The San Diego Chargers dropped their third game of the season falling to the New Orleans Saints 35-34. In Drew Brees' first action at Qualcomm since 2005, the Saints struck first as they scored on their opening possession. New Orleans' 11-play, 75-yard drive was capped off by a one-yard touchdown from Mark Ingram. It took the offense two possessions, but Philip Rivers tied the game with a 20-yard touchdown to Hunter Henry; the rookie's first in the NFL. The Saints regained the lead in the second quarter after Brees drove his team downfield and tossed a short pass to fullback John Kuhn. Kuhn then took the ball into the end zone to make it 14-7, New Orleans. Many predicted this match would be a shootout and halfway through the second quarter, the game delivered. Rivers connected with Dontrelle Inman who took the ball 57 yards into the end zone to tie the game. The Bolts' offense got the ball again after the defense picked Brees off, but the drive ended in a Lambo field goal. The Bolts scored again with 13 seconds left in the half as Melvin Gordon scored his fifth touchdown of the season to increase the lead, 24-14. Rivers finished the first half completing 14 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns.
Midway through the third quarter, it was a three point game as Kuhn ran in his second touchdown of the day. While Tyrell Williams was held catch-less in the first half, Rivers got number 16 heavily involved in the second. With Williams' help making key, lengthy catches, the Bolts sustained a long drive that extended into the fourth quarter. Said drive was eventually capped off with another Gordon touchdown that extended the Bolts' lead back to 10. Just as the Saints were getting ready to assemble a drive, Adrian Phillips leapt and grabbed the Bolts' second interception of the day. The turnover ended up in three points off a Lambo field goal, and the Chargers increased their lead 34-21. A San Diego turnover ended up in points for the Saints, as Brees got his team within one score after finding receiver Michael Thomas for a TD. Another turnover by the Chargers proved costly, as Kuhn scored his third touchdown of the day to make it 35-34, Saints. The Chargers attempted to surmount a comeback but on fourth down, Rivers' pass intended for Williams was intercepted by B.W. Webb and the Saints took a series of knees to end the game.
IMPACT PLAYS
FIRST QUARTER
10:36 – Running back Mark Ingram rushed into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown.
6:49 – Ingram was tackled in the backfield for a loss of six yards by Brandon Mebane.
5:32 – On the next play, Jerry Attaochu came around the right side to sack Drew Brees to bring up a New Orleans punt.
4:11 – Philip Rivers hit Hunter Henry, and the rookie took the ball up the middle for a gain of 16.
1:15 – On second down, Rivers dropped back and found the rookie tight end for a 20-yard score.
SECOND QUARTER
12:55 – Ingram caught a Brees pass and took it upfield. It appeared he stumbled and was down, but he got up and kept running for a gain of 19. San Diego challenged the play, and the original call was overturned to bring up a Saints third down.
9:24 – Brees tossed a short pass to John Kuhn who took the ball four yards into the end zone.
7:15 – After a big 15-yard conversion on third down, Rivers reconnected with Dontrelle Inman, and the receiver took the ball 57 yards into the end zone.
7:04 – Jason Verrett tipped a pass from Brees, and Craig Mager caught it for the first turnover of the game.
4:50 – Josh Lambo kicked his first field goal of the day to bring the score to 17-14, San Diego.
3:20 – The Bolts defense got their third sack of the game. This one good for a loss of 10 on third down.
:13 – Melvin Gordon scored his fifth touchdown of the season to bring the score 24-14, San Diego.
THIRD QUARTER
11:35 – Brees tossed a pass to Ingram good for 20 yards.
9:04 – Kuhn scored again, this one good for one-yard to bring the score within three.
3:06 – On 3rd-and-4, Rivers found Inman for a 22-yard completion to move the chains.
:48– Henry stretched out to get the first down and his extra effort proved beneficial. The seven-yard catch gave the Bolts a new set of downs.
:23 – The Bolts converted another third down to sustain the same drive. This one was a Rivers to Tyrell Williams connection good for 11.
FOURTH QUARTER
14:22 – Rivers continued to get Williams involved and they connected again for a gain of 16.
12:19 – Gordon ran off right guard and secured his second touchdown of the day to make it 31-21, Chargers.
11:27 – Adrian Phillips inked the Chargers' second interception of the game and ran the ball back 22 yards to the New Orleans 26.
8:43 – Lambo tacked on three more to the Chargers lead after a successful 47-yard field goal.
6:50 – On first down, Gordon fumbled, and the Saints took over on the San Diego 13.
4:55 – On fourth down from the San Diego five, Brees found receiver Michael Thomas in the end zone and got the Saints within one score.
4:50 – As Travis Benjamin began to turn upfield, he lost the ball, and the Saints recovered on the San Diego 31.
2:00 – Kuhn secured his third touchdown of the game to regain the lead for his team.
1:57 – Fairley sacked Rivers for a loss of five on first down.
1:18 – On 4th-and-22, Rivers stepped back to throw a pass but it was intercepted by B.W. Webb, who cinched the win for the Saints.
