Chargers win, even with more special teams blunder

Source: AP

Another Chargers special teams blunder led to a 2-0 Titans lead less than two minutes into the game. Nick Schommer blocked Mike Scifres' punt, with the ball bouncing out of the end zone and into the stands for a safety. The Chargers were down early again, and were booed as they left the field at halftime trailing the Titans by five.

That's when Norv Turner, criticized all season by outsiders because of his team's many blunders, made a speech that may have pumped up the team with what was described by some of the players as an emotional speech.

"He came out and expressed how he feels about this team, expressed how he believes in this team. We took that as a challenge. It meant something to him," Gates said.

"You could tell the emotion he had because he was getting pretty red," fullback Mike Tolbert said.

QB Philip Rivers said he thinks Turner gets unfairly criticized for his perceived lack of emotion. "He has plenty of passion and gives us plenty of motivation," Rivers said. "But this halftime was his best, as fiery as he's been. That's why it's so emotional. It's been tough. We don't deserve any sympathy. We've done it to ourselves."

Bothered by an injured toe, Gates took advantage of yet another mismatch. He got behind linebacker Will Witherspoon to haul in the go-ahead, 48-yard pass TD pass, his ninth of the season, for a 24-19 lead. Gates was late coming out of the locker room after halftime because he was getting his foot re-taped.

Rivers had his fifth 300-yard game of the season, tying his career high from last season. He completed 27 of 36 passes for 305 yards, with two TDs and one interception. His 2,649 yards are the most ever by an NFL quarterback in the first eight games of a season, bettering the old mark of 2,580 by Hall of Famer Dan Fouts for the Chargers in 1982.

Rivers also threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Darren Sproles with 6:51 left. The Chargers botched the point after, which would have given them a nine-point lead.

Chargers rookie running back Ryan Mathews sustained cuts and scrapes when his helmet came off in the third quarter but he returned.

The Chargers trailed 19-7 late in the second quarter before getting three straight scores.

Mathews scored on a 7-yard run 1:55 before halftime and Kris Brown kicked a 34-yard field goal midway through the third quarter to bring the Chargers within two. Gates' touchdown catch gave San Diego its first lead since the first quarter. Brown kicked a 36-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter for a 27-19 lead. The Chargers ended up winning the game by the score of 33-25.

"They were the most complete team we've played," Turner said. "That's what makes this win that much more special to me."

It was not a pretty game, more special teams blunder and the defense gave up some big plays, but they at least got that win taste back in their mouths.