The Chargers go into Cincinnati and prove the critics wrong once again. Against all odds, it was the Chargers Defense that made play after play forcing 4 turnovers. As Mike McCoy has said repeatedly this year and especially the last 5 weeks, "One Snap, One Play, One Game at a time" and the Chargers showed that today.
No one gave the Chargers a chance going into this game, as the Bengals had won all 8 home games this season by a big margin, their Defense ranked 3rd in the NFL, and the Chargers traveling east in cold weather. But when the rain stopped and the clouds cleared it was the Chargers that are moving onto the Divisional Round to face the Denver Broncos.
San Diego played the game like a heavy-weight fight, wearing down the fierce Bengals Defense, starring Vontaze Burfict, with a barrage of runs and topped their opening drive off with a 5 yard rushing Touchdown by Danny Woodhead. Cincinnati came back in the second quarter, in which they have dominated their opponents all season long. They drove down the field and tied the game on a 4 yard pass from Andy Dalton to Jermaine Gresham as Melvin Ingrim slammed Dalton to the turf. The Bengals Defense pinned the Bolts deep, allowing their offense to get the ball back on a short field.
As the Bengals once again were marching, Dalton passed to Giovani Bernard, who turned up field at the 5 yard line. Donald Butler came from behind and knocked the ball out. The play was looked at by the refs, but upheld and the Bolts had the ball back, but again the Bengals Defense put a clamp on the Chargers offense. Finishing the first half with Field Goal, the Bengals went to half up 10-7.
Coming out of half the Chargers Defense came to play in a big way. The Bolts forced 3 straight turnovers on consecutive drives, including two interceptions by Shareece Wright and Melvin Ingrim (also a fumble of Andy Dalton, who has now lost three straight playoff games). San Diego turned those turnovers into 6 points, along with a Touchdown pass from Rivers to Ladarius Green. The Chargers then up 20-10, looked to run the clock out, but Ronnie Brown had other thoughts as he busted a 56 yard Touchdown run to put the nail in the coffin.
The Chargers played a masterful game, creating and taking advantage of turnovers. Although most of the kudos goes to Philip Rivers and the Offense, it was the Defense who made their mark and sent the Bolts to a Divisional Match-up against Divisional Rival Denver Broncos. In their first two match-ups they each went into the opposing teams home field and pulled out a win. So its Chargers - Broncos 3, Manning versus Rivers, AFC West foes. It's going to be great to see two very talented teams go at it in Sports Authority Field next Sunday at 1:40 PM Pacific.
We're sure of two things: The Broncos will be heavily favored, and the Bolts will up to the challenge. The storm is coming to Colorado and The San Diego Super Chargers are looking to shock the NFL World once again.