Bolts From The Blue - Game Day: San Diego Chargers at New Orleans SaintsAn Unofficial Los Angeles Chargers Blog Created By The Fans, For The Fanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47753/btfb-fv.png2012-10-07T20:52:55-07:00http://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/rss/stream/32351712012-10-07T20:52:55-07:002012-10-07T20:52:55-07:00Chargers Lose to New Orleans Saints, Refs
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<figcaption>Harry How - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The San Diego Chargers move to 3-2 after blowing a game against the Saints in New Orleans.</p> <p>That was a total disaster. It will take us a few days to break down all the ways in which the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers" class="sbn-auto-link">San Diego Chargers</a> blew that game against the <a href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New Orleans Saints</a>, along with all the ways that the refs worked against the Chargers to hand a victory to the Saints.</p>
<p>Let's start with rookie OLB <span>Melvin Ingram</span>. With a 10 point lead and plenty of momentum, Ingram provided pressure up the middle against <span>Drew Brees</span> and Brees threw a pass into the chest of <span>Demorrio Williams</span> (who returned it for a touchdown). Oh, but wait....</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1236289/ingram.gif"><img src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1236289/ingram_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="Ingram_medium"></a></p>
<p>Yeah, that's a penalty. You're not allowed to put your head down and drive the "crown" of your helmet into the QB (and you're definitely not allowed to do it right under their chin). The best part is that he didn't need to do it at all. He could've very easily just lead with his shoulder and the outcome would've been the same (without the penalty/heartbreak). The 7 points for the Chargers were taken off the board, the Saints got the ball back (and moved 15 yards closer to the San Diego end zone) and quickly figured out that <span>Marques Colston</span> could not be covered by <span>Antoine Cason</span>.</p>
<p>The rest of he night was a comedy of errors. <span>Ryan Mathews</span>, who was averaging more than 7.7 yards per touch, warmed up a spot on the bench. <span>Philip Rivers</span> did his best, but every pass completed for more than 10 yards was called back due to phantom calls that even the NBC announcers were ashamed of. The Chargers defense couldn't help Cason with Colston without opening up space for the Saints' running game and <span>Darren Sproles</span>.</p>
<p>This is why the New Orleans Saints scored the last 17 points of the game and won. You're probably not going to win a game in which your opponent scores the last 17 points of the game, and tonight was no different.</p>
<p>Everyone deserves criticism. The pass-rush was non-existent in the second half, which didn't help the secondary (which looked terrible). The offensive line was dominated, and <span>Jared Gaither</span> ended the night by limping around while letting anyone who wanted to get to Rivers get there easily. The running game didn't cross Norv's mind after the first half. Philip Rivers was sacked more than a few times instead of throwing the ball away, and knocked the team out of FG range twice with that song and dance.</p>
<p>The receivers! And Gates. They don't deserve criticism. They played well, all of them. <span>Malcom Floyd</span>, <span>Antonio Gates</span>, <span>Robert Meachem</span> and <span>Eddie Royal</span> all played very well. Even <span>Ronnie Brown</span> and <span>Dante Rosario</span> played well as receivers when they were in there. I mean, they were going against what is probably the worst secondary in the entire NFL, but they played well against them.</p>
<p>Ryan Mathews too, who was banished to the bench simply because Ronnie Brown is the new Mike Tolbert (the RB when Norv decides he doesn't want to run anymore). He was great running the ball and catching the ball, making big plays, avoiding turnovers and generally getting more yards than an average running game would get every time he touched the ball.</p>
<p>We'll have much more coverage tomorrow, but this was a big step back for a Chargers team that had really high hopes before this game. It wasn't that they lost to a good team, it was that they were in control and handed the game to the other team. Good teams don't do that.</p>
https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2012/10/7/3472014/san-diego-chargers-lose-to-new-orleans-saints-refs-and-melvin-ingramJohn Gennaro2012-10-07T19:39:50-07:002012-10-07T19:39:50-07:00GIF: Antonio Gates is Still Very Spry
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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1236181/gates.gif"><img alt="Gates_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1236181/gates_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>Are you worried about Antonio Gates being hurt or getting older? Don't, apparently.</p>
https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2012/10/7/3471784/antonio-gates-is-still-very-spryJohn Gennaro2012-10-07T19:22:50-07:002012-10-07T19:22:50-07:00GIF: Ryan Mathews is Cleared for Takeoff
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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1236163/ryan.gif"><img alt="Ryan_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1236163/ryan_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>This is my new favorite GIF. How effortless does he make that look?</p>
https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2012/10/7/3471704/ryan-mathews-flies-in-for-a-touchdown-chargers-saints-snfJohn Gennaro2012-10-07T19:11:17-07:002012-10-07T19:11:17-07:00GIF: Damn Corey Liuget, You Scary
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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1236139/sackb.gif"><img alt="Sackb_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1236139/sackb_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>Wow. That 300+ lb man is very big, very strong, very fast and just threw <span>Drew Brees</span> down like a rag doll on an important 3rd down play. Good job, kid.</p>
https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2012/10/7/3471648/chargers-de-corey-liuget-sacked-drew-breesJohn Gennaro2012-10-07T19:08:21-07:002012-10-07T19:08:21-07:00GIF: Robert Meachem Scores Again
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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1236133/meachem2.gif"><img alt="Meachem2_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1236133/meachem2_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>One quarter after scoring his first TD as a San Diego Charger, <span>Robert Meachem</span> decided he wanted to get back into the end zone. If we're in the business of naming "MVP of the first half of this game", and we are, Robert Meachem was it.</p>
https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2012/10/7/3471634/robert-meachem-scores-his-second-touchdown-of-the-halfJohn Gennaro2012-10-07T19:02:57-07:002012-10-07T19:02:57-07:00Open Thread: Chargers at Saints, Second Half
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<figcaption>Harry How - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Chargers have a 17-14 lead over the Saints at halftime, but New Orleans will start the second half with the ball.</p> <p>The San Diego Chargers hold a 3 point lead over the New Orleans Saints at halftime of the game, but the San Diego defense has shown some weaknesses to the deep pass. Luckily, the San Diego offense has been balanced and effective.</p>
<p>The Saints will start the second half with the ball and a chance to get the lead back.</p>
https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2012/10/7/3471618/open-thread-san-diego-chargers-at-new-orleans-saints-second-halfJohn Gennaro2012-10-07T18:39:11-07:002012-10-07T18:39:11-07:00GIF: Brees Still Throws Touchdowns
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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1236085/breesus.gif"><img alt="Breesus_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1236085/breesus_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>After an impressive <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers">Chargers</a> drive that ended up with just a field goal, <span>Drew Brees</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a> got two huge pass plays to <span>Marques Colston</span> (including this touchdown). In the second quarter, the Saints currently have a 14-10 lead over San Diego.</p>
https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2012/10/7/3471526/drew-brees-still-throws-touchdownsJohn Gennaro2012-10-07T18:05:56-07:002012-10-07T18:05:56-07:00GIF: Chargers Give Brees an Easy Touchdown
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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1236037/breesrecord.gif"><img alt="Breesrecord_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1236037/breesrecord_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>That's as bad as <span>Michael Strahan's</span> fake sack of <span>Brett Favre</span>. Am I right?</p>
https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2012/10/7/3471352/san-diego-chargers-kindly-give-drew-brees-his-record-breakingJohn Gennaro