The Los Angeles Chargers improved to 8-3 on the season with a 45-10 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Game Balls
Offense: Philip Rivers – Rivers is having a season for the ages in year 15, and his performance against Arizona once again reinforced that notion. He completed 25 straight passes tying the league record for most consecutive completions. He got to sit for much of the final quarter, but finished the game 28-of-29 for 259 yards and three touchdowns.
Defense: Joey Bosa – Sunday's game was Bosa's second of the season and he made his presence felt. His two sacks in the win gave him the fourth-most multi-sack games (seven) in the NFL since entering the league in 2016. Additionally, he finished with five total tackles, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hits.
Unsung Hero: Austin Ekeler – Ekeler made an impact on Sunday both on the ground and through the air for the Bolts. With a two-yard scoring run to close the third quarter, he became the first undrafted Charger in team history to post a rushing and receiving score in each of his first two seasons. On the ground, he had five carries for 35 yards and the score. Though the air, he had team highs in targets (11) and receptions (10) for 68 yards.
Stat of the Game:
Philip Rivers completed 25 straight passes tying the NFL record for the most consecutive completions.
Play of the Game:
Down 10-0 early in the second quarter, the Bolts faced a 3rd-and-goal from the nine. Philip Rivers stood tall in the pocket, lobbing a pass into the back corner of the end zone where Mike Williams jumped high to pluck it out of the air. The wideout took a hard hit and crashed down to the turf, yet he hung onto the rock, cutting the Cardinals lead to three.
Turning Point:
After the Chargers scored to get to 14-10, Josh Rosen and the Cardinals offense came back out on the field. On the first play, Rosen stepped back and threw a pass intended for Christian Kirk; however, Derwin James was in perfect position to pick the ball off. Three plays later on 1st-and-20 after an offensive holding penalty, Rivers tossed a deep ball to Sean Culkin, who made a leaping grab good for 24 yards. On the next play, Melvin Gordon took a handoff and rushed up the middle for his second touchdown of the game. At the time, the Bolts scored 21 unanswered and kept their foot on the gas the rest of the way.
It Was Over When:
By the time Rivers hit Williams for number 81's second score of the game, the team was up 28-10 at the end of the second quarter. The Chargers were in complete control for the last three quarters of the game; continuing to score on offense while pressuring defensively. They scored twice in the third quarter and kicked a field goal in the fourth to bring the final score to 45-10. The 45 unanswered points were the most by the team since recording 45-straight in 1969 over the Buffalo Bills.
Bolt Quotebook
"It says a lot that we started 10-0 and came back and just kind of took control and dominated the rest of the game. I think we were getting a little comfortable with ourselves last week. These wins don't come easy, it doesn't matter who you're playing against. I think it's about staying humble, knowing where we were a few years ago and keeping that same hunger. And as Phil said, stay a little salty." – DE Joey Bosa
"(Rivers) had total confidence. He told us before the game he was going to ball out, and that's what he did. He wanted to come back after last week and (have a) bounce back week and I think we did a great job of that." – WR Keenan Allen
"It's not about how you start, it's how you finish and I feel like we did a great job on the rest of the third downs on the game, getting the offense the ball and getting sacks. This is my second game with Joey (Bosa), but it's feeling real. There were plays to be made and we're always making plays. One of us is going to make a play. We've got a great team." – S Derwin James
Odds and Ends
The Chargers outgained the Cardinals 414 to 149 in total yardage. They had a 178 to 62 advantage on the ground, while holding a 236 to 87 edge through the air.
Melvin Gordon eclipsed 1,200 scrimmage yards on the season, extending his streak to three seasons with 1,200 yards from scrimmage and at least 10 total touchdowns, making it the longest active streak in the NFL.
Derwin James and Jatavis Brown each paced the defense with seven total tackles. James' interception made him the first defensive rookie since 2012 to register multiple interceptions and at least 3.5 sacks.
Joey Bosa now has the fourth-most multi-sack games (seven) in the NFL since entering the league in 2016.
By nailing all six extra points, Michael Badgley set a team mark for the most points scored by a kicker (39) through the first five games of his career without a missed field goal. After his field goal in the fourth quarter, he passed George Blair for the most points by a Chargers kicker through five career games (42).
Isaac Rochell served as today's honorary captain.
Inactives for the Chargers included Trevor Williams, Jeff Richards, Chris Landrum, Cole Toner, Trent Scott, Forrest Lamp and Brandon Mebane.
Browse through the top game action photos as the Bolts take on the Arizona Cardinals during Week 12 at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Travis Benjamin catches a pass from Philip Rivers during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Keenan Allen runs after catching a pass from Philip Rivers during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Mike Williams makes a touchdown catch over cornerback Bene' Benwikere during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Carson, Calif.
Keenan Allen points to the crowd during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Casey Hayward and Derwin James slap hands on the field during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Jatavis Brown tackles Cardinals RB David Johnson during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Joey Bosa celebrates sacking Cardinals QB Josh Rosen during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Joey Bosa celebrates sacking Cardinals QB Josh Rosen during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Joey Bosa celebrates sacking Cardinals QB Josh Rosen during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Joey Bosa and Derwin James celebrate Bosa's sack of Cardinals QB Josh Rosen during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Philip Rivers calls a play during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Derwin James swats the ball away from Cardinals TE Ricky Seals-Jones during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Derwin James and Melvin Ingram celebrate James' interception during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Derwin James and Casey Hayward celebrate James' interception during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Melvin Gordon runs through the middle during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Keenan Allen celebrates catching a pass from Philip Rivers during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Keenan Allen catches a pass from Philip Rivers during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Philip Rivers smiles on the sideline during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Melvin Gordon runs into the end zone for a touchdown as Haason Reddick attempts a tackle during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Carson, Calif.
Austin Ekeler catches a pass from Philip Rivers during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Mike Williams leaps up to grab his second touchdown of the day during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams, right, makes a touchdown catch next to Arizona Cardinals defensive back David Amerson during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Michael Schofield, Mike Pouncey, Antonio Gates and Mike Williams celebrate Williams' touchdown during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Travis Benjamin runs downfield after catching a pass from Philip Rivers during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Austin Ekeler runs downfield during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Derwin James makes a tackle during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Keenan Allen celebrates after a catching a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Carson, Calif.
Travis Benjamin runs downfield during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Justin Jackson runs downfield during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Philip Rivers throws against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Carson, Calif.
Austin Ekeler runs downfield during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Philip Rivers throws against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Carson, Calif.
Joey Bosa records his second sack of Cardinals QB Josh Rosen during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa celebrate Bosa's second sack of the day during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
The Bolts bring down Cardinals RB David Johnson during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
The Bolts bring down Cardinals RB David Johnson during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Isaac Rochell tackles during the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.
Philip Rivers pumps his fist after his team scored during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Carson, Calif.
Philip Rivers smiles on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Carson, Calif.
