Chargers in midst of JV schedule

The San Diego Chargers end the junior varsity portion of their schedule this upcoming Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, seven days after pounding the Kansas City Chiefs into submission for the second time this season.

The 43-14 trouncing over the Chiefs on Sunday was the Chargers’ sixth straight win and boosted their record to 8-3. They finished 5-1 against their powder-puff rivals in the AFC West.

The Chargers have been hot down the stretch in recent years but don’t have any of their divisional doormats left to play. That makes the upcoming contest against the abysmal Browns important because only a full lack of preparation (remember, Norv Turner does coach this team) can keep the Chargers from rolling over Cleveland.

Of course, the Chargers should be well-rested after beating the Chiefs — doesn’t playing Kansas City equate to at least half an off day? The Chargers forced four turnovers and quarterback Philip Rivers was 21-of-28 passing for 317 yards and two touchdowns, both to Antonio Gates, who had seven receptions for 118 yards.

LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for two touchdowns and fumbled away a third when Kansas City’s Brandon Flowers forced him to fumble at the goal line. But you have to love Tomlinson’s fumble because it led to a Chargers’ safety and a rare 5-point quarter.

Always fun to see a 5 up on the scoreboard. Even more fun than seeing a 2.

Tomlinson had just 39 yards on 13 carries while moving into 10th place in NFL history with 12,257 career rushing yards. He passed both Marcus Allen and Edgerrin James during Sunday’s game. Tomlinson should pass former San Diego State star Marshall Faulk (12,279) and NFL legend Jim Brown (12,312) against Cleveland.

Former Chargers receiver Chris Chambers caught seven passes for 70 yards and a touchdown for the Chiefs — hey that’s more production than 2007 first-round pick Craig “The Bust” Davis has all season — but more worrisome is that Kansas City running back Jamaal Charles totaled 147 offensive yards, including averaging 6.6 yards per carry (93 yards on 14 carries). The Chiefs offensive line isn’t exactly ferocious and Charles is the starter only because Larry Johnson tweeted himself off the team.

But the Chiefs are in the rear-view mirror and the only scary thing about facing the Browns is worrying what might occur after overmatched quarterback Brady Quinn throws an interception. Quinn displayed that he’s better at throwing cheap-shot blocks (see the Nov. 16 game against the Baltimore Ravens when he went after Terrell Suggs’ knees — Suggs hasn’t played since) than throwing a football.

Remember that odd debate over who was the better quarterback of the 2007 draft class between JaMarcus Russell (Oakland) and Quinn?  Russell had the strong but erratic arm and Quinn was overhyped because of the Notre Dame hype machine. That the two went in the first round shows how ridiculous the draft system has become when dealing with quarterbacks.

Something tells me that Philadelphia Eagles backup Kevin Kolb will eventually prove to be the best quarterback of that draft class once Donovan McNabb moves on. Buffalo’s Trent Edwards has had the best career so far from that class but losing your job to someone named Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t something you want to mention on your resume.

Fitzpatrick played college football in the Ivy League at Harvard and is with his third organization since entering the NFL in 2005. 

Regardless, playing against Quinn should allow the Chargers’ defense to accumulate a few more takeaways and help the Chargers easily cruise to their seventh consecutive victory.