I guess the good news for Chargers fans is that nobody died on the field. Other than that, Sunday’s game in Minnesota against the Vikings was about as bad as it can get.
No wait, I take that back. Last year’s disaster in Miami was as bad as it can get. This one was a close second.
The Chargers lost 31-14 and their biggest weaknesses were once again exploited. The Bolts offensive line was overwhelmed by Minnesota’s defensive front seven before the injuries started piling up. After a few guys went down it was open season on quarterback Philip Rivers, who was hit on seemingly every dropback.
Right guard D.J. Fluker came in to the game with a bad ankle and center Chris Watt had a groin injury. They both went to the sidelines early in the game, replaced by Chris Hairston and Trevor Robinson. But throughout the game left guard Orlando Franklin had his ankle rolled up on a running play and left tackle King Dunlap got nicked up so those guys, along with reserve lineman Kenny Wiggins, had to play.
No matter what combination they tried Minnesota’s pass rush got to Rivers at will. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer called a brilliant defensive game and Chargers defensive coordinator Frank Reich found nothing to counter with. The only time the Chargers mounted a threat came in a 2:00 drill at the end of the first half when Rivers led a 90 play drive in less 1:38, hitting wide receiver Keenan Allen for a 34-yard touchdown.
Of course that was when Zimmer called off the pressure to try and run out the clock, giving Rivers time to throw and it burned him. Allen also caught the final touchdown of the day with less than two minutes left in the game but by then the game had gotten out of hand.
For a time it looked like San Diego’s defense would be able to keep their anemic offense in the game. The Bolts were able to mostly keep running back Adrian Peterson in check in the first half. But on Minnesota’s first play of the third quarter Peterson got a little room to run. That’s usually all he needs. Peterson ran 43 yards for a touchdown, going right through All-Pro safety Eric Weddle’s attempt at a shoulder tackle.
That score put the Vikings up 17-7 and things completely unraveled from there. The Charges held Minny to a field goal try on their next possession but linebacker Melvin Ingram was inexplicably called for a holding penalty, giving the Vikings an automatic first down. Minnesota cashed that in for another touchdown and a 24-7 lead.
That was enough but Rivers was able to lead something that looked like a promising drive until his pass kicked off the hands of wide receiver Stevie Johnson and was intercepted by Chad Greenway. The veteran linebacker ran 91 yards for another touchdown and that proverbial “final nail in the coffin.”
Rivers was pulled in the 4th quarter, mostly to preserve his own health, and replaced by backup QB Kellen Clemens. Next week the Chargers return home to face the Cleveland Browns.
