Spineless coach fouls up Chargers

Never did I expect to miss Marty Schottenheimer so much. When the San Diego Chargers fired him in February, I wondered which lucky coach would inherit a team ready to win a Super Bowl.

The Chargers finished last season an NFL-best 14-2 but lost to the New England Patriots in the playoffs. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips left to coach the Dallas Cowboys, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron left to mislead the Miami Dolphins, and Schottenheimer lost a power struggle with Chargers general manager A.J. Smith.

The coaching staff was gutted, but star running back LaDainian Tomlinson and a talented roster remained.

And then something terrible happened -- San Diego hired spineless Norv Turner as its head coach. It proved to be a move that wrecked the Chargers and helped ruin my season as a handicapper.

San Diego used to be my go-to team. For three years, when searching for point-spread winners, I relied on the Chargers in certain spots. With Schottenheimer in charge, the Chargers were steady, almost always giving a quality effort.

From the 2004 to 2006 seasons, they were 33-12-3 against the spread. All three of their losses last season were by three points.

Now, with Turner wandering the sideline, the Chargers are too unpredictable ... blown out by Kansas City at home one week and beating Denver by 38 on the road the next week.

San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers made the Pro Bowl last season -- Tom Brady did not -- and now Rivers is a hobbled, mistake-prone mess.

The Chargers overcame a 17-3 fourth-quarter deficit last week to beat Tennessee in overtime. Titans coach Jeff Fisher's conservative calls and a breakdown in the instant replay system -- Chris Chambers' fourth-down reception on San Diego's game-tying drive was not overturned even though the ball hit the ground -- allowed the Chargers to escape with a win.

After winning and covering three in a row, San Diego is 8-5 straight up and against the spread. Linebacker Shawne Merriman is injured, but it appears the Chargers might be headed in the right direction, and I'll take them as 10-point home favorites over the Detroit Lions on Sunday. But only because the Lions are horrible on the road and I can't find five games worth a wager.

Really, I have no idea how the Chargers will play. I am 1-8 going with or against the Chargers this season.

After looking through the NFL's worst lineup of games in recent memory, here are five prayers for Week 15 (home team in CAPS):

• 49ERS (+81/2) over Bengals: San Francisco is a capable home underdog with running back Frank Gore and a respectable defense. Cincinnati is 1-5 on the road and struggling in every area.

• SAINTS (-31/2) over Cardinals: If QB Drew Brees continues his strong play and the offense avoids self-destructing, New Orleans can handle an Arizona team beset by injuries.

• RAMS (+81/2) over Packers: This could be flat spot for Green Bay. St. Louis, which has covered four of its past five, can hang tough behind quarterback Marc Bulger and running back Steven Jackson.

• Jaguars (+31/2) over Steelers: Blown out by the Patriots last week, and with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hurting, Pittsburgh will struggle to win by more than a field goal.

Last week: 1-4 against the spread

Season: 28-38-4

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2907.