicides are supposed to be illegal, since the days of Dr. Jack Kevorkian.
Meet Bill Belicheck, who has likely committed ‘Hall of Fame’ suicide, as detail after detail comes out in the aftermath of the Spygate scandal seven years back.
You remember the story. Eric Mangini, former Belicheck assistant, who became head coach of the New York Jets, turned his boss in to the NFL for taping signals of hand signals of opposing coaches during games using sideline cameras.
How would Mangini know all this? He was one of Belicheck’s trusted assistants before becoming a head coach.
ESPN’s Outside the Lines investigative show, spilled all the sewage out on the table yesterday, and as it came pouring thru your TV, you could sense NFL fans and the media, will never view this Super Bowl winning head coach again in a positive spotlight..
Document after document detailing how Belicheck illegally taped opposing coaches during 40-different games over a seven year period. That depsite having been warned by the NFL league office, it was against the rules.
His tepid response, hey 80,000-fans in the stadium are looking at the same signals too.
Now we find out he hired a Director of Information to break down the Spygate tapes, and come up with game plan information that was fed from the Coaches booth to Belicheck during the game.
The report confirmed assistants went into opponents locker rooms during pregame warmups, looking for Play-Call sheets, that could detail formations and play scripts at the start of the game.
Indications are at least 19-teams hired special security to sweep locker rooms at Gillette Stadium looking for bugs, microphones or cameras.
And it went on and on-till Mangini, working with NFL security, on a sting operation, nailed a Patriots employee, decked out in NFL Films gear, with video of sideline signals during a game at the Meadowlands.
This was a forerunner of course of Deflate-Gate, so once a cheat, always a cheat.
Sure Belicheck has been blessed with great quarterbacks like Tom Brady and before that Drew Bledsoe. And of course, you can always say he was just looking for an edge in a game.
Or you can buy the forever ‘we are innocent’ press releases put out by New England owner Bob Kraft.
Now when you think of his name, it should probably make you think of Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez. You know how they’re viewed these days.
Of course the coaches response, “I’m just getting ready for Pittsburgh’ on Thursday night in the NFL opener.
I’m not sure you’d ever want to see a suicide in person. But here nationwide, we are looking at a Hall-of-Fame suicide by the Patriots coach, who probably will now never get voted in.

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Who knows where their careers will take them next, but for a 24-hour period, it surely had to be an all time high.

The Chargers began preparations yesterday for the opening game of the season, and for a couple of the rookies on the roster, it had to be a day to remember.

No one knows where nor how long the NFL careers of linebacker Jerry Dzubnar, wide receiver Tyrell Williams and kicker Josh Lambo will go. But for Monday, it had to be a dream come true.

Dzubnar was a walk on linebacker at Cal Poly, once made famous by player turned General Manager Bobby Beathard. Dzubnar now has another notch in his gun belt walking into the Chargers camp as an undrafted free agent, and making the opening day roster. Not bad for a smallish linebacker who epitomizes the adage ‘all football all the time’.

“Dubs” plays with such a big heart.

Williams comes to the NFL from the small time program at Western Oregon. Tall, wiry, quick, he reminds you of another small time receiver who has done well in the NFL, ex-Charger Vincent Jackson, who hailed from Northern Colorado University. Williams might be the next version of Malcom Floyd, headed into the final year of his career.

Lambo is the most unique of all of them.

A former soccer goalie, who was in the camp of the MLS-Dallas Sidekicks, deciding to retire from soccer to give kicking a try. He rewrote all the kicking records at Texas A&M, and arrived in San Diego, producing so much, that popular veteran Nick Novak was sent packing.

There are lots of stories that have days like this around the NFL. Nobodies, who make a roster, with the hopes they can become somebody soon in the NFL.

The trio may not be a super star in the waiting like a Rivers or a Weddle. But they are part of the opening day 53, a dream fulfilled, thanks to opportunity, hard work, and being in the right place at the right time.

Dzubnar, Williams, and Lambo will be in uniform come Sunday against the Detroit Lions, succeeding against all odds, to get this far in their career, hoping opening day is the beginning of lots of days for them in a career hoped for, now about to launch.

A fun day for the 1st day of the opening of the NFL season.

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