Now, that was pretty dang impressive.
With Philip Rivers, Keenan Allen and Travis Benjamin making their preseason debut, the Bolts rolled out their true number one offense for the first time this season. It's the same unit that ranked third overall in the league while boasting the NFL's top-ranked passing attack.
In their only taste of preseason action to date, the first-team offense was perfect, authoring a nine-play, 70-yard drive culminating in a powerful Melvin Gordon two-yard run into the end zone.
Philip Rivers proved to be in midseason form, going a perfect 4-for-4 for 41 yards on the opening drive. Three of his passes went for first downs, including a five-yard dart to Keenan Allen on 3rd-and-4. KA13 had two receptions on the drive as he also had a 13-yard gain.
The drive started out in grand fashion as Rivers used his feet to buy time before lobbing it up to Tyrell Williams, who made an acrobatic play on the ball to high-point it for the 21-yard gain.
Not to be outdone, the Chargers ground attack was also out in full force. Melvin Gordon carried the rock four times for 21 yards. Detrez Newsome also got in on the ground, showing impressive power on an eight-yard carry to set up Gordon's two-yard touchdown run up the gut.
Head Coach Anthony Lynn opted to keep Rivers and the starters in for another drive, and it got off to a good start when number 17 evaded the rush and hit Gordon, who then ran upfield for a 16-yard gain. The running back gained another first down with his feet. Unfortunately, the drive ended when Rivers' pass for Allen on 3rd-and-6 fell incomplete despite what looked like sure-fire defensive pass interference.
Overall, Rivers was 6-for-7 for 62 yards and a QB rating of 103.6. Even though he headed to the sidelines after the first two drives, the remainder of the first-team offense stayed in the game as Geno Smith took over.
