Chargers-Steelers Live Blogging: Fourth Quarter

Davis on the inside give... doesn't get in. Wow. Gutsy play the Chargers defense, and we still have a ballgame. Davis didn't get the handoff clean, and that's a lot more drama than you'd expect here.

From his end zone, Rivers goes play action to Hester for 10 and the first. Woodley nearly kills Rivers on a sack on what probably should have been a flag. Rivers floats a ball out of bounds that looked a little concussed to me. Third down is overthrown to Gates, and the longest Chargers drive of the half is done in 4 plays. Jim Nantz wants to entertain the idea of an intentional safety, because Jim Nantz has hung out with Phil Simms for so long, Teh Dumbness has rubbed off. The Scifres punt is brought back to the Chargers 47.

Parker for 4, and then Ben throws into double coverage for Washington in the end zone, drawing the PI flag on the cursed Weddle. The fact that Ben has all the time is really the killer. This time, Russell gets in, and many good seats are available on the Charger Bandwagon. That's my cover insurance, so the Steelers are making all of their fans happy right now. 28-10 after the PAT, and it's now officially Open Season on Rivers, with 12:52 left in the game.

The Terror From Tiny Town is stopped at the 27. Steeler Fan is loud -- they've had a long time to build that up -- but Rivers gets Jackson for 8. Hurry up offense leads to sit the hell down defense, as Brett Keisel registers the sack. Rivers scampers like a Mario character, then gets it to Gates, who makes Polamalu miss for the first. Sproles gets 10 out of the backfield with pain, and can't get out of bounds. Clear offensive holding is ignored as Rivers throws it away. Brandon Manumaleuma, who exists just to make game bloggers hate his name, drops an underneath route.

Rivers looking more than a little rattled to me. On third down from the gun, he gets it to Chambers for 15 and the first. Ten minutes left. Rivers throws away the first down pass, and the Chargers have 13 offensive plays in the half -- all passes. Chambers gathers in a deep post, and roughing the passer makes it worse; the Chargers have it at the 4 with the flag. From the gun, Rivers finds Naanne for the touchdown, and it only took four minutes. It'll be on the Steelers offense to ice this. 28-17, Steelers.

Moore brings it back to the 27. Can the Steelers take the air out of the game and save all of the bettors? With 9:04 left, they go play action and throw the ball to Washington, who can't quite bring in an amazing, circus catch. For some reason, this prompts a Steelers timeout. Sheesh. On second from the gun, the Steelers don't seem terribly interested in playing the clock, and Ben gets it to Washington for 6 yards. He then moves the chains on a slant to Ward that just missed being a pick, and that will take significant time off the clock. Parker gets two and the clock runs. Ben milks the clock and gives to Parker, who breaks it on the right side for 27 yards; the only problem is that he went out of bounds. Parker now with 24 for 122, and he quickly makes it 25 for 128. Moore moves the chains and gets shoved out of bounds, but this is a losing game for the road team, who have held it for just 21 minutes with 15 yards rushing.

From the 17, Parker gets a yard, and the Charger defense is still trying. Or, um, wait, scratch that... as Parker takes it to the house for the clincher with 4 minutes left. A rested Willie Parker is a dangerous thing, and the Steelers lead, 35-17. This one is over for everything but the line, folks.

Do I need to log the rest of this game? Well, I suppose. Incomplete short, incomplete long, Rivers is a douchebag, Steeler Fan chanting, and Smith and Harrison sack Rivers for the fourth time today. Who knew the Chargers had four offensive plays today? Norv just punts this, rather than lose by 25. Manly! Moore with the fair catch, and so long as no one's trying anymore, just to a mutual kneelfest and let me get to my spell-check, OK?

The Steelers Victory Cigar (Byron Leftwich) is on, and he's a smooth draw with a bit of a fruity aftertaste. They actually have him throw a deep ball to Limas Sweed on third and seven, and it's perfect, but Sweed can't hold on. You have to love Tomlin for going for more points there, honestly. Sproles tries the fake fair catch, but no one buys it.

Will the Chargers go to Billy Volek? Um, no, though you suspect Rivers wouldn't mind too much. Chambers pulls in empty calories for 20 yards. Hester for two, and he looks nothing like his brother in Chicago. (I keed.) Jackson and Taylor fight for a sideline ball, but Taylor is out of bounds when he comes down, which I know, but Simms doesn't. Oh, Phil Simms, will you ever not suck? Chargers pick up a delay call for fun. Tomlin challenges the pick ruling, because he loves the work so much that he wants to be out there longer. Doesn't he understand that America is waiting to watch "60 Minutes"? At least we know that the J. Giles Band is still relevant in Pittsburgh, and three minutes of our life that we will never get back ends with the call on the field upheld, I Heart Replay!

Third and 13, and I'm rooting for a sack, but instead, Rivers hits Sproles in stride, and his strides are mighty fast indeed. Wow. With the PAT, it's 35-24, and my cover is still in jeopardy. Damn you, Chargers!

Scifres with the onside kick, and it doesn't work, but the Steelers are offside. Russell fields the second one, and that is that. I await your apologies, weak faith Steeler Fan, for correctly picking your team to win this week. (And just to make your week more painful... I'm probably going to do it again next week. Gad, I'm evil!)