Chargers Jump on Jaguars Early
Maybe it was the powder-blue, lightning-bolt jerseys.
Wearing uniforms reminiscent of their long-ago glory years, the San Diego Chargers jumped to a quick lead Sunday and dominated the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 34-21 victory before 52,101 at Qualcomm Stadium.
The Chargers’ three-touchdown advantage midway through the second quarter was their first 21-0 lead since 1996.
Coupled with last week’s 38-17 win over the Tennessee Titans, the Chargers have scored more points, 72, than in any consecutive games since 1993.
“It’s fun to see the kind of progress we’re making,” said Charger Coach Marty Schottenheimer.
“Things are starting to happen for us,” said Charger linebacker Steve Foley, who forced Jaguar wide receiver Reggie Williams to fumble.
Both teams are 3-2.
Charger running back Jesse Chatman gained 103 yards in 11 carries, including a 41-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Charger quarterback Drew Brees completed 17 of 26 passes for 211 yards. The Jaguars’ Byron Leftwich completed 36 of 54 for 357 yards but threw two interceptions.
Jaguar Coach Jack Del Rio was downcast. “It was an ugly display of football,” he said.
The Chargers scored first on an 11-play, 66-yard drive, capped by a one-yard touchdown pass from Brees to tight end Antonio Gates. On their next drive, the Chargers went 76 yards in eight plays, with LaDainian Tomlinson scoring from one yard.
Midway through the second quarter, Brees threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Gates. Jaguar fullback Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala scored on a one-yard plunge and the score was 21-7.
In the second half, Charger rookie Nate Kaeding kicked field goals of 21 and 28 yards. In the final quarter, Leftwich ran for a two-yard touchdown and tossed a seven-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cortez Hankton.
“We just have to keep pounding them and things will work out for us,” said Charger cornerback Drayton Florence.
If the Chargers keep winning, this could be the best team most San Diegans have never seen. Lacking a sellout, all three home games have been blacked out on local television.
Since 1997 the team’s lease on Qualcomm Stadium required the city government to buy unsold tickets for home games, thus insuring a sellout. But the lease has been renegotiated to eliminate the ticket guarantee and allow the team to flee, maybe to Los Angeles, after 2008.
The Chargers had been beaten all three times they had worn the old-style uniforms since 1994.
“Now that the game is over, hey, we looked good out there,” Brees said. “Those are the best uniforms in football.”