The most important statistic quarterback DREW BREES (29 of 45 for 370 yards, 4 touchdown passes, and just 1 interception) accumulated Sunday night was his team’s first win of the season. The Saints hadn’t won a regular season game since January 1, 2012 (their 2011 season Week 17 pummeling of the Carolina Panthers 45-17) and they hadn’t won a game period since a 45-28 win over the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2011 playoffs. So excuse Brees for only caring about the fact that his team won a 31-24 thriller over the San Diego Chargers, and not really giving a hoot about the fact that he set the record for consecutive games (48) with at least one touchdown pass.
With 6:56 left in the first quarter, quarterback PHILIP RIVERS (27 of 42 for 354 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 costly interception) fired a 15 yard touchdown pass to receiver ROBERT MEACHEM (3 catches for 67 yards and 2 scores) versus double coverage from former teammate/and current buddy MALCOLM JENKINS and cornerback COREY WHITE. This gave the Chargers a 7-0 lead after a NICK NOVAK true extra point. Rivers torched the Saints 24th ranked pass defense for 212 yards on 63.6 percent accuracy, 2 touchdown passes, and no interceptions in the first half.
New Orleans countered on the ensuing drive with a 40 yard Brees touchdown pass to receiver DEVERY HENDERSON (8 catches for 123 yards and 1 score). After Garrett Hartley’s extra point kick it was tied at 7-7. Then in the second quarter and from the Saints 2 yard line, the Chargers on third down could not manufacture a touchdown so they settled for a 20 yard Novak field goal that gave the Chargers a 10-7 lead.
On their next offensive drive, New Orleans went right back to the end zone. Brees culminated the drive with a 19 yard scoring pass to MARQUES COLSTON (a monster game he had, as he latched onto 9 passes for 131 yards and 3 scores) to take a 14-10 lead. More good fortune was available for New Orleans, as on their next defensive series defensive end WILL SMITH sacked Rivers for an 8 yard loss on 3rd down and 2. This forced the Chargers to attempt a 55 yard field goal that was out of Novak’s range. He missed the kick and the Saints took over.
But second year defensive end COREY LIUGET sacked Brees for a 13 yard loss to force a 4th down and 19 situation. The Chargers and Liuget needed that sack because the Saints were possibly on their way to another score. As for Liuget, it was his first sack of the year.
The Chargers took advantage of Liuget’s big sack, as they were not content on running out the clock and heading into halftime. A 22 yard run by RONNIE BROWN on his first carry of the game advanced the Bolts to the their own 35 yard line. Running back RYAN MATHEWS (139 yards total offense and 1 score) caught a 13 yard pass to the Chargers 48 yard line. Then a few plays later, Rivers connected on a 45 yard touchdown pass to Meachem who victimized White again on the play. After the extra point it was 17-14 San Diego with 36 seconds left in the half.
Cornerback QUENTIN JAMMER ended the Saints’ first offensive drive of the second half with an interception that he returned to the New Orleans 25 yard line. With great field position the Chargers used three plays to score with a Mathews 13 yard touchdown run to give them a 24-14 lead.
With around 2:50 left in the third quarter, rookie linebacker MELVIN INGRAM erased a potential 31-14 Chargers lead with a roughing the passer call against him on Brees. Ingram came through like a missile off the right side and hit Brees late, while teammate and fellow linebacker DEMORRIO WILLIAMS dropped to his knees to intercept a Brees pass which he returned untouched for a score near the right sideline. Taking advantage of the penalty, the Saints then proceeded to methodically move into scoring position, culminating with a 16 yard touchdown pass from Brees to Colston, which made the score 24-21 late in the third quarter.
With 8:50 left in the game, ANTOINE CASON was abused by Colston to the tune of a 5 yard touchdown catch. Colston barely paid attention to Cason’s presence as the receiver was more worried about body positioning, concentration, and using his hands to secure the scoring pass near the right corner of the end zone. Just like that, the Saints were on top again 28-24.
Saints defensive end JUNIOR GALETTE made one of the most vital plays of the game for the Saints, as he sacked Rivers to force a 3rd down and 18 situation on the Chargers’ penultimate offensive drive of the game. Then on the next play safety ROMAN HARPER who was a standout on defense in this game for New Orleans, intercepted Rivers and returned the pigskin to the San Diego 23 yard line. The Saints ended up getting a Hartley 26 yard field goal out of this drive to give them a 31-24 lead late in the game.
On the Chargers’ last drive of the game, penalties killed them as they ended up facing a 2nd down and 37 at one point of this drive. Saints defensive end MARTEZ WILSON bailed out the Chargers with an illegal hands to the face penalty to give San Diego new life. Due to Wilson’s penalty, the Chargers didn’t have to face a possible 3rd and 37 from their own 28 yard line. But later in the drive, Wilson made up for his potentially huge mistake by beating San Diego left tackle JARED GAITHER around the corner and stripping Rivers of the ball and recovering the loose ball at the Saints 42 yard line. Wilson’s huge play led to a game salting one play kneel down by Brees.
