Top 5 season-opening performances in Los Angeles Chargers’ history

No. 1: September 13, 2015
Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen has a knack for getting off to hot starts (even if injuries slow him down), but his performance against the Detroit Lions to begin the 2015 season was outstanding.
He didn’t find the end zone that day, but he was a massive asset to Rivers.
More from Bolt Beat
- LA Chargers: 3 early takeaways from 2021 minicamp thus far
- LA Chargers: Drue Tranquill takes a jab at Gus Bradley’s defense
- LA Chargers second-year players: Nothing to lose and a lot to gain
- LA Chargers: Why running back could be a big issue for the Bolts
- LA Chargers: Chris Rumph’s upside is Melvin Ingram-like, but better
Allen was targeted 17 times in the passing game that day, hauling 15 of them and gaining 166 yards through the air. He kept the chains moving and kept the Chargers in the game.
The Chargers needed every bit of it as the Lions were hungry for a win that day and held a 21-10 lead at the half. But the Chargers stormed back and found a way to pull out a 33-28 victory.
Leading the game 26-21 with more than half the fourth quarter gone, the Chargers went on a scoring drive that salted the game away. Though Danny Woodhead provided the crucial points, Allen caught five passes for 45 yards on the drive.
He was open all day and Rivers found him time and time again. His 15 receptions tied Kellen Winslow for the most catches ever for a Chargers player in one game and if not for a freak kidney injury later that season, he might have set the all-time record for receptions in a season.
Still, the performance was good enough to land at No. 1 on this list.