Chargers Get It Right on First Try This Time
The San Diego Chargers did their best to distance themselves from last season’s 1-15 debacle Sunday with a 30-3 victory over the Washington Redskins before 60,629 at Qualcomm Stadium.
The Chargers showed attributes that were missing for a team that lost its first 11 games last season: a running game, a consistent defense, and a quarterback with a strong work ethic.
Best of all, said Coach Mike Riley, they avoided the turnovers and other mistakes that also plagued the team last season.
“We played really smart and hard,” Riley said. “The combination of the two really won that game.”
Quarterback Doug Flutie, signed as a free agent by the Chargers after three seasons with the Buffalo Bills, completed 10 of 18 passes for 129 yards, and showed poise and competitiveness that his predecessor Ryan Leaf lacked.
That was particularly evident in the first quarter when Flutie was thrown for a seven-yard loss by defensive end Kenard Lang. With a replacement referee a tad slow with the whistle, Flutie jumped up and tried to regain a few yards even as Lang was doing a sack dance.
The victory may have been just another afternoon at the office for old pro Flutie, but that wasn’t the case for the running back LaDainian Tomlinson, the Chargers’ No. 1 draft choice from Texas Christian.
“When I first ran out, I had a tear in my eye,” Tomlinson said. “This was something I had dreamed about since I was a little kid. But when I got the ball, I figured, ‘The time for talking is over, now’s time for me to show what I’ve got.’ ”
What Tomlinson had was 113 yards and two touchdowns in 36 carries--the third most for a Charger back.
After his first touchdown, Tomlinson was greeted by offensive line coach Joe Bugel with a critique. “He told me [to] just keep on pounding.”
Tomlinson, a holdout for much of the exhibition season, also got some advice from Flutie.
“I told him [before the game] it’s not going to be these 80-yard runs that you’re used to,” Flutie said. “When there was nothing there, he got two yards. When there was something there, he got four or five. It’s not pretty but it’s great football.”
Tomlinson’s touchdowns came on runs of one and three yards. Kicker Wade Richey bounced back from an erratic exhibition season by making all three of his field goals--from 21, 48 and 32 yards.
The Chargers also scored 3 1/2 minutes into the game on an 84-yard punt return by Tim Dwight, a free agent signed from the Atlanta Falcons.
The San Diego defense, meanwhile, pressured quarterback Jeff George into an eight-of-18, 66-yard passing performance that included two interceptions. George also fumbled and was replaced by Tony Banks.
The Redskins, 8-8 last season, came close to scoring a touchdown twice in the second half. But running back Stephen Davis fumbled at the one-yard line in the third quarter and cornerback Ryan McNeil swatted down a Banks’ pass at the 4 late in the game.
Of the Chargers’ first five opponents, only the Redskins managed to win as many games as they lost last season, a fact adding to the Chargers’ optimism about getting a fast start.
“This feels great,” said defensive tackle John Parrella.
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Top of the Charts
Doug Flutie has the highest winning percentage among active quarterbacks with a minimum of 32 starts:
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Quarterback, Team W-L % Doug Flutie, San Diego 31-14 .689 Bret Favre, Green Bay 92-50 .648 Brad Johnson, Tampa Bay 33-18 .647 Steve McNair, Tennessee 41-24 .631 Mark Brunell, Jacksonville 52-33 .612
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