The San Diego Chargers’ game plan was to take advantage of a Broncos defense eager to stop the run. And it worked perfectly Sunday in an unprecedented 41-3 romp.
The Broncos have struggled against the run all season, and in LaDainian Tomlinson, they would be facing the premier running back in the NFL.
The Broncos stuck their chests out when Tomlinson was stopped for a 4-yard loss on his first carry. But two plays later, quarterback Philip Rivers executed a perfect screen pass to Tomlinson on the right side. He raced 36 yards to the Broncos 37-yard line, and the Chargers never looked back.
“They’re going to stop you sometimes early on because they’re jacked up and playing the run,” Tomlinson said. “They were having trouble stopping the run, and that was a point of emphasis for them this week. The screen pass took away some of their aggressiveness.”
Rivers said it was a matter of time.
“We had a couple of screens up,” Rivers said. “The two we had up that went big, we thought we had a chance to get them. Denver’s not a big, huge pass-rush team, but once they see pass, some of their ‘backers turn and run to cover.”
Rivers said the Chargers’ game plan was to spread the ball around to all their weapons. Tomlinson, who gained 67 yards, didn’t have a huge day, but Michael Turner did with 147 yards and a touchdown on only 10 carries. In the air, Rivers found tight end Antonio Gates for seven catches and 113 yards and a touchdown, wide receiver Vincent Jackson for three catches and 84 yards and a TD and Tomlinson for three catches and 73 yards.
“It was huge that we stuck to the plan, but it makes the plan a lot easier when you get up 14-0,” Rivers said. “They knew we were in the driver’s seat.”
Chargers coach Norv Turner couldn’t talk enough about the start that had the Broncos down 14-0, thanks to a 23-yard fumble return by linebacker Brandon Siler. The Chargers scored two touchdowns in 11 seconds in a must-win game for them after starting the season 1-3, including late-game losses to Kansas City and Green Bay.
“We took a step in the right direction,” Turner said. “I’ve been in too many games where one or two plays early can kick it into that steamroller mentality. This is just one game. It’s nice to have a game like that when you get a touchdown and then another right away. It took some of that pressure our guys have felt off a little bit.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
