Chargers Make a Run Through Atlanta
The Chargers’ 10-7 victory over Atlanta Sunday proved which of the following?
A) The Chargers are like most other teams in the National Football League--when their No. 1 running back gains more than 100 yards, their chances of winning increase dramatically.
B) The Charger defense, particularly against the run, is one of the NFL’s best kept secrets.
C) A derby is something you wear on your head.
D) All of the above.
If you answered D, you are mostly correct. You’ve also probably spent too much time watching a team that needed a blocked field goal, a partially blocked punt, an interception and 2 fumble recoveries to end a 6-game losing streak against a team that couldn’t fill half a stadium despite its longest winning streak in 2 seasons.
The victory set the Chargers (3-8) back in the derby to finish with the NFL’s worst record, and thus the right to select first--perhaps taking UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman--in next spring’s college draft.
But, said Charger Coach Al Saunders, “it was just nice to win.”
Saunders has at least temporarily found the answer to the Chargers’ quarterback problems. Second-year player Mark Vlasic, making his first professional start, completed 16 of 32 passes for 190 yards, including a 57-yarder to Rod Bernstine late in the fourth quarter that set up Barry Redden’s winning touchdown, his first as a Charger.
Redden’s 5-yard off tackle burst to the weakside gave the Chargers a 10-0 lead, which changed to 10-7 on Chris Miller’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Michael Haynes moments later. The officials called Haynes’ catch an incompletion, but replay official Mark Burns reversed the decision when he decided Haynes had both feet in bounds.
The Charger ground game produced 185 yards, a season high. Tailback Gary Anderson, who hadn’t played since the fourth week of the season, gained 145 yards in 24 carries.
It was hardly surprising. The Falcon defense has allowed more yards than any National Football Conference team. “It’s been a while,” said Anderson, whose 3 100-yard games this season have coincided with the Chargers’ 3 victories.