The San Diego Chargers dropped their third game of the season as they fell to the New Orleans Saints, 35-34.
Stat of the Game:
The Chargers have an interception in the first four games of a season for the first time since 2002.
Play of the Game:
As the Saints were trying to assemble a drive, Drew Brees stepped back and lobbed a pass in the direction of Michael Thomas. However, Adrian Phillips made a leaping grab to pick the ball off and ran it back 22 yards. Six plays later, the pick turned into points for the Bolts as Lambo tacked on three to the Chargers' score.
Turning Point:
With a 34-21 lead, and momentum in their favor after they forced the Saints to punt, the Chargers offense got the ball back with 6:50 left in the game. But on first down, Vonn Bell came in and popped the ball from Melvin Gordon's arms. Darryl Tapp recovered the fumble on the San Diego 13 and four plays later, the Saints scored a touchdown to bring the game within six.
It Was Over When:
Down one with just over a minute left in the game, Philip Rivers had no choice but to go for it on fourth down. Unfortunately, his pass intended for Tyrell Williams was picked off by B.J. Webb, who clinched the victory for his team.
Bolt Quotebook
"That performance in the second half is flat out unacceptable. From the very opening kickoff return, all the way to the very end. You cannot turn the ball over at a critical time in the game, when you are trying to put it away; two times in a row. So we absolutely gave this one away." – Head Coach Mike McCoy
"It seems like each loss we say, 'I don't know if it can get any tougher than that.' Then, somehow we find a way to top each one. This one is really unlike any other I can remember in the way it happened." – QB Philip Rivers
"We want to win, we just have to figure out the fourth quarter as a team. We are not going to point fingers at anybody. We win as a team and we lose as a team." – NT Brandon Mebane
"You have to just keep working; you can't give up. I don't think anyone in here is built to give up. You have to fight." –* RB Melvin Gordon*
"If we didn't have confidence, we would be sitting at home watching instead of playing. So we just have to put this one past us (and) move on. This is what great players and great teams do. They forget mistakes and move on to the next." – WR Dontrelle Inman
Odds and Ends
The Chargers outgained the Saints 346-275 in total yardage. The Saints held the advantage on the ground (83-38) while the Bolts held a 308-192 edge through the air.
Philip Rivers completed 28 of 43 passes for 321 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Dontrelle Inman led all receivers in receptions (seven) and yards (120).
Jatavis Brown led all defenders with seven total tackles. In addition, the Bolts defense had two sacks for a combined 15 yards, four tackles for loss and eight passes defensed.
Dontrelle Inman served as an honorary captain.
Inactives for the Chargers included CB Brandon Flowers, S Jahleel Addae, C Max Tuerk, LT King Dunlap, TE Antonio Gates, NT Ryan Carrethers and DE Joey Bosa.
