Final: San Diego Chargers 27, St.Louis Rams 24

Summary:

The San Diego Chargers would face a pesky St.Louis Rams on Sunday afternoon as the Chargers tried to keep their playoff hopes alive in a tough AFC West. The game would be a back-and-forth contest as there would be multiple lead changes in the game.

Also, this would a sloppy game by both sides as well with each committing 3 turnovers a piece for the game. Besides the turnovers, there would be a total of 17 penalties for the game as this game would be scrappy at times.

Besides for the sloppiness in the game, this would actually be a pretty evenly matched game with similar numbers in every statistical category. The only stat that would matter in this one, though, would be who would be able to pull it all together at the very end of the game.

The Rams would have a perfect opportunity to tie or even win this game as they were at the San Diego 4-yard line with a minute left in the game. Except the Rams would throw the ball and, as result, have it be intercepted which would give the Chargers the victory, 24-27.

Game Recap:

To start off the game, the San Diego Chargers would punt on their first possession and then the St.Louis Rams would begin their first possession. It would be a short possession, though, as quarterback, Shaun Hill, would throw an interception to set up the Chargers with great field position early in the ball game.

The Chargers would not do too much with their great field position as they would settle for a 23-yard field goal by Nick Novak to give the Chargers the first points on the board, 0-3.

The Rams would rebound, though, as Shaun Hill would try to erase the previous interception out of his mind. Hill and the Rams would make a 13-play drive turn into 3 points on the board as Greg Zuerlin would convert on his first field goal as the Rams would tie the Chargers, 3-3.

With only a minute left in the 1st quarter, the Chargers would move the ball nicely down the field for 70 yards but quarterback, Philip Rivers, would end up throwing his first interception of the game and it would be a costly one at that as Rams’ Janoris Jenkins would run the interception back 99 yards for a touchdown giving the Rams the lead at 10-3.

Following a Chargers’ punt, Like their previous drive, the Rams would move effectively down the field for 50 yards but, like before, would have to settle for another field goal try. This one would be blocked by the Chargers’ special teams, though, and the Chargers would bring the momentum back in their favor but still down, 10-3.

Following these early exciting drives, both teams, would start to slowdown and 3 straight punts would follow.

Right before halftime, the Chargers would try to take the lead as they would put together a 10-play drive for 54 yards and set themselves up for a field goal attempt which would be good from 48 yards making the score, 10-6, Rams in the lead at halftime.

On the Chargers’ opening drive of the 2nd half, they would continue what has been working seemingly all day and that was, not their passing game, but their running attack with Ryan Mathews. A 32-yard rush by Mathews would result in the first touchdown of the game by both teams as the Chargers take the lead, 10-13. This would also put Matthews over the 100-yard rushing mark for the day in still the 3rd quarter.

Two plays into their next drive, the Rams would fumble the ball as Chargers’ Andrew Gachkar would pick up the ball and take it back 13 yards for a touchdown now giving the Chargers a 10-20 advantage.

A Rams’ punt would then turn into a muffed punt by Chargers’ Keenan Allen and the Rams would be set up for a short field to work with. As a result, just 3 plays later, the Rams would be able to run the ball with one of their receivers, Tavon Austin, on an end-around play for a 6-yard touchdown. The Rams stick in the game at, 17-20.

The Chargers would get the ball back and would start to do some things on offense with some medium gain passes down the field but, once again, Keenan Allen would catch a ball but would fumble it to the Rams ending the Chargers progress down the field.

Followint a Rams’ punt, the Chargers would take over at the start of the 4th quarter. The Chargers would put together their most impressive drive of the day of 11 plays for 93 yards which would be capped off by a 29-yard Keenan Allen touchdown reception which would be a little redemption for Allen who has already fumbled the ball twice today. The score would now be 17-27, Chargers.

On the following Rams’ possession, they would begin their inch their way down the field to try to put some sort of points on the board to make the game be a one score game. This would be possible after a 22-yard pass to Rams’ Stedman Bailey to put the Rams in field goal range.

A field goal would not be the result, though, as the Rams would continue their march down the field and score a touchdown on a 7-yard pass to Bailey making the score, 24-27, Chargers still in the lead with just 2 minutes to go in the game.

The Rams would then use all 3 of their timeouts and get the ball back with 1:27 left in the game down by a touchdown.

On their drive, Hill would complete a pass 23 yards down the field which would be challenged as to if the receiver had full possession of the ball before going out-of-bounds. The play stood and the Rams were now in field goal territory. Now on the 4-yard line, you would think the Rams would just run the ball a couple of times and, at the least, tie the game up right? Well, that was not the case as the Rams would throw the ball and it would be intercepted by Marcus Gilchrist, essentially, ending the game.

Final score, 24-27, Chargers.

Quick Statistics:

San Diego Chargers – 

QB – Philip Rivers – 29-35, 291 passing yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception

RB – Ryan Mathews – 12 carries, 105 rushing yards, 1 touchdown

WR – Keenan Allen – 6 receptions, 105 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 2 fumbles

LB – Marcus Gilchrist, 7 tackles, 5 solo tackles, 1 pass deflection, 1 interception

St.Louis Rams – 

QB – Shaun Hill – 18-35, 198 passing yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions

RB – Tre Mason – 16 carries, 62 rushing yards

CB – Janoris Jenkins – 4 tackles, 3 solo tackles, 1 defensive touchdown

LB – Alec Ogletree – 9 tackles, 8 solo tackles

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