Chargers win despite L.T. gaining just 25 yards on the ground
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by Behbigben15
Apparently the SD Chargers know how to win without L.T. The Chargers RB, who usually gains 100-150 yards a game on the ground with 2-3 TD's, totaled just 25 rushing yards, and a TD against the Chicago Bears stingy defense. Yet, the Chargers won the game anyway 14-3 in their first game of the season, to start 1-0. Many will say that he was the reason for the Chargers win anyway. Well, he did throw the go-ahead TD pass to TE Antonio Gates in the third quarter (17-yard pass). That TD pass was the seventh of his seven-year career (career passing stats: 8 for 11, 143 yards, 7 TD, 0 INT, with a perfect passer rating), that is a hell of alot for a RB who has only been playing for seven years. Tomlinson also ran from seven yards out for a TD which put the Chargers up 14-3, and that's all she wrote.
The Chargers stuffed the Bears offense. The Bears had just 202 total yards (122 passing, 80 rushing), and lost 3 fumbles plus Grossman threw an INT. The Chargers had less rushing yards than the Bears (77), yet they were still able to hold the ball for about 15 minutes longer than the Bears. And the Bears defense could not stop Phillip Rivers from throwing the ball to big target, Gates, even though they knew the ball was going to go to him. Gates caught 9 passes for 107 yards and a TD. SD backup RB Michael Turner gained more yards on the ground than Tomlinson, who rushed for 41 yards on 10 carries for an average of 4.1 yards per carry. Of Turner's ten carries, one of them was big, being an 11-yard gain which got the Chargers the first down on third and short, and it allowed the Chargers to run down the clock to end the game.
I have even failed to mention that Ladainian caught 7 passes for 51 yards, including a 20-yard screen pass. See, L.T. is probably one of the....Heck, he IS the most complete back in the NFL. Although, Steven Jackson is not too far behind him, despite gaining just 58 rushing yards on 18 attempts and 2 fumbles lost. But, don't get used to L.T. getting under 100 yards, I wouldn't be surprised if he rushed for 100 yards in each of the rest of their 15 games. But, this game was his second-worst game of his 7-year career(worst of his career at home), his worst was back on week 7 of the '05 season against Philadelphia when he rushed for 7 yards on 17 carries in a 17-7 loss. In the first half of today's game Tomlinson rushed for a whopping 2 yards, which put him on pace for 4 rushing yards in the game, and not even a TD. Good thing he played better in the second half, rushing for 23 yards and rushing, and passing for a TD. SD plays @ NE next week at 8:15 on Sunday Night Football, while CHI tries for their first win of the season as they play the KC Cheifs at home at 4:15 P.M. ET.
Game Stats
PASSING
Phillip Rivers- 22 for 31, 190 yards, 1 INT
Ladainian Tomlinson- 1 for 1, 17 yards, 1 TD
Rex Grossman- 12 for 23, 145 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RUSHING
Ladainain Tomlinson- 17 ATT, 25 yards, 1 TD
Michael Turner- 10 ATT, 41 yards
Cedric Benson- 19 ATT, 42 yards
Adrian Peterson- 7 ATT, 38 yards
RECEIVING
Antonio Gates- 9 Rec, 107 yards, 1 TD
Ladainian Tomlinson- 7 rec, 51 yards
Bernard Berrian- 5 Rec, 38 yards
DEFENSE
Stephen Cooper- 8 Tackles (7 solo)
Hunter Hillenmeyer- 9 Tackles (8 solo)
KICKING
Nate Kaeding- 0 for 1, Long: - - XP: 2 for 2
Robbie Gould- 1 for 1, Long: 27, XP: 0 for 0
