Chargers Hang On For Dramatic Win

It is amazing what a team can accomplish when it does not fall behind by two scores in the first half. The Chargers were able to actually hold a first quarter lead for the first time in eight games and hold on (for dear life) to a 30-27 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium.

San Diego scored a rare first-quarter touchdown when quarterback Philip Rivers threw a perfect pass the Keenan Allen along the sidelines for a 28-yard score to put the Bolts up 7-3. That was the first of five lead changes in the game.

The Chargers went up again in the 3rd quarter when Rivers floated a 19-yard TD pass to 6'6" tight end Ladarius Green, who simply reached up over the defender to make the catch and give the Bolts a 20-16 lead. That pass was set up by a 61-yard catch and run by running back Danny Woodhead.

In the 4th quarter another long catch and run, this one a 68-yard scamper by wideout Dontrelle Inman set up Rivers and co. at the Cleveland 1-yard line.

After letting rookie running back Melvin Gordon have one shot at his first NFL touchdown (he was stopped for no gain) Rivers used Gordon as a decoy, faking a hand off and hitting tight end John Phillips for the score that put the Bolts up 27-19.

But Browns quarterback Josh McCown led his offense right down the field, taking advantage of injuries in the San Diego secondary (the Chargers were without cornerbacks Brandon Flowers (concussion), Jason Verrett (foot) and Craig Mager (hamstring), leaving only Patrick Robinson and Steve Williams as healthy options at corner) and hitting tight end Gary Barnidge for a 1-yard score. The 2-pt conversion was good, tying the game at 28 with 2:09 to play.

That's a lot of time for Philip Rivers. The QB hit Green for 17 yards then handed the ball to Woodhead for 19 yards. A couple more rushes made the Browns use their time outs and rookie kicker Josh Lambo drilled a 34-yard field goal to win it at the gun. BUT, only after he missed a 39-yard try. Lambo got a second chance because of a Browns penalty.