The San Diego Chargers are the Philadelphia Eagles of the AFC. Translation: chronic underachievers.

For about 6 – 7 years or so, the Chargers have been the sexy pick to reach the Super Bowl, but that generally hasn’t come close to happening. In fact, over the past couple of years, they’ve found ways to lose games in interesting ways. Particularly on Monday nights when the the whole world is watching.

The same happened this past Monday when they took a 24-0 lead into the half against the Broncos, before ultimately losing 35-24.

Needless to say, Chargers fans weren’t thrilled abou the second-half collapse. So much so, that it prompted Director of Public Relations for the Chargers, Bill Johnston, to tell fans to “Take a Chill Pill.” I get Johnston’s point but it comes across as antagonistic towards the fans, which isn’t a good idea. Especially from public relations.

Here is his full letter to fans as posted on the Chargers official website:

Take a Chill Pill

What’s with you people?

Yes, Monday night’s loss was bad. Horrible. Embarrassing.

Ok…enough already. No mas. I get it.

Now get over it. It was a loss. One loss.

Listening to some of you out there, you’d think Monday night was “win or go home” and the Chargers are now packing their bags.

“The Chargers are finished. Done,” said one scribe.

Another wrote, “Bye, bye Chargers. Put a fork in them.”

Sometimes I think Twitter was invented to give people a chance to puff out their chests and talk big, saying things they never would say to someone’s face.

And talk radio … don’t get me started. The old adage your mom used to preach – “If you don’t have anything good say, don’t say anything” – seems to have evolved to “if you don’t have anything good to say, call sports talk radio.” 

Some of those folks are probably the same ones who called for former Head Coach Bobby Ross’ job when his first Chargers team started the 1992 season 0-4.  I still remember the self-proclaimed experts saying Bobby was “in over his head”. The Chargers went on to win 11 of the next 12 games that year, along with a 17-0 victory in the first round of the playoffs.

A few of the more recent Chargers teams have been declared dead by quacks, only to awaken in good health.  The 3-3 Chargers of 2004 won nine of their final 10 games.  The ’06 Chargers won their final 10.  The ’07 Chargers started 1-3 before winning 10 of their last 12.  The ’08 Chargers won their final four in a row and the ’09 team won its last 11 games.

Time to take a chill pill.  No one knows what will happen this season, yet alone the next game. That’s the beauty of the National Football League.  I don’t know, you don’t know, no one knows what’s going to happen.

If you want these players and coaches to succeed, then support them.  Don’t tear them down.  What you want and what we all want, including your team, is to know people believe in them.

Look at it this way.  We want our loved ones to succeed, and we’ll do whatever it takes to help them.  But when they make mistakes, like we all do, we would never criticize or belittle them publicly. 

Your team is 3-3, tied at the top of the division, and has 10 games to play.  If the Chargers are your team, get behind them and stay behind them.  We’re all at our best when we know others believe in us.

[photo: Getty Images]