Chargers Lose to Redskins in OT, 30-24.

That close.  It's been a frustrating season for this Charger fan.  Give the Chargers a play or three and they could have easily been 7-1 instead of 4-4.  The game in Washington was just another example of being close, but not getting it done.

Danny Woodhead's game winning TD was overturned (correctly by the way) and the Chargers failed to score from the 1-foot line.  Kicking a FG to send the game into overtime.  Chargers never got the ball on offense as Washington drove down the field to score a TD and end it. 

Lets get the last 3 plays of regulation out of the way, since that's what all the Sportscasters are talking about.  Yes, they should have been able to score from less than a yard out and I will say that they deserved to loose when they couldn't get it done.  But you can 2nd guess the play calling all you like, it comes down to execution.  They score and nobody is saying anything about what was called.


For the record, it went like this...1st down: ran Danny Woodhead out of the shotgun.  2nd down:  Incomplete on a fade to Antonio Gates with Phillip Rivers under center and the backs in an I formation.  3rd down: Incomplete to Keenan Allen in the back of the end zone on a roll out by Rivers.  Neither of those were close.  And to clear something else up, Rivers audibled to the run on 1st down, but ran the called play on 2nd and 3rd.

Mike McCoy in the post game interview, "We're going to do what we think is best to win the football game. We're not trying to second guess ourselves. In this business, would've, should've, could've. If one of those three plays work, there's no questions asked. If they don't work, the questions come out, and they won't stop. So it's part of the game."  Exactly...it was lack of execution, not play calling that cost the Chargers the game.  Finally, for those of you that thought the Chargers should have just ran it 3 times, consider this...According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Chargers have scored on 2 of 11 runs from the 1-yard line this season (18%), less than half of the league average in those situations entering Week 9 (49%).


The defense also wasn't faultless on the loss.  They did set a franchise record of 12 straight quarters without allowing a TD (the 2nd quarter TD by Alfred Morris ended the streak), but gave up 500 yards in offense.  They also allowed another 100+ yard performance by a WR (Pierre Garcon, 7 catches, 172 yards).  They also couldn't get off the field on 3rd downs.  Washington converted on 12 of 17 3rd downs for 71%.  In the winning TD drive in OT, they had Washington in a 3rd and 8th, a 1st and 20, and a 3rd and 1 and Washington converted on all three.  Also, the Chargers' defense isn't good enough to win ball games when the offense makes mistakes.  Rivers' two interceptions led to 10 Washington points.


Enough of the negatives...lets look at the silver lining side. 

Despite giving up 500 yards and turning the ball over twice, they had a chance to win at the end.  They showed heart and mental toughness to overcome the turnovers and comeback from 24-14 deficit with 7:06 left in the 4th quarter. 

Keenan Allen once again is proving me right about him.  He caught 8 passes for 128 yards and a TD.  He was shut down in the first half, but he came up big when they needed him in the 4th. Allen got called on an offensive pass interference call in the 2nd quarter on a play where there was no contact between Allen and the DB...so he should have had 9 catches.  Allen did drop a wide open catch that may have gone for 6 early in the 4th. 

The defense picked up another turnover, an interception in the end zone on a batted ball by Andrew Gachkar (who also blocked a FG) that ended up in the hands of DE Sean Lissemore that was the first Charger TD of the game. Chargers have just 4 interceptions on the year and 2 have been by defensive lineman.  Chargers also blocked 2 field goals...Washington easily could have won this game in regulation.

Rivers had his worse passing day since Week 1, completing 63% and tossing 2 interceptions, but still threw for 341 yards and 2 TDs.  Watching the game on NFL Rewind, on Rivers 1st INT, he and Vincent Brown had a miscommunication.  Don't know if Brown broke the wrong way, but Rivers threw left and Brown cut right. 

Big game with the Broncos coming to San Diego on Sunday.  This is the game that will tell me a lot about these Chargers.  It's a home Division game against an opponent they are noticeably out gunned by.  Honestly, with the DB issues the Chargers have this year I have a hard time seeing he Chargers winning this game, but from a competitive stand point, these are the games that you have to step up and play better.