Gordon Helps Revitalize Chargers
Darrien Gordon, defensive back, punt returner and founder of the Save the San Diego Chargers Foundation, held the team together Sunday at Jack Murphy Stadium.
A team once on the move had bogged down. The Chargers, winners of their first six games, had lost three of five. The offense had taken an extended holiday. The team’s staying power was in doubt with a brutal December schedule ahead.
Someone had to do something.
In stepped Gordon. His 75-yard punt return got the Chargers breathing. His interception in the end zone got their blood going.
It all led to a 31-17 victory over the Rams, the Chargers’ first giant step forward since those heady days of October.
“Any time I get my hands on the ball, there’s an opportunity for a big play,” Gordon said. “It just takes a few seconds for something big to happen.
And Gordon knew it was time to do something huge.
This was the last gimme on the Chargers’ schedule. The going-nowhere-but St. Louis Rams were the only team with a losing record left on their schedule.
Trouble lay ahead, with a stretch run of the Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Chargers, clinging to a one-game lead over Kansas City, couldn’t pass on an opportunity.
“This was a team we were suppose to beat,” Gordon said. “You look at the perennially good teams, like the 49ers. The teams they were supposed to beat, they beat handily. We didn’t do that, but we got the job done.”
Well, Gordon did.
The Chargers continued their sluggish ways through the first half. Even Gordon was flat-footed, having been beaten deep by Jessie Hester on a 40-yard touchdown play that broke a scoreless tie in the second quarter.
The Rams led, 14-6, early in the third quarter when Gordon decided to take charge. He fielded Sean Landeta’s punt on the 25, ran to the left sideline and was gone.
“I went back, caught the ball and it seemed like it was over in an instant,” Gordon said. “It all happened in a flash.”
It was his second punt return for a touchdown this season, as he went 90 yards against the Raiders. Not bad for a guy Charger coaches didn’t want to use as a punt returner.
Gordon was second in the AFC in punt-return average last season, but the Chargers tinkered with using rookie Andre Coleman during training camp. Gordon talked them out of it.
The Rams wished he’d kept his mouth shut. Gordon returned six for 128 yards Sunday.
His touchdown seemed to kick start the offense. Quarterback Stan Humphries drove the team 52 yards and tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Ronnie Harmon on the Chargers’ next possession.
The Chargers were still a little wobbly, even after taking a 21-14 lead. Chris Miller took the Rams to the Charger seven late in the third quarter. But, on third and one, Gordon was there to prop up the Chargers once again.
Miller scrambled right and looked for Flipper Anderson, who was lurking in the back of the end zone. Miller spotted him, but didn’t see Gordon.
Gordon tipped the ball, had it bounce off his helmet, then snatched it out of the air.
“I don’t know what all it hit,” Gordon said. “I just saw it sitting there and I said, ‘I better grab that because Flipper will be looking for it.’ ”
Gordon didn’t keep it long. After being tackled, he ran to the stands and handed the ball to a fan. He had done the same thing after returning the punt for a touchdown.
“You got to live for the moment,” Gordon said. “I wanted the fans to feel a part of the game.”
That’s just Gordon: Chairman of Fan Appreciation Day.
