Chargers top Falcons in OT, earn rare consecutive wins
Send a link to a friend
[October 24, 2016]
ATLANTA -- It took a comeback
and overtime, but the San Diego Chargers have consecutive wins for
the first time since November of the 2014 season.
Josh Lambo kicked a 42-yard field goal six minutes into OT for the
33-30 victory over Atlanta on Sunday after Chargers linebacker
Denzel Perryman stopped Devonta Freeman for a loss on fourth-and-1
from the Falcons' 45-yard line on the first possession of the extra
period.
"Just a gut feeling I had," said Falcons coach Dan Quinn of the
decision to go for it. "Go be aggressive and get that half yard that
we needed. When we didn't get it, that was (the loss)."
The Chargers, down by 17 points in the second quarter, had tied it
on a 33-yard field goal by Lambo with 18 seconds remaining in
regulation after Matt Ryan was intercepted by Perryman, who made the
two biggest plays of the game for the Chargers despite being
bothered by a sore shoulder.
The interception was a mistake by Ryan on a bad throw. The stop of
Freeman was being in the right place at the right time.
"It was just instincts," Perryman said. "On fourth-and-one, it was a
no-brainer that they were going to run the ball. The d-line did
their job and I did my job. I just got nice and low and shot the
gap. The linemen couldn't get his hands on me and I just got
Freeman's leg and hung on."
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Oct/24/images/ads/current/pest-control-SDA-Termites-2015.png)
"I just thought we had a good shot," Quinn said. "We didn't execute
like we can. We like the call; we just didn't execute. They made a
good play too. I have to give them credit as well."
The Falcons had a chance to avoid overtime after a pair of
completions from Ryan to Julio Jones, but Matt Bryant hit the left
upright on a 58-yard field-goal attempt.
Philip Rivers' 5-yard touchdown pass to Melvin Gordon with less than
six minutes left in the fourth quarter climaxed a 15-play, 75-yard
drive that got the Chargers within three points.
It was just the second victory on the road for the Chargers (3-4) in
their past 13 road games and was the second consecutive narrow loss
for the Falcons (4-3) after a four-game winning streak.
The Falcons lost the opening game of the season in overtime at
Kansas City and then couldn't hold on in close losses at
Indianapolis and Oakland.
"The message this week was that we've got to go on the road and
win," Chargers coach Mike McCoy said. "We hadn't finished the other
games on the road this year. To get where you want to go, you've got
to go on the road and beat good football teams."
Rivers completed 27 of 44 passes for 371 yards and a touchdown,
while Ryan was 22 of 34 for 273 yards and a score. Each was
intercepted once.
It was 46th consecutive game that Ryan had pass for more than 200
yards -- setting an NFL record. He had been tied with former
Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts.
The Falcons, though, were held in check after halftime.
"The defense held them to three points in the second half, which is
tough to do," Rivers said.
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/102416pics/sports73.jpg)
Falcons running back Tevin Coleman (26) runs for a touchdown against
the San Diego Chargers during the second quarter at the Georgia
Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Mar/14/images/ads/current/tires250x300.gif)
Gordon, meanwhile, had three touchdowns while rushing for 63 yards
on 22 carries and catching six passes for 58 more yards.
The Chargers elected to receive rather than defer to the second half
after winning the toss and the move paid off as Gordon scored on a
2-yard run after Rivers connected with Tyrell Williams for 49 yards.
The Falcons, though, wiped out a 10-6 deficit by scoring three
touchdowns within five minutes of the second quarter.
Ryan connected with Jacob Tamme for a 17-yard touchdown after a
50-yard pass to Jones, Tevin Coleman had a 30-yard run for touchdown
after the Falcons were given good field position after a botched
Chargers kickoff return and Adrian Clayborn scored on a 5-yard
fumble return after Rivers fumbled while being sacked by Vic Beasley
Jr.
The Chargers got back within 27-17 at halftime on Gordon's 3-yard
touchdown run with a minute left in the second quarter.
Bryant hit from 42 and 27 yards in the first quarter and had a
31-yarder early in the fourth. Lambo connected from 40 yards early
in the second quarter and from 37 yards in the third.
Tevin Coleman, part of the Falcons' one-two punch with Freeman,
suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter and didn't return.
He had 64 yards in 10 carries and caught a pass for 10 more yards.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Oct/24/images/ads/current/ldn_more1_sda_121715.png)
NOTES: Chargers CB Craig Mager suffered a concussion in the third
quarter while making a tackle. He was starting for CB Brandon
Flowers, who missed his fourth game because of a concussion. ... The
Chargers lost DT Caraun Reid to a left knee injury in the first
quarter when he was hit by a teammate. ... CB Jalen Collins made his
season debut for the Falcons in a limited role after the 2015
second-round draft choice was suspended for the first four games and
inactive for the next two. ... The Falcons wore black throwback
jerseys with white pants and their original logo on the black
helmets. ... Former President Jimmy Carter flipped the coin on the
opening toss. ... LB Chris Landrum was promoted from the practice
squad by the Chargers with LB Jeremiah Attaochu (ankle) out. ... It
was just the 10th time the teams had played, with the Chargers' last
trip to Atlanta coming in 2004.
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |