Jacksonville beats Chargers

Sunday, Nov 18, 2007
By Tom Shanahan, Chargers.com

The Chargers' up-and-down season continued another week in Jacksonville as a fourth-quarter comeback attempt came up short in a 24-17 loss Sunday to the Jaguars.

"We're so close, but it doesn't matter if we don't make the next move," Chargers head coach Norv Turner said. "We've been so close in three or four games, where we say if we would have done this or this. We have to make the next move, whether it being coaching, executing individual techniques or managing the entire play. All those things are keeping us from getting done what we need to get done."

Despite the loss, the Chargers remained atop the AFC West standings with a 5-5 record as they prepare for their next game Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens at Qualcomm Stadium.

The Kansas City Chiefs dropped to 4-6 with a loss at Indianapolis and the 4-5 Denver Broncos play at home Monday night against the Tennessee Titans.

"We're 5-5 and we all know we're better than what are record is showing," said defensive end Ryon Bingham. "The key for us now is to go out and show it. We do at times, but we have to do it consistently."

Bingham received his most extensive playing time as the Chargers' defense was without Luis Castillo (ankle) and Jacques Cesaire (toe) was limited.

The Jaguars (7-3) controlled the ball in the first half with their running game to take leads of 10-0 and 17-3 at halftime. But the Bolts slowed down the Jaguars on the ground in the second half. Jacksonville was limited to one touchdown when the Jags turned to their passing game.

"We had a good stops of the running game, but it wasn't enough," Bingham said. "We've got to come back and do better."

With the Chargers trailing by two touchdowns at halftime, the Bolts came out throwing the ball in the second half.

San Diego took possession at its 40-yard line when the kickoff rolled out of bounds at the 2-yard line. Quarterback Philip Rivers completed passes of 20 yards to Vincent Jackson and 34 yards to LaDainian Tomlinson to set up Tomlinson's 6-yard scoring run.

Jacksonville later scored what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown in the third quarter on a 1-yard pass from quarterback David Garrard to tight end Mercedes Lewis.

The Jaguars were leading 24-10 until the Chargers trimmed the deficit to 24-17 with in the fourth quarter touchdown pass from Rivers to tight end Antonio Gates with 5:06 left in the game.

Gates' score came on a 24-yard pass one play after Chris Chambers caught a fourth-and-10 pass for a 21-yard gain that included a 15-yard penalty against the Jaguars for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Chambers.

The Chargers forced a punt to get the ball back with 2:13 left in the game, but after gaining one first down, the possession ended with an interception by Sammy Knight with 1:26 left in the game.

"It was one of the few times I got fooled on the coverage," Rivers said. "Sammy Knight came down like a third backer, and it was just a poor decision I made."

For the game, Rivers completed 22-of-40 passes for 309 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Tomlinson carried 16 times for 62 yards and one touchdown and caught five balls for 93 yards.

Wide receiver Chris Chambers led the receivers with four catches for 93 yards and Gates had four receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown.

In all, the Chargers outgained the Jaguars in total yards with 388 to 311.

"I do think we grew as an offense," Rivers said. "I know that doesn't mean anything to the fans. All they care about is a win, and that's all we care about. But if we grow and keep our minds focused, this thing is going to come down to the wire. We're not going to cruise through the division or any opponent. Hopefully through the trials and hard times of this season, we'll grow, and if we do kick it off in January we'll be a better team for it."