The NFL schedule makers did San Diego a favor by picking the Miami Dolphins for Sunday’s opponent in what could be the Chargers’ final game at Qualcomm Stadium.
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Danny Woodhead: 8 touches in the first half against the Dolphins and scored 3 TDs.
They were born in Los Angeles in 1960, moved to San Diego’s Balboa Stadium in 1961 and could be rolling back up the freeway if team Chairman Dean Spanos can convince fellow National Football League owners to let him and Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis build a stadium in Carson. But his performance was overshadowed by tears and sniffles as a team which has been in town since 1961 could exit.
“I’m very thankful for my teammates and the coaches who put me in the position (to make plays)”, Woodhead said. Most notably, their rugged defence has allowed just 12 points per game in that stretch. He’s been out with a hyperextended knee and was examined this week by famed surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who assured the Chiefs that the injury is not more serious than that: A hyperextension, allaying fears that this was a season-ending injury. This is the earliest Miami has been eliminated from the playoff race since 2011, and the question was posed to quarterback Ryan Tannehill: Why are the Dolphins in this situation? Rivers threw for 311 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions on 26-of-36 passing.
That might not end up being the case, but all sign points to the team moving to Los Angeles next season.
1994 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP: No one gave the Chargers a chance against the heavily favored Pittsburgh Steelers yet they pulled off a 17-13 shocker that was sealed when Dennis Gibson knocked down Neil O’Donnell’s fourth-down pass in the end zone. Among the Chargers’ challenges on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins is containing a defensive line that features tackle Ndamukong Suh. “It’s more than just us that this affects, obviously, if it is the last time”, Rivers said. “We’ll see what kind of character we’ve got on this football team”.
No one knows if this was the last Chargers game in San Diego after 55 seasons.
“I’m disappointed, frustrated, upset, mad, angry – any adjective you can think of right now”, Tannehill said. “I’m just going to try and soak in this win. We needed all these, and we didn’t get one on the biggest stage of our season”.
He finished the day with eight carries for 10 yards, six catches for 50 yards and all four of the team’s touchdowns, becoming the first Charger to score four times in a game since LaDainian Tomlinson did it in 2007. It appears Gates is toying with coming back for another season, but with his contract expiring, there’s no guarantee it would be with the Chargers.
While wanting the Chargers to stay, Faulconer has insisted that the voters have a say. “But I can only control what I can control”.
Woodhead added his third touchdown in the last minute of the second quarter and the Chargers took a 23-0 edge into the locker room. Rivers, leaving the field later, clapped as he looked into the stands, and also pumped a fist and pointed into the crowd. The season-ending injury a few weeks back to wide receiver Keenan Allen (67 receptions, 725 yards, 4 touchdowns) has obviously been a major issue with which to deal with.
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What happened: Chargers WR Inman had catches for 19 and 31 yards amid a TD drive. WR Stevie Johnson (groin) was inactive…. Even before the game, a playoff run was highly improbable however. Emanuel, a rookie, was making his second start of the season.
