The San Diego Chargers rallied back from a 17-point deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime, 33-30. The win had standout performances from some of the Bolts' second-year players including Melvin Gordon (three touchdowns) and Denzel Perryman (one INT).
Game Balls
Offense: Melvin Gordon. Gordon had a hat trick day with three touchdowns; two rushing, one receiving. His third touchdown of the day was possibly the most important as it brought the score within three. However, the running back's biggest play came on 3rd-and-1 with 46 seconds left in the fourth quarter as he appeared to be stuffed behind the line of scrimmage for a loss. But instead, Gordon rushed around the left side to stay alive for a gain of 13 which ultimately ended up in three points to tie the game. In overtime, he jumped over the pile to pick up a key 3rd-and-1 that eventually led to the game-winning field goal.
Defense: Denzel Perryman. Though he appeared to be ailing throughout the game, Perryman left everything out on the field and it showed. The inside linebacker had seven total tackles on the day along with one tackle for loss, one pass defensed and one interception that ultimately ended in points for the Bolts. He also sliced through the line to stuff Devonta Freeman on 4th-and-1 in overtime to give the offense the ball.
Unsung Hero: Joey Bosa. It's no doubt that Bosa that has been a force to be reckoned with since he started regular season action, and Sunday's game was no different. Bosa had two quarterback hits and a pair of sacks including a big one on third down for a loss of seven. On the ensuing Chargers drive off the punt, Lambo booted a field goal to make it a one-score game.
Stat of the Game:
Joey Bosa's four sacks through three games is the most by a rookie since Elvis Dumervil in 2006.
Play of the Game:
On 1st-and-20, Matt Ryan stepped back and lobbed a pass in the direction of Julio Jones. However, the pass was short and Perryman cut in front of number 11 to pick the ball off. The interception was Perryman's first of his NFL career.
Turning Point:
On 3rd-and-1 from the Atlanta 28, Rivers handed off to Melvin Gordon. Gordon appeared to be stopped in the backfield; however, the running back stayed patient and ran off the left side for a gain of 13. The gain gave the Bolts a new set of downs and ultimately ended the drive in a 33-yrd field goal to tie the game, 30-30.
It Was Over When:
After getting down to the Atlanta 24 in overtime, Josh Lambo came out to try a 42-yard field goal for the win. His kick was good, and the Bolts were victorious.
Bolt Quotebook
"I can't give enough credit to the entire team. Being down the way we were at halftime, there was no panic; nothing. It was just you have to believe in what we are doing, and it's just one play at a time I couldn't be happier the way our guys worked." - Head Coach Mike McCoy
"We have a very young team and we're starting to believe in each other. When you win, it just boosts up so much confidence all around the team." - NT Brandon Mebane
"We definitely have momentum. We have belief in ourselves that we could be a great team which we did these last two weeks. Just winning like this brings the team only closer and closer and we're excited to get this thing rolling and keep it going." - DE Joey Bosa
"We haven't had a road win in a long time, and we've lost a lot of games that have been close. A lot of games like this we've lost, and not the disastrous ones we've had this year, I just mean close games like this; somebody has the ball late in the two-minute drive, we've lost those games the last two years. So it was huge." - QB Philip Rivers
Odds and Ends
The Chargers outgained the Falcons 426-386. They held a 348-256 advantage through the air but the Falcons had the edge on the ground 130-78.
Tyrell Williams led all Bolts receivers with seven catches and 140 yards.
Melvin Gordon was the second leading receiver with 53 yards through the air. Along with 68 yards on the ground, he had 121 total yards of offense.
Melvin Ingram led all Chargers defenders with nine total tackles. He had one sack while Joey Bosa had two.
Kyle Emanuel served as an honorary captain.
Inactives for the Chargers included DE Darius Philon, CB Brandon Flowers, S Jahleel Addae, OLB Jerry Attaochu, C Max Tuerk, T Tyreek Burwell and TE Asante Cleveland.
