Lions melt in season-opening loss to Chargers

SAN DIEGO When things went wrong last year, the Detroit Lions could usually count on their second-ranked defense to bail them out of trouble.

If Sunday’s season opener against the San Diego Chargers is any indication, they won’t be quite as fortunate this year.

The Chargers scored 30 straight points to erase an 18-point second-quarter deficit and spoil the Lions’ season-opener at Qualcomm Stadium, 33-28.

Philip Rivers completed 35 of 42 passes for 404 yards and threw touchdowns of 12 yards to Stevie Johnson and 13 yards to Ladarius Green in the second half.

The Lions, who allowed the second fewest yards and third fewest points in the NFL last year, gave up 483 total yards Sunday and had no answers for San Diego’s short passing game.

Keenan Allen caught 15 passes for 166 yards, many of the catch-and-run variety, and the game could have been more lopsided if not for two Rivers interceptions, one in the end zone just before halftime.

The Lions, coming off an 11-5 season that tied for the second best mark in franchise history, opened with splash as rookie second-round pick Ameer Abdullah capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive with a 24-yard touchdown on his first career carry.

Abdullah, who split time with Joique Bell in the backfield, was one of the Lions’ few bright spots on an otherwise tough-to-stomach day for the Lions.

He finished with a team-high 50 yards rushing on seven carries, left Pro Bowl safety Eric Weddle grasping at air with an open-field cut on his touchdown run, caught four passes for 44 yards and had a 48-yard kickoff return.

But Matthew Stafford threw two interceptions after tossing just 12 picks all of last year, and Calvin Johnson was mostly invisible on offense.

Johnson, who did not play this preseason as the Lions monitored his snaps, caught just two passes for 39 yards one on the Lions’ desperation final drive and was targeted just twice in the first half.

Stafford finished 19 of 30 passing for 246 yards, and threw both of his interceptions in the second half.

Melvin Ingram blitzed untouched off right tackle and hit Stafford in the right arm to force the first turnover, and Patrick Robinson picked off Stafford a series later, after a Chargers fumble, when Stafford and Golden Tate appeared to have a miscommunication on a third-down play.

Stafford, who played most of the second half with a sleeve on his passing arm, nearly threw a third interception, but replays showed Weddle did not have possession of a would-be turnover in the end zone late in the game.

Theo Riddick caught a 21-yard touchdown from Stafford one play after the near-pick to make the final score look respectable.

Aside from Abdullah’s touchdown run, the Lions counted on their defense and special teams to build their early lead. Glover Quin returned a Rivers interception off a tipped pass 31 yards to give the Lions a 14-3 lead, and Stafford hit Eric Ebron with an 18-yard touchdown pass four plays after a long return to give the Lions a 21-3 lead.

But Danny Woodhead’s 9-yard touchdown run cut the Lions’ lead to 21-10 just before halftime and the Chargers dominated play in the second half.

Ebron led the Lions with four catches for 53 yards.

Johnson finished with six catches for 82 yards for the Chargers.

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