/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/19586977/180640206.0.jpg)
So much for our predictions and fears. Mike McCoy, Ken Whisenhunt and the San Diego Chargers offense did exactly what we hoped they would do, run the ball and win the time of possession battle. Actually, San Diego had the ball for over FORTY MINUTES of the sixty minute game. That helped keep the Chargers defense fresh, which didn't really matter....but the Eagles made enough mistakes on offense to give the Chargers a chance.
There was a scary moment early in the second half where Malcom Floyd took this hit...
Floyd ended up leaving the game on a stretcher and being taken to a local Philadelphia hospital. We'll update you when we hear more about his playing status, but the good news is that he's able to move his limbs and he's alert.
The MVPs of this game for the Chargers? Philip Rivers, Eddie Royal, Antonio Gates and the offensive line. Weird, I know.
Rivers finished 36/47 for 419 yards, 3 TDs and zero turnovers. Antoino Gates caught 8 passes for 124 yards, mostly on third down conversions. Eddie Royal caught 7 passes for 90 yards, including all three of Rivers' touchdown passes.
All in all, the plan worked to perfection. Even when Ryan Mathews and Antonio Gates fumbled away drives in the red zone, the offense never seemed to lose its rhythm.