Chargers play takeaway with the Jaguars

Mamba · Sep 19, 2010

Charity began at home for the Chargers. Only it was the Jacksonville Jaguars doing the giving, the Chargers doing the taking.

Making the most of no fewer than four interceptions and two fumble recoveries _ thus offsetting their own three giveaways in the first half _ the Chargers beat the Jags 38-13 in their home opener and the first game since 2004 they hadn’t sold out at Qualcomm Stadium. The blacked-out game ended a stretch of 48 straight sellouts, postseason games included, and definitely would’ve made for some interesting viewing.

In addition to the half-dozen takeaways, the Chargers drubbed Jacksonville with three scoring passes by Philip Rivers, who completed 22 of 29 attempts for 334 yards. Two of the touchdown catches catches move Antonio Gates into a tie for second place all-time among tight ends.

And while the Chargers were concerned by the loss of first-round draft choice Ryan Mathews with an ankle injury in the first half, they were lifted by the performance of little-bullish Mike Tolbert, who had two TD’s among his first 16 carries for 82 yards. Though he was carted away to the locker room, Mathews was back on the sideline for the entire second half, on his feet.

So much was different from the Chargers’ season-opening loss, starting with the weather, a cloudless (rain- and wind- and lightning-free) sky over Qualcomm Stadium. You wouldn’t know it from the sheer number of turnovers, though, with Chargers cornerback Antoine Cason personally involved in three of them.

Like last week, the Chargers did take the 7-0 lead, the result of a game-opening drive of 74 yards that included both a pass to receiver Legedu Naanee and a handoff from Naanee.

Following a 14-yard reception by Naanee and a 15-yard gain by Ryan Mathews, the Chargers went Wildcat with quarterback Philip Rivers split wide and Naanee taking the direct snap. A former quarterback, Naanee handed the ball off to Darren Sproles, who weaved 35 yards to the Jacksonville 5-yard line. Two snaps later, Mike Tolbert bulled his way into the endzone.

The first time Jaguars quarterback David Garrard went for the end zone, his deep pass was intercepted by Antoine Cason, making an over-the shoulder grab.

Mathews, whose fumble in Kansas City proved a crucial mistake, gave Jacksonville a bit of a helping hand toward its first score. Being brought down after gaining 18 yards, Mathews had the ball wrestled away by Jags safety Courtney Greene at the San Diego 43-yard line, leading to a 44-yard field goal by Josh Scobee.

Greene took away more than the ball the next time he encountered Mathews. He appeared to be the one who took the rookie running back right out of the game.

Again, Mathews was being brought down, but this time he was in a crowd on the inside and going nowhere with Jags holding onto his legs. Greene grabbed Mathews high and twisted him backwards. His ankle injured, Mathews needed assistance to get off the field, then a cart to get him to the locker room.

The Chargers were a couple yards from making it 14-3 on the first play of the second quarter, but Rivers’ pass bounced off Gates hands and into those of Jacksonville defensive back David Jones.

Soon enough, however, the Chargers had the ball back on their own interception. Garrard’s pass was tipped high in the air by Shaun Phillips and it was caught again by Cason. And it was Cason who ended Jacksonville’s next series by punching the ball out of the hands of receiver Mike Sims-Walker, whose fumble was recovered by linebacker Kevin Burnett.

The next time Garrard got the ball, he threw it right back to linebacker Brandon Siler. Which only led to a block of Mike Scifres’ first punt by Rashad Jennings. Jacksonville took advantage with a 48-yarder by Scobee.

Left with one minute and 41 seconds and 87 yards to cover, Rivers got nearly half the necessary distance with a pass that Sproles turned into a 43-yard gain. Ensuing passes to newcomer Patrick Crayton, Buster Davis, Davis again and Gates set up the Chargers at the 4-yard line, and with 10 seconds remaining, Rivers hit Gates for the TD that made it 21-6.

The first touchdown pass, the 61st of his career, pulled Gates out of a tie with Jerry Smith for third on the all-time list for tight ends. The second drew him alongside Shannon Sharpe behind Tony Gonzalez (82), who’s with the Atlanta Falcons.

Seven quarters into the season, Nate Kaeding got to make his first field-goal attempt since his forgettable playoff game, also his first ever without David Binn delivering the snap. With Binn out for the season and Ryan Neil the new long-snapper, Kaeding connected on a 41-yarder.

It almost goes without saying that the Chargers had gotten the ball on a Jacksonville fumble, Antwan Applewhite dislodging it from Maurice Jones-Drew and Paul Oliver handling the recovery. When the Jaguars got back to midfield, too, Garrard was drilled by Siler while releasing a pass and lofted a lame duck that was caught instead by Kevin Burnett.

Les than two minutes into the fourth quarter, the game was no longer in doubt at 31-6. Tolbert had the honors on a 1-yard score, which was fitting, because the touchdown was set up by his 29-yard burst and a 22-yard pass to Buster Davis. Before the onslaught was over, Rivers had exploited the Jacksonville secondary again, hitting Malcom Floyd open behind the defense for a 54-yard TD.

Garrard, who'd been pulled from the game, returned in place of injured sub Luke McCown and managed a 3-yard TD pass with 37 seconds left.

In keeping with the rest of the game, think of it as a gimme.
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http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/sep/19/chargers-play-takeaway-jags/

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Chargers play takeaway with the Jaguars

Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

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Chargers play takeaway with the Jaguars

Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

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