A week after underachieving in Seattle, the Chargers dominated the two-time defending NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals, winning 41-10 as both the offense and defense played an almost perfect game.
Antonio Gates became the seventh tight end in NFL history with 500 catches, he had seven catches for 144 yards as the Chargers pulled to 2-2.
Ryan Mathews scored his first NFL touchdown on a 15-yard run late in the third quarter. Fullback Mike Tolbert ran 16 times for 100 yards -- his first 100-yard game in three seasons -- and one score.
The Chargers' defense harassed the Cardinals' beleaguered quarterbacks all day, with nine sacks and three takeaways. Linebacker Shaun Phillips had a career-high four sacks and also returned an interception of Derek Anderson 31 yards for a TD late in the second quarter.
Ryan Mathews scored his first NFL touchdown on a 15-yard run late in the third quarter. Fullback Mike Tolbert ran 16 times for 100 yards -- his first 100-yard game in three seasons -- and one score.
The Chargers' defense harassed the Cardinals' beleaguered quarterbacks all day, with nine sacks and three takeaways. Linebacker Shaun Phillips had a career-high four sacks and also returned an interception of Derek Anderson 31 yards for a TD late in the second quarter.
Arizona had only 124 yards in offense.
Linebacker Kevin Burnett had two sacks and forced a fumble by Hall that Luis Castillo recovered. Mathews scored on the next play from scrimmage, sweeping to his right and diving to get the ball just inside the pylon late in the third quarter for a 38-7 lead. He sat out last week's game with a sprained right ankle. In his first two games, he lost two fumbles that led to 10 points for the opponents.
"Today we were able to dictate the tempo," Burnett said. "When you do that, you force them to be one-handed. It's easy to play poker when you know what everybody's got."
The Chargers also tightened their kickoff coverage after allowing Leon Washington to score on kickoff returns of 101 and 99 yards in a 27-20 Seattle victory a week earlier.
Steve Gregory intercepted the ball to end the Arizona's first drive, and the Chargers capped their first possession with Rivers' 33-yard TD pass to a wide-open Gates, making him the seventh tight end in history to have 500 or more catches.
"It's a milestone, and you dream about becoming one of those elite guys," Gates said.
"He's the best tight end in football," Rivers said. "You mix that with a variety of formations and running the football and we get some matchups that we were able to take advantage of. It's always nice to see No. 85 running wide open."
Arizona got a big momentum shift when Greg Toler forced a fumble by Darren Sproles. Kerry Rhodes picked it up, fell down, got up and rumbled 42 yards for the tying touchdown. It was the sixth fumble lost by the Chargers, one fewer than all of last year.
The Chargers pulled away on Tolbert's 5-yard TD run and a 26-yard TD catch by Gates. The big tight end hit the 500-catch mark with a 12-yard reception earlier on that drive, and the scoring grab was his 501st.
Phillips single-handedly wrecked Arizona's next drive. He sacked Anderson on 2nd-and-10, then picked him off and returned it 31 yards for a 28-7 lead.
"It's a milestone, and you dream about becoming one of those elite guys," Gates said.
"He's the best tight end in football," Rivers said. "You mix that with a variety of formations and running the football and we get some matchups that we were able to take advantage of. It's always nice to see No. 85 running wide open."
Arizona got a big momentum shift when Greg Toler forced a fumble by Darren Sproles. Kerry Rhodes picked it up, fell down, got up and rumbled 42 yards for the tying touchdown. It was the sixth fumble lost by the Chargers, one fewer than all of last year.
The Chargers pulled away on Tolbert's 5-yard TD run and a 26-yard TD catch by Gates. The big tight end hit the 500-catch mark with a 12-yard reception earlier on that drive, and the scoring grab was his 501st.
Phillips single-handedly wrecked Arizona's next drive. He sacked Anderson on 2nd-and-10, then picked him off and returned it 31 yards for a 28-7 lead.
After another slow start for the team, October sure is off to a good start so far.
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