Photo via Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times
After offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers, Ken Whisenhunt was fired about a week before the big matchup against the Green Bay Packers, the Chargers offense was reignited under Shane Steichen as they won 26-11 to defeat the Packers.
The 7-1 Packers traveled to Dignity Health Sports Park to face off against the Chargers last Sunday. The Chargers broke the four-game win streak the Packers previously held.
Steichen has a new approach to the offense, and it may end up working in the long run.
After having a pretty slow start to the season, playoff dreams were slowly fading out of the picture for quarterback Phillip Rivers and the Chargers. However, on Sunday, Rivers looked revamped and undoubtedly performed the best we’ve seen from him and the Chargers this season.
Rivers finished the game completing 21 of 28 passes for 294 yards. Running back, Austin Eekler has been proving himself this season and did so in the game as he had 12 carries for 70 yards. Wide receiver, Mike Williams was a standout as he caught for 111 yards on just three catches.
The Chargers offense kept making plays and driving down the field but struggled in the first half to get into the end zone, which is a scary place to be against one of the best quarterbacks the league has ever seen.
Melvin Gordon wasn’t having the best season, especially when you look back at week seven against the Tennessee Titans when Gordon fumbled the ball on the one-yard line on fourth down ultimately losing the game for the Chargers.
Gordon then turns it around and makes a highlight play hurdling over defensive Chandon Sullivan getting the first down and bringing the Chargers into Green Bay territory. Gordon went on to score two touchdowns in the win.
Not only was the Chargers offense giving the Packers defense a hard time, but the Chargers defense was not giving Rodgers any room to make big plays as he was sacked and hurried multiple times by Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa.
Ingram continues to be a vital part of the Chargers defense. He missed three games this season after suffering a hamstring injury. The game against the Packers was the second game he played in since the injury and the Chargers are currently on a two-game win streak.
The Chargers defense held Rodgers to only completing 11 out of 19 passes for 61 yards through the first three quarters. Rodgers’ final stats were 23 for 35 for 161 yards with one touchdown.
In the post-game interview with Rodgers, he had no excuses for the performance as he explained the game as, “… a nice slice of humble pie.” The Packers will play the Carolina Panthers at home next Sunday.
The Chargers have a short week as they travel to The Oakland Coliseum for Thursday Night Football. The Raiders are currently second in the AFC West and are currently 3-1 in four home games on the season.
