http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/sd-sp-acee-1113-story.html
If this is who the Chargers are, they have a chance to actually make something of this season.
The Chargers this past Sunday did things running the ball that not only continued to affirm their commitment to a balanced offense but hadn’t been done in these parts for some time. It was perhaps not just a victory but a harbinger.
The last time they were rushing for 100 yards in a first half and 200 yards in a game and grinding up the clock at the end, they were winning more than losing. They were a playoff team.
Should the Chargers continue to be successful in this manner when they play the Miami Dolphins Sunday, they can push their record to .500 and keep their playoff hopes off life support.
In fact, the Chargers probably have to attack the Dolphins the way they beat the Tennessee Titans last week.
The Chargers offense won’t be much better off this week than it was last.
Hunter Henry is back, though still hobbled, and Antonio Gates is seven days older and feeling every bit of it. Travis Benjamin isn’t going to play after leaving last week’s game seven snaps in. The unknown New York Jets castoff Jeremy Butler has been replaced by the unknown New York Giants practice squad receiver Geremy Davis.
Philip Rivers has done more with less than Tyrell Williams as his No.1 receiver, but the passing game is not where this thing pivots. Sure, Rivers will get his yards.
Rivers completed 14 of his first 16 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns against Tennessee. At that point, two plays into the second quarter, Melvin Gordon had carried the ball six times for 57 yards, including a 43-yard run on the first play of the second quarter.
After that start, Gordon launched a methodical save.
He showed he could be a closer. The offensive line showed it can enable him to do so. Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt showed he is committed to making it happen.
Gordon ran 26 times for 139 yards and a touchdown the rest of the way. His nine carries for 84 yards in the fourth quarter essentially cemented the win. His fourth-quarter runs included a 15-yarder on a first-and-15 and a 47-yard sprint in which he ran over one defender and through the arms of another on a third-and-seven with 2½ minutes left.
If this is who the Chargers are, they have a chance to actually make something of this season.
The Chargers this past Sunday did things running the ball that not only continued to affirm their commitment to a balanced offense but hadn’t been done in these parts for some time. It was perhaps not just a victory but a harbinger.
The last time they were rushing for 100 yards in a first half and 200 yards in a game and grinding up the clock at the end, they were winning more than losing. They were a playoff team.
Should the Chargers continue to be successful in this manner when they play the Miami Dolphins Sunday, they can push their record to .500 and keep their playoff hopes off life support.
In fact, the Chargers probably have to attack the Dolphins the way they beat the Tennessee Titans last week.
The Chargers offense won’t be much better off this week than it was last.
Hunter Henry is back, though still hobbled, and Antonio Gates is seven days older and feeling every bit of it. Travis Benjamin isn’t going to play after leaving last week’s game seven snaps in. The unknown New York Jets castoff Jeremy Butler has been replaced by the unknown New York Giants practice squad receiver Geremy Davis.
Philip Rivers has done more with less than Tyrell Williams as his No.1 receiver, but the passing game is not where this thing pivots. Sure, Rivers will get his yards.
Rivers completed 14 of his first 16 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns against Tennessee. At that point, two plays into the second quarter, Melvin Gordon had carried the ball six times for 57 yards, including a 43-yard run on the first play of the second quarter.
After that start, Gordon launched a methodical save.
He showed he could be a closer. The offensive line showed it can enable him to do so. Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt showed he is committed to making it happen.
Gordon ran 26 times for 139 yards and a touchdown the rest of the way. His nine carries for 84 yards in the fourth quarter essentially cemented the win. His fourth-quarter runs included a 15-yarder on a first-and-15 and a 47-yard sprint in which he ran over one defender and through the arms of another on a third-and-seven with 2½ minutes left.
