Marty Schottenheimer Is a Playoff Choker
January 14, 2007 – 7:48 pmI know I’m probably the last one on this ship, but I think today cements Marty Schottenheimer’s status as possibly the most prolific choker among anyone who has ever coached a playoff game in the NFL. It’s probably not right to come down this hard on him when Bill Belichick and Tom Brady just defeated him, like they have so many other playoff coaches. But this was supposed to be different. This was one of the best San Diego teams ever and one of the weakest Patriot teams since they started winning Super Bowls.
There were many reasons the Chargers lost today, but several of those reasons have to do with coaching. Who do you blame when your team commits two egregious personal fouls? Those fouls are a result of a lack of discipline, and the coaching staff is supposed to instill discipline in the players. One of those personal fouls was after a failed New England third down that gave the Patriots new life, and the other was on an extra point after a San Diego touchdown that gave the Patriots fifteen yards of field position on their ensuing touchdown drive.
Add to that a couple of instances of players trying to get too cute, and you have yourself a loss. One such instance was Philip Rivers trying to float a pass to LaDanian Tomlinson that was intercepted by Roosevelt Colvin. The other was a fumble by Chargers safety Marlon McCree after he intercepted a pass from Tom Brady. McCree tried to fight through a wall of Patriots tacklers and lost the ball, letting Brady and the Patriots off the hook.
Even having thrown three intecerptions today, I think it’s clear Tom Brady is by far the best quarterback left in the postseason. After that, I’d have to go with Drew Brees, then Rex Grossman, then Peyton Manning. Manning is just an interception machine right now, and that smart and opportunistic New England defense will be more than willing to take advantage of those mistakes.
Next weekend will certainly be interesting.