Team Grades: Chargers Dodge Bullet, Top 49ers 38-35 In OT
By Dave Thomas
He may not always be listed with Tom Brady or Peyton Manning as the guy you'd like to have leading your team in the waning moments of a game, but time and time again, San Diego's Philip Rivers has delivered.
In what was all but a must-win game for the Bolts Saturday evening in Santa Clara, Rivers willed the Chargers to a wild 38-35 come-from-behind overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers, keeping San Diego (9-6) alive in the AFC playoff hunt. While a loss would not have eliminated the Bolts, the win certainly keeps them in the playoff discussion.
Meantime, it was yet another disheartening defeat for San Francisco (7-8), which will in all likelihood be under the leadership of someone other than head coach Jim Harbaugh next season. The former Stanford head coach, who played his college football at the University of Michigan, is being heavily pursued by the Wolverines to be their next head coach.
San Francisco, which held what seemed like a commanding 35-14 lead at one point, watched the Chargers score 24 unanswered points, the last of which came on Nick Novak's game-winning 40-yard field goal, this after San Francisco turned the ball over in San Diego territory.
Rivers, Defense Come Up Big
With San Diego down 35-28 late in the game, Rivers, who has a 15-2 road record in December since taking over the starting job from Drew Brees, led the Bolts calmly down the field, capped off with an 11-yard TD pass to Malcom Floyd with less than :30 remaining in the game.
In the extra session, San Francisco took the ball first and moved across midfield, but wide receiver Quinton Patton was stripped of the ball by Pro Bowl free safety Eric Weddle. The fumble was scooped up by San Diego's Sean Lissemore, giving the Chargers the ball en route to the game-winning score.
Several pass plays and a number of Ronnie Brown runs later, Novak came on and hit the game-winner, giving San Diego temporary hold of seventh place in the AFC playoff standings.
Heading into Sunday's action, the Chargers will be rooting for both Pittsburgh (9-5, hosts Kansas City) and Baltimore (9-5, visits Houston) to lose.
San Diego finishes the regular season next Sunday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium against the Chiefs (Kansas City won the first meeting of the season 23-20), a game which could be a ticket to the first-round of the AFC playoffs Jan. 3-4.
TEAM GRADES:
OFFENSE - (B) - Even though San Diego's offense looked listless at times early in the game, Rivers and company found a way to rally. With starters Ryan Mathews (ankle) and Keenan Allen (collarbone, ankle) missing action, Rivers utilized wide receiver Dontrelle Inman (seven receptions, 79 yards) and Ronnie Brown (seven rushes, 33 yards) in the second half to lead the way. Also key on the night were the likes of veteran Antonio Gates (seven catches, 92 yards, two TD's) and Eddie Royal (10 catches, 94 yards, one TD). Rivers, who found himself under pressure on a number of times on the night, finished 33-of-54 for 356 yards, four TD's and 3 INT's).
DEFENSE - (C+) - Against a San Francisco offense that had been struggling to put up points recently, the Chargers gave up a ton of points, but found a way to come up with the big plays when needed. Weddle, who has led the Chargers in tackles the last several years, continues to show why he is one of the top defenders in the game. Weddle finished his night with six solo tackles, while Manti Te'o tallied seven and Marcus Gilchrist added five. All that said, San Diego's 'D' will need to put the pedal to the metal next weekend against a Kansas City team that could also be playing for its playoff life.
For more Chargers news and updates, visit Chargers Central.
Dave Thomas has been covering the sports world since his first job as a sports editor for a weekly newspaper in Pennsylvania back in 1989. He has covered a Super Bowl, college bowl games, MLB, NBA and more. His work can be found on Examiner.com.