Chargers blown out in preseason opener
By Travis Wakeman
The Los Angeles Chargers opened the StubHub Center on Sunday night by being defeated x-x by the Seattle Seahawks in a preseason contest.
The first team offense looked terrific, and that’s the one positive Chargers fans must draw from this game. Philip Rivers took his team on a 13-play, 75-yard drive which he capped off with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Gates to put the Chargers up 7-0.
It was pretty much all downhill from there.
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On the Seahawks’ first offensive possession, linebacker Denzel Perryman was injured chasing a scrambling Russell Wilson. Perryman was in immediate pain and a cart was called out to help him off the field. He was later seen on the sideline using crutches and wearing a walking boot.
Turnovers crippled the Chargers in this game, particularly when Kellen Clemens was in at quarterback. Clemens threw two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and he and running back Andre Williams had a bad exchange that resulted in a fumble with Seattle returned all the way down to the 1-yard line.
Because of turnovers, the Seahawks scored at will in the second quarter, posting 24 points in that quarter alone.
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The second half wasn’t much better as the Chargers weren’t able to sustain drives on offense and the defense was able to get off the field on third down. As a result, Seahawks reserve quarterbacks Trevone Boykin and Austin Davis looked like quality NFL players.
The highlight of the night for the Chargers came when Clemens threw a pretty deep ball to Travis Benjamin, who had gotten behind the defense, for a 74-yard touchdown.
The Chargers had a difficult time running the ball and got almost no pressure on the quarterback for much of the game. Rookie defensive back Desmond King did have an interception.
Some noteworthy Chargers statistics:
Philip Rivers: 5-6, 56 yards, 1 TD
Kellen Clemens: 4-10, 100 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTS
Cardale Jones: 2-9, 50 yards
Travis Benjamin: 2 receptions, 89 yards, 1 TD