A Few Key Injuries Kept the Chargers Out of the Super Bowl

It's not particularly shocking that a columnist for the San Diego Union-Tribune might sometimes come off as a homer. Hey, even Dan Shaughnessy occasionally slips up and writes something laudatory about the Patriots. Whatever, Nick Canepa returns from Phoenix thinking that the Chargers very easily could've been the team hoisting the Lombardi Trophy if not for a few key injuries.

Chargers GM A.J. Smith often talks about luck, and injuries are a part of it. I'm now convinced that, if tailback LaDainian Tomlinson, tight end Antonio Gates and quarterback Philip Rivers were healthy for that game, there might have been a parade for these guys downtown this week.

Obviously, it didn't work out that way, but Canepa notes that "the window of opportunity for San Diego never had been more open." I can't disagree; the Chargers are young, stacked and when completely healthy, very hard to beat -- even with Norv Turner at the helm. Put differently, San Diego has had 14- and 11-win seasons under Marty Schottenheimer and Norvell.

Who knows if talent -- even when healthy -- will be enough to get the Chargers to the Super Bowl in '08. The Patriots suddenly look very old, but the Colts and Jaguars are also the early favorites to go deep into the postseason. Still, a year ago, this team was just getting ready to can Schottenheimer; that they've had so much success in light of all that's happened is pretty amazing. And I'm pretty sure nobody saw it coming. Even A.J. Smith.