Week 16 Game Recap: San Diego Chargers 20, Seattle Seahawks 17

What you need to know

San Diego Chargers

QB Phillip Rivers completed only one pass in the first half of the game, but it was for a touchdown. He was off target and erratic in the pocket throughout the game. He didn’t handle pressure well nearly having several passes picked off. His pass catchers didn’t help much dropping several passes in the game. However, he avoided the big mistake and was able to complete a few long passes when the Chargers needed a play.

WR Vincent Jackson was targeted on 14 of the 16 passes intended for wide receivers. WR Keenan McCardell saw the other two. It was obvious that the Chargers missed injured Eric Parker in a bad way. Jackson posted the best numbers on the Chargers offense, but did so without any spectacular plays. Both of his touchdowns were largely the result of terrible plays by the Seattle secondary.

Other than a 62 yard run by RB LaDainian Tomlinson, he was largely contained by the Seahawks defense averaging only three yards per carry on his other 21 touches. Tomlinson was met in the backfield or the line of scrimmage on the majority of his carries. However, when a hole did present itself Tomlinson hit it with his standard aggressiveness and speed.

Seattle Seahawks

RB Shaun Alexander carried the Seattle offense back from a ten point deficit in the third quarter. Alexander ran harder than we’ve seen all season long. He flashed the speed to make the big plays as well as power to bowl over tacklers.

QB Matt Hasselbeck took a severe beating from the San Diego pass rush. He was hit hard and often getting sacked six times in the game. Both of his interceptions in the game were off tipped passes that receivers had a chance to make a play on. He consistently stepped forward into the pocket through the game and was more accurate than his statistics might indicate.

WR Darrell Jackson was inactive for the second week in a row with his turf toe injury. WR Deion Branch dropped four passes that should have been fairly routine receptions. Each pass hit him in the hands or the chest. WR Bobby Engram appeared to be back to full speed catching four passes on six targets. WR DJ Hackett and TE Jerramy Stevens were utilized early in the game, but Hasselbeck leaned more on Engram and Branch late in the game when he needed a play.

What you ought to know

QB Philip Rivers, Pass: 10 - 30 - 181 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 4 - 6 - 0

Rivers faced a heavy pass rush early in the game. Twice under heavy pressure he unloaded the ball well before he wanted to get rid of it. The first time his pass was nearly intercepted when he threw it in the general direction of TE Antonio Gates. He didn’t complete his first pass until late in the second quarter when he found WR Vincent Jackson crossing the full length of the back of the end zone for a touchdown. This was his only completion in the first half of the game. Rivers was off target on his shorter throws all game long, but was able to connect twice on longer throws to TE Antonio Gates down the center of the field and won the game with a 37 yard bomb to WR Vincent Jackson with under a minute left to play.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson, Rush: 22 - 123 - 0, Rec: 1 - 10 - 0 (4 targets)

Tomlinson was largely shut down by the Seattle defense until late in the second quarter when he exploded through the middle of the line and broke a 62 yard run to the right sideline. He noticeably slowed up at the end of the run and was immediately replaced by backup RB Michael Turner. Tomlinson returned three plays later and picked up a first down a nifty run to the outside giving a linebacker a quick shake that froze him in his tracks. On the second play of the third quarter Tomlinson exploded around right end for a 48 yard touchdown run, but it was called back because of a face mask penalty on an offensive lineman. Tomlinson dropped two passes in the game and was largely a non-factor during the entire second half.

RB Michael Turner, Rush: 4 - 29 - 0

Turner stepped in for starting RB LaDainian Tomlinson twice during the game. During the second quarter Turner ran for three and five yards on consecutive touches. Early in the third quarter Tomlinson ripped off a long run that was called back by a penalty setting up a second and 25. Turner stepped in and carried for a 21 yard burst over the left side setting up the first Kaeding field goal.

WR Vincent Jackson, Rush: 2 - 8 - 0, Rec: 5 - 97 - 2 (14 targets)

Jackson caught the first completion from QB Phillip Rivers midway through the second quarter. He crossed the length of the back of the end zone behind the Seahawks zone defense to score the first touchdown for San Diego. Rivers missed Jackson open several times during the game. He got the San Diego offense moving late in the game with a 21 yard hitch after Seattle had taken a four point lead, but dropped what could have been a game changing reception on the next play. He leapt up and over the defensive back on the attempt and flipped the ball up into the air, but wasn’t able to secure it on the second chance. Jackson caught two of the three completions on the winning San Diego drive at the end of the game. The first was a 13 yard in route while Seattle was in prevent. The final was the 37 yard touchdown to win the game over the top. He was alone behind the Seattle zone on what can only be called a blown coverage.

WR Keenan McCardell, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (2 targets)

McCardell started in place of the injured Eric Parker, but wasn’t targeted in the first half. He returned punts as well. His only reception was a short three yard hitch midway through the second quarter.

WR Eric Parker

Was inactive for this game due to injury.

TE Antonio Gates, Rec: 2 - 63 - 0 (5 targets)

Gates saw his first target on a long third down. QB Phillip Rivers was taking a huge hit from LB Lofa Tatupu on a blitz and threw an errant pass well away from Gates, but in his general direction that was nearly intercepted. On the following series Brees lofted a deep ball down the left sideline well over his head. Gates pulled in two long passes (25 and 38 yards) down the center of the field during the third quarter. Each set up field goals by PK Nate Kaeding.

PK Nate Kaeding 2 - 2 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 8 points

There was nothing of significance to report from the San Diego kicking game.

SD Rush Defense

The Chargers' front seven struggled to contain RB Shaun Alexander. The yielded runs of 13, 16, 33 (TD), nine and six (TD). Their tackling was inconsistent often allowing Alexander to churn forward for extra yards.

