Only Thing That’s Good for Chargers Is Result

The San Diego Chargers kept trying to give away the game. The Baltimore Ravens wouldn’t take it.

In an afternoon of futile football between struggling teams, the Chargers managed to get a 14-13 victory that was dampened by the loss of running back Natrone Means because of a broken left foot.

Craig Whelihan, elevated to starting quarterback when troubled rookie Ryan Leaf was benched on Monday, threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Jones in the second quarter, and Terrell Fletcher returned from a four-game absence because of a knee injury with a three-yard touchdown run with 14:47 to play.

Other than that, there were few good moments as San Diego improved to 4-6 and Baltimore fell to 3-7.

The game seemed to be summed up on Jermaine Lewis’ punt return with six minutes left. Charger punter Darren Bennett, a former Australian Rules Football star, stuck out his right foot at the Baltimore 40, and Lewis tumbled to the ground, although he appeared to trip himself.

As Bennett was flagged for tripping, Lewis got up and continued his 90-yard run into the end zone, with one official signaling a touchdown. But the play came back because, as referee Gerry Austin explained, the tripping caused Lewis to be downed by contact.

Instead of having the lead, the Ravens had to settle for Matt Stover’s 42-yard field goal that pulled them to 14-13.

Meanwhile, the Chargers had 16 penalties for 146 yards and Whelihan--winless in his previous seven starts--completed only 15 of 42 passes for 172 yards.