WEMBLEY, England – Those of us from the colonies waited all week for a good fog. You know, a pea-souper, as they say here when not ingesting eggs and pints. The mythical mist didn't show up until last night at fabled Wembley Stadium, and wouldn't you know? The Chargers were lost in it, arms out, feeling their way around.
Of course, they've kind of been in and out of it for a while, no matter where they've played. Maybe that's what has made it so difficult for people to see them as they really are, as they've been since September turned.
The Chargers are no good. Got it? I've been saying it and many of you not among the legion of doubters have refused to believe it. There's something terribly wrong with them, and it's their defense, which has become among the NFL's worst. It again was glaringly on display in last night's international event, which culminated in a 37-32 New Orleans Saints win.
So the Chargers are 3-5, headed for a bye week – in which they should excel – and the only reason they've avoided extreme unction thus far is because the AFC West is as putrid as the Chargers' defense. And, face it, a lot of priests probably can't bear watching.
I can't hold a conversation with team General Manager A.J. Smith without him telling me defense wins championships. I've heard it more than my own name. If that's the case – and he's right, defense usually does – then a championship definitely will not be coming to our city any time soon.
And don't say it's the San Diego Curse. Curses can't tackle and rush the passer.
It used to be, not long ago, that when the Chargers scored 32 points they practically were guaranteed a win. They're starting to look more like the old Air Coryell Chargers, but without the pizazz. Outscoring teams that can move the football like the Saints is hard to do.
Especially when you allow New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees – the former Charger who took special delight in this one – to throw for 339 yards and three touchdowns, without an interception. But that isn't, well, the half of it. Over the first 30 minutes, Brees completed 22-of-29 passes for 229 yards and two scores.
And the only time I can remember Brees being touched all evening was when linebacker Antwan Applewhite threw an obvious late hit on him. Brees was not sacked, of course. Nothing new. The Chargers haven't recorded a sack (or forced a turnover) over their past two games, both, not surprisingly, defeats.
It's obvious. This defense isn't the same without injured linebacker Shawne Merriman, a national force they honestly don't believe they have to sign after his contract expires following the 2009 season.
Let's make this clear. They do. Merriman obviously brings an attitude to this defense. Opponents must prepare for him and, even if he's stopped, others around him benefit from his presence. But coach Norv Turner has been ducking the Merriman question for weeks now.
“Well, you can't win that one,” Turner was saying last night. “If you ask me that question and I answer it, then we're looking for a reason why we can't get them (quarterbacks).”
I don't know. Shouldn't they be looking for a reason even if the question isn't asked?
“We've got the guys we've got,” Turner said. “And we're going to get done . . . do everything we can to get more pressure on the quarterback and obviously we're going to do everything we can to play at a high level.”
Here's a scary thought: What if they are playing at their highest level? If they're not, Norv has himself underachievers, and right now he has more than a few. One of them could be his defensive coordinator, Ted Cottrell, who simply has to do something different with scheme. He also has to put a charge in his guys.
Or bench people. Some names are rarely called.
Even with the defense playing as it did, the offense, with tailback LaDainian Tomlinson running as well as he has in about a year (19 carries, 105 yards, 85 of them in the first half) and quarterback Philip Rivers having a very solid game until his final, intercepted throw, kept hope in the livery.
It also didn't help that receiver Vincent Jackson dropped what could have been a 72-yard touchdown pass, or that the refs flagged Bolts corner Cletis Gordon for interference in the end zone for what was nothing but good defense.
But, while it's bad enough the Saints gained 451 yards, had 28 first downs and basically did as they pleased, the Chargers were blundering fools. They were penalized 14 times for 134 yards and on three occasions were flagged for personal fouls. They do not wear Silver and Black.
“We don't usually get penalized that much,” said Turner, but it's up to coaches to instill discipline in their players. There were two delay-of-game penalties in the red zone in the fourth quarter. Inexcusable.
“I think that was key,” Rivers said. “Those self-inflicted wounds, they kill you. Those are hidden-yardage plays.”
Rivers, at least, can see through the fog.
Nick Canepa: (619) 293-1397; nick.canepa@uniontrib.com