SD Pass Defense

LB Shawn Merriman was a beast recording three sacks and also knocking down two other pass attempts. The Chargers’ pass rush was able to drop QB Matt Hasselbeck on four of the first five Seattle possessions killing each drive. They dropped Hasselbeck six times in the game and were able to keep the heat on from start to finish. DB Clinton Hart intercepted two passes in the game. Both were deflected balls.

QB Matt Hasselbeck, Pass: 17 - 37 - 189 - 0 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 1 - 10 - 0

Hasselbeck faced a heavy pass rush early in the game. He was sacked on four of the first five Seattle possessions. However, he threw the ball fairly well and accurate with the exception of two specific overthrows. Each was tipped by a receiver and intercepted during the first half. Hasselbeck gutted it out and continued to step forward into the pocket all game long. He didn’t get much help from his receiving corps that dropped an inordinate number very catchable passes. The return of WR Bobby Engram was a big boost to the Seattle passing game. Hasselbeck hooked up with Engram converting long third down plays on both touchdown drives.

RB Shaun Alexander, Rush: 31 - 140 - 2, Rec: 2 - 2 - 0 (3 targets)

Alexander saw a consistent and heavy workload through out the game. Even when Seattle was down ten points they still fed him the ball. It paid off when he burst through the left side on a draw play for a 33 yard touchdown. Other than that run and two others (13 and 16 yard runs) He found it a rough go against the formidable Charger front seven. He was hit in the backfield or at the line of scrimmage tine and time again. During the first half he logged consecutive carries of 1, 2, -4, 0, and 0 yards. His second touchdown came at the start of the fourth quarter. He showed great power and effort meeting two defensive backs just short of the goal line. As he was powering over them he drew a personal foul face mask penalty as well.

RB Maurice Morris, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0, Rec: 1 - 0 - 0 (1 targets)

Morris entered the game during the second Seahawks drive on third down. They ran a play to specifically get him a pass in the left flat. Morris caught the ball and was dropped immediately just short of the down marker. His only carry in the game was to give starting RB Shaun Alexander a quick breather during on the next Seattle possession.

RB Mack Strong (1 targets)

Strong’s only passing target came on a third and three with the Seahawks offense starting to gain momentum. The pass from QB Matt Hasselbeck was read well by a linebacker and nearly picked off.

WR Deion Branch, Rec: 5 - 61 - 0 (12 targets)

Branch caught his first target during the Seahawks third possession on a quick eight yard out converting a second and seven. He dropped consecutive passes on the final Seattle possession just before halftime. Each hit him in the hands and should have been routine grabs. He caught a third down pass to convert a first down at the start of the third quarter, but again dropped another catch that should have been automatic on the following third down. He dropped his fourth pass at the start of the fourth quarter when Hasselbeck drilled him in the chest on a comeback route, but did draw a pass interference penalty two plays later that set up the second Alexander touchdown.

WR Bobby Engram, Rec: 4 - 65 - 0 (6 targets)

Engram saw his first target at the opening of the second quarter. On third and 22 Engram got deep in the Chargers’ zone and sat down. After making the reception he nearly picked up the yardage, but was stopped two yards short. Just before halftime Engram pulled in a diving reception to convert a third down moving the Seahawks close to field goal range, but two plays later QB Matt Hasselbeck floated one too high for Engram. The pass went off his hands and deflected to a defensive back for Hasselbeck’s second interception in the game. Engram made two key third down receptions on both of Seattle’s touchdown drives across the middle of the field.

WR D.J. Hackett, Rec: 3 - 37 - 0 (5 targets)

Hackett pulled in his first target on a deep slant during the Seahawks second possession for 24 yards. Shortly after that play QB Matt Hasselbeck directed another pass towards Hackett. The ball was tipped off a linebacker and glanced off Hackett before being intercepted. Hackett disappeared in the second half as Hasselbeck radar locked in on Engram and Branch.

WR Nate Burleson

Burleson continues to return punts and kickoffs. He brought a kickoff all the way back for a touchdown early in the second quarter for an apparent touchdown, but it was called back because of a questionable holding penalty. He made a huge mental error calling for a fair catch of a punt at the seven yard line instead of letting it go into the end zone. It pinned Seattle deep and gave the Chargers decent field position for their game winning drive.

WR Darrell Jackson

Jackson was inactive due to a turf toe injury.

TE Jerramy Stevens, Rec: 2 - 24 - 0 (6 targets)

Stevens went up high across the middle of the field to catch the first pass from QB Matt Hasselbeck for thirteen yards giving the Seahawks a third and short. He caught his second pass on a similar play on the following drive. Late in the fourth quarter Stevens was open coming across the end zone, but Hasselbeck was unable to get the ball out in time as the pass rush was hitting him hard.

PK Josh Brown 1 - 1 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 5 points

There was nothing of significance to report from the Seattle kicking game.

SEA Rush Defense

The front seven contained RB LaDainian Tomlinson well until midway through the second quarter. They tackled much more consistently than they have earlier in the season running to the ball gang tackling. Instead of whiffing with arm attempts they did a much better job of wrapping up than they have in a long time.

SEA Pass Defense

The Seahawks only recorded one sack in the game by LB Lofa Tatupu, but the defensive front was able to keep pressure on QB Phillip Rivers forcing him to unload the ball well before he wanted to time and time again. The Seahawks secondary put several big hits on receivers dislodging passes and preventing completions. However, with a four point lead and thirty seconds left in the game, Michael Boulware and Kelly Herndon allowed WR Vincent Jackson to sprint between them and behind the defense for an easy 37 yard game winning touchdown ruining an otherwise noteworthy defensive performance.