"Rulebook, Playbook Stun" vs. San Diego Chargers

Randy Cross spent 13 years with the San Francisco 49ers, only to find himself in defense of the Bay Area-rival for close to 13 minutes on Sunday.Cross -- a veteran analyst for the "NFL on CBS" -- was the first to question a fourth-quarter spin of the football that had NFL officials' heads spinning for 10 minutes in 43 Polamalu black jersey
the ' 21-14 loss at San Diego.With just under 12 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, trailing 14-7, the Chargers were facing a game-changing fourth-and-2 situation. Quarterback Philip Rivers gunned the ball across the middle of the field to 23-year-old WR Vincent Jackson for a gain of 13 yards. Jackson tumbled across the Oakland 27-yard line, rose to his feet and spun the ball in celebration.All before he was touched.Following NFL rules, however, Referee Mike Carey -- who had originally signaled Oakland ball -- ruled the celebration flip as a forward pass. As a result, the ball would stay in San Diego's possession, for a small cost of just 5 yards.Cross, a three-time Super Bowl-winning lineman, was the rational voice behind the stringent, but correct, ruling on the field."Art Shell's got an apology note in his future coming from the league office," he said. "If he's facing the other way, suddenly it's a throw backwards and it's a fumble.""I can give you a couple other examples where they'd call that a fumble in the same situation."Had the 6-foot-5 wideout's arm been swiveled slightly in the opposite direction, Oakland's offense would have hit the field at its own 27-yard line, with a seven-point advantage over the AFC West divisional leaders.Following an 11-game pattern, however, that ensuing Oakland possession would have likely led to a Shane Lechler punt.Yet again, the team -- led by head coach Art Shell and offensive coordinator Tom Walsh -- failed to adjust offensively during halftime. After posting 166 yards and no turnovers in the first half, the offense generated just 63 yards in the final 30 minutes of the game, which included two interceptions.The first of Aaron Brooks' two interceptions came late in the third quarter, following an interception by CB Nnamdi Asomugha that set the team up at the San Diego 34-yard line. After Randy Moss was flagged with a 5-yard illegal motion penalty, Walsh called for three consecutive pass plays. The last attempted pass came on a third-and-15 situation at the Chargers' 25-yard line -- well in Sebastian Janikowski's kicking range. The play resulted in a tipped interception, setting the Chargers up with the ball at midfield, down only seven points, as opposed to a possible 4 Brett Favre White jersey
10.Nine plays later, LaDainian Tomlinson connected with tight end Antonio Gates on a halfback pass for a 19-yard touchdown.On the day, Tomlinson finished 1 for 1, Philip Rivers walked off the field 14-for-31, and Vincent Jackson...Well, Vincent Jackson wasn't on the stat sheet for his "pass attempt."Want to be in the Raiders mailbag? . . (27)