Week 2: Chargers Upset Eagles 33-30

Before the season started I would have pegged Week 2's game against the Eagles a potential win for the Chargers...after Week 1 though, I don't anyone except the most die hard Charger fan was picking the Chargers to beat the Eagles in Philly.  Surprisingly, it was the Chargers offense that couldn't be stopped, punting only once in 11 possessions.



The offense wasn't without flaws.  The Chargers didn't punt in the first half, but fumbled twice inside the Eagles' 10 yard line, losing at least 6 points and potentially 14.  They could have easily been up 27-10 (and should have at least been up 19-10) at halftime.  The first fumble came from Antonio Gates who rarely fumbles (the last time was in 2009) and the 2nd came from Ryan Mathews who fumbles a lot (his 13th in 3 seasons and 2 games).  It was a vote of confidence from Coach McCoy when Mathews started at RB in the 2nd half and that McCoy called Mathews number on 3rd and 1 in a critical drive after the Eagles had gone up 27-23.  Mathews got the first and the drive ended up in another Eddie Royal TD to put the Chargers up 30-27.

Speaking of Royal, he's scored 5 TDs this year.  This a pace of 40 TDs for the season.  Not remotely likely that he can keep that up, but I'm wondering how many fantasy football teams will try to pick him up this week. 

What was amazing was that the defense forced the Eagles to punt on 3 of their first 5 drives.  The Chargers meanwhile were ripping off drives of 59 yards, 93 yards, 53 yards, 78 yards, and 41 yards (the last two were the drives that ended in fumbles inside the Eagles 10).  They should have been up more than 13-10. Considering how awful the Chargers corner backs have been, 2 punts in 5 drives is a win.  The 3 other drives for the Eagles ended in a FG, TD, and missed FG (I'll admit that the Chargers were helped by a dropped pass in the end zone by Eagles TE James Casey on the first FG). 

To illustrate how bad the Chargers corners are, in Week 1 Andre Johnson, caught 12 passes for 146 yards.  In Week 2, DeSean Jackson torched the Chargers for 9 catches and 193 yards (and honestly, he should have had more.  Michael Vick missed Jackson wide open 3 times). 

Mathews seemed on his way to a big rushing game, gaining 45 yards rushing in the 1st quarter, but the fumble in the drive before half time made him tentative after that.  He ended up with just 73 rushing yards.  I always feel like Mathews can be a productive back, but between injuries and the fumbling issues I don't know if you trust him. 

Another guy that was having a big game was Malcolm Floyd.  Floyd beat the Eagles secondary for 5 catches and 104 yards at halftime.  Floyd left the game on the first play of the 3rd quarter when he suffered a concussion.  Reports are that Floyd is fine, but is questionable for Week 3 in Tennessee.  Chargers didn't miss a beat though, and went down the field on an 80 yard drive to take a 20-10 lead. 

Eagles offense came alive in the 2nd half scoring on all 4 possessions (2 TDs and 2 FGs).  It ended up being one of those games where the team with the ball last was going to win.  I know everyone is talking about the last drive by the Eagles that ended in a FG that tied the game 30-30, but left the Chargers with 1:45 left to drive down and kick the game winner.  Really though, I think that was after the fact coaching.  During the broadcast no one was commenting on the Eagles trying to run the clock down.  In the post game analyst, no one criticized the Eagles for that last drive.  It wasn't until the post game interview with Chip Kelley when a reporter asked him about it that everyone started to question how that last drive was run.

In that last drive the Eagles got the ball with just 3:05 to go at their own 29 down 30-27.  At that point I don't think anyone was saying run down the clock...everyone was thinking go down and score the winning TD.  At the two minute warning (1:58) they were at the Chargers 14 with a 1st and 10.  Here is where you can possibly criticism them for not calling a run, but they had moved down the field on all passing plays (11 yards on a Vick scramble).  They called 3 more passes, all incomplete, before kicking the tying FG...can you really blame them for going for the win?  Maybe you can give the Chargers credit for coming up with a stop when they needed one. 

Phillip Rivers has to get the gold star for this game (36-47, 419 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTS), and this without last seasons #1 receiver and losing last years #2 receiver in the 2nd half.  The offensive line was very good, protecting Rivers from the Eagle blitzes.  The biggest weakness is still the corners, but the defensive line isn't living up to early expectations either.

So it's a trip to Tennessee next week where the Chargers should get their 2nd win.  Titans' beat the Steelers in Week 1, a Steelers team that looks terrible this year.  Week 2, the Titans lost to the Texans in the same manner the Chargers did in Week 1...getting a lead, but losing the game late.  The Titans don't have a receiver anywhere near the caliber of Johnson or Jackson, so I'm hopeful the Chargers corners can keep the Titans receivers in check, especially since Jake Locker is the Titans' QB.  Chris Johnson hasn't gone off so far this season (25 carries, 96 yards, no TDs), so hoping he doesn't take next week to break out. 

While the Titans defense is better than the Eagles' D, they're not as tough as the Texans' D.  Chargers' offense has looked surprisingly good despite only two games into the season with the new offense.   Of concern is the loss of Floyd (wow another Charger WR down).  I expected rookie Keenan Allen to make a contribution before the season was over...well it looks like he's going to get a chance against the Titans.  He made two nice catches in place of Floyd in the 2nd half.  You also have to wonder if  2nd pick Manti Te'o will finally get into his first NFL game.