Martyball.  This term can actually be found in Wikipedia.  According to Wikipedia, it’s “a philosophy of football associated with and named after Mary Schottenheimer. In simple terms, it means a focus on the running game, with passing used only to further the running game.”   Martyball had cost the Chargers the playoff game against the Jets 2 years ago for which Schottenheimer was universally criticized.  Perhaps this was on his mind today when he game planned for the Patriots.  LT gained over 5 yards a carry.  New England had no answer for him or Michael Turner, yet on their second to last drive after New England had just tied the game, LT ran for 5 yards on 1st down, then Rivers missed on the next 2 passes.  Punt, then New England drives for the game winning field goal.  Did anyone actually think that this defense which could not stop Brady in the last minute of the first half or in the last game tying drive, would be able to keep him from driving for a winning field goal?  Has any defense been able to do that to Brady?  I’m not sure Brady has ever failed to put his team in position to win under these circumstances.  Schottenheimer should have run LT every down during that possession, and then gone for it on 4th down if they didn’t make the first down in 3.  This would have killed clock and kept Brady off the field if they did not score.  As much as I criticize Belichick, he would have realized this, and played accordingly.  He knows how to attack a team’s weakness.  For example, in the 2002 opener against Pittsburgh, Belichick opened the game with 20 straight passes.  I don’t think that’s been done before or since.

Frankly, they never should have been in this position in the first place.  It was evident early on that the passing game wasn’t working.  Every one of San Diego’s receivers and Antonio Gates dropped easy passes.  Rivers was not on, as evidenced by his horrible screen pass which was picked by Roosevelt Colvin. The running game , though, was almost unstoppable.  San Diego had the ball in New England Territory 10 times, yet could only score 3 touchdowns.  They often killed drives by passing right after successful running plays.  I understand the need to keep a team off balance by mixing it up, but when you’ve got a defense moving backwards with the run, they should have kept it up.  I heard that Schottenheimer was actually going to give his offensive coordinator, Cam Cameron, much more latitude in calling the plays, but he should have taken more control and demanded more runs.

The act of stupidity which actually lost the game was the interception, then fumble by Marlon McCree.  It was fourth and 5 from the San Diego 45 late in the 4th quarter, and the Patriots were going for it.  Brady threw it right to McCree who intercepted, then fumbled it.  It was then recovered by New England at the 32, for essentially a 13 yard gain, but more importantly a first down.  The Patriots then drove for the tying touchdown.  I see this happen a lot, and I suppose I can’t blame a defensive back for getting an interception, but someone should have told him to just knock it down.  On another drive, third and 13 from the San Diego 29, Brady was sacked and fumbled.  The ball was recovered by his own player at the 33.  At this point, it would have been a 50 yard field goal, but Drayton Florence was charged with an unnecessary  roughness penalty which gave the New England a first down and eventually a much easier field goal.  These type of mental breakdowns don’t happen to well coached teams.  I know it’s a cliché, but the Chargers beat themselves today.

Finally, someone please explain to me Schottenheimer’s decision to go for it on 4th and 11 from the Patriots 30 yard line.  From there that’s a 47 yard field goal, which most kickers, especially his pro bowl kicker, should be able to make.  I heard that there was some slight wind blowing against him, but c’mon 4th and 11?  “I thought we had a play we could use to make the yardage,” Said Schottenheimer.”  Maybe that’s true, but why there, and why then?   Instead, he goes for it and Rivers gets sacked for a 5 yard loss.  This occurred at the end of the 1st quarter, but they could have used the three points at the end of the game.  Even if his kicker missed it, Schottenheimer could not have been criticized for trying it.  Next to Marty Morningweg’s decision to not take the ball in overtime, this is the most incomprehensible coaching decision I can remember.  Note to the Rooneys, Do not hire a coach named Marty.  I have a feeling; this Marty will be available soon.  With apologies to Carl Denham from King Kong, Twas Stupidity killed the Chargers.