The Los Angeles Chargers fell to the New Orleans Saints, 19-17, in the second game of the preseason.
We knew in advance of Sunday's game that quarterback Philip Rivers would not play, therefore, Tyrod Taylor got his second start of the preseason at QB.
Taylor went 7-of-10 for 57 yards with a pick. Cardale Jones entered in the second quarter for the team.
Turnovers were much of the story for both teams in the first half.
The Chargers got to their own 46 on their first offensive drive, but after gaining no ground on third down, they went for it on fourth. Justin Jackson was dropped in the backfield for a loss of two, and the Bolts turned it over on downs.
On the ensuing Saints drive, Rayshawn Jenkins nearly had an interception on third down, but New Orleans opted to go for it on 4th-and-3. It was then that quarterback Teddy Bridgewater fumbled the snap, and Chargers linebacker Kyle Wilson recovered it giving possession to the home team.
Late in the first quarter, Taylor's pass was intercepted by A.J. Klein. Four plays later, the Saints scored the first points of the game with a 33-yard field goal.
Jaylen Watkins had an interception in the second quarter at the Chargers' two-yard line – Watkins missed all of last season with an ACL injury and did not play in the first preseason match at Arizona. The Bolts went 10 plays in 98 yards to end that drive with a 24-yard touchdown between Jones and wide receiver Andre Patton.
First-round pick Jerry Tillery logged the first sack of his pro career in the second quarter. This was Tillery's first time suiting up as a Charger after sitting in the first preseason game.
With three seconds left in the second quarter, running back Troymaine Pope took a punt return 81 yards to the house to make it 17-3, Chargers. The Bolts defense held the Saints to only 76 total yards of offense in the first half.
Browse through the top game action photos from Preseason Week 2 as the Bolts take on the New Orleans Saints at ROKiT Field at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Easton Stick entered the game with a little over six minutes left in the third quarter.
It was New Orleans who scored the first points in the second half when quarterback Taysom Hill connected with wideout Austin Carr for a 27-yard touchdown to cut the Chargers' lead, 17-10.
In the fourth, Denzel Perryman had his team's second red zone turnover of the day when he forced a fumble on Saints RB Devine Ozigbo. Safety Adarius Pickett recovered it for the Chargers.
The Saints scored in the fourth when Hill connected with Ozigbo for a short, one-yard TD. However, their two-point conversion attempt failed when DE Anthony Lanier burst through to sack Hill. The Bolts led by one, 17-16, with 6:46 left in the game.
The Saints took their first lead since the first quarter with a 28-yard field goal late in the fourth to make it 19-17.
On the ensuing Chargers' possession, Stick's pass was picked off by Colton Jumper leading to the eventual end of the game.
