In their home opener, the San Diego Chargers beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 38-14. The offense made it look easy driving downfield on their first possession of the game. Running back Melvin Gordon capped off the eight-play, 75-yard drive with a touchdown to make it 7-0 early in the first quarter. The defense also started out strong. Casey Hayward intercepted Blake Bortles to set his team up at the Jacksonville 34. Hayward's pick eventually turned into points for the Bolts offense as Philip Rivers hit Travis Benjamin who darted six yards into the end zone. Five plays after a missed field goal by the Jaguars, Rivers connected with his trusty tight end Antonio Gates for a two-yard score and 21-0 lead. The defense continued to stifle the Jags in the second quarter after Melvin Ingram sacked and stripped Bortles to which Brandon Flowers recovered and on another play, Hayward inked his second pick of the game as the Jags were driving downfield. Rivers finished the first half 12 of 15 for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
The Chargers scored on their first possession of the second half as Rivers tossed a short pass to Tyrell Williams who took the ball 44 yards into the end zone for the 28-0 lead. While Jacksonville still couldn't muster anything late in the third quarter, the Chargers continued to roll. Benjamin caught his second TD pass of the day to bring the score to 35-0. The Jaguars finally got on the board shortly into the fourth quarter as Marcedes Lewis scored a four-yard touchdown. The Chargers had an answer though. Josh Lambo came on and kicked the team's first field goal of the day to make it 38-7. The Jaguars eventually came back to score their second touchdown of the day to bring up the final 38-14 score.
IMPACT PLAYS
FIRST QUARTER
12:30 – On 2nd-and-8, Melvin Gordon rushed up the right sideline for a gain of 21.
11:07 – Danny Woodhead took the ball off right tackle for a gain of 23.
10:17 – Gordon took the ball up the gut for a three-yard score and 7-0 lead.
3:40 – Casey Hayward tipped Blake Bortles' pass, which Jason Verrett then tipped back into Hayward's arms for the interception.
SECOND QUARTER
15:00 – Philip Rivers looked left and found Travis Benjamin who took the ball into the end zone to make it 14-0.
12:11 – Jaguars kicker Jason Myers' 54-yard field goal attempt was wide right and the Bolts took over.
11:32 – On the first play after the missed field goal, Benjamin gained 43 off a Rivers' pass to set up 1st-and-10 from the Jacksonville 13.
9:58 – On 1st-and-goal, Antonio Gates muscled his way into the end zone for a 21-0 lead.
9:00 – Blake Bortles stepped back and motioned to his receiver, but was sacked and stripped by Melvin Ingram. Brandon Flowers recovered the fumble to set his offense up at the Jags 18.
5:22 – Rivers was sacked and stripped. The Jaguars recovered the ball at their own six-yard line.
3:01 – Bortles lobbed a pass deep, but it was picked off by Hayward who had a 31-yard return on the INT.
:16 – Bortles was sacked by Ingram for a loss of six to bring up 2nd-and-16.
THIRD QUARTER
11:06 – Tyrell Williams took a pass off a crossing-route up the right sideline and then carried defenders with him into the end zone for the 28-0 lead.
9:39 – Gordon rushed up the left sideline and hurdled a defender to gain 19.
7:58 – Rivers was sacked by Dante Fowler to bring up a punt.
2:57 – Benjamin caught his second touchdown of the day. This one good for 45 yards to make it 35-0.
1:24 – After evading a tackler, Bortles rushed the ball 24 yards to the San Diego 39.
FOURTH QUARTER
14:27 – On 4th-and-4, Bortles found Marquise Lee for a gain of 14 to bring up 1st-and-goal.
12:59 – Tight end Marcedes Lewis scored the Jags' first points of the day with a four-yard touchdown.
10:06 – Gordon only rushed for three yards, but the three put number 28 at his first-career 100-yard rushing game.
7:04 – Josh Lambo booted a 25-yard goal through the uprights to increase his team's lead.
6:10 – Allen Robinson caught a 35-yard pass to move into San Diego territory.
4:52 – The Jaguars turned the ball over on downs after Bortles' 4th-and-3 pass fell incomplete.
1:58 – Bortles hit Lee for a gain of 17 to get to the San Diego 31.
1:12 – Corey Grant took a Bortles pass into the end zone for the Jags' second touchdown of the day.
