Chargers top Dallas 27-7 in Preseason Opener

 

QUALCOMM STADIUM (08/07/2014) In his first game as the San Diego Chargers' offensive coordinator, Frank Reich almost saw a perfect showing from all three of his quarterbacks.

Until the 14:24 mark in the fourth quarter, Phillip Rivers, Kellen Clemens, and Brad Sorensen had a combined 12 passes for 12 completions. After Sorensen threw the only two incompletions, the group finished 14 for 16.

Rivers completed all four of his passes for 61 yards and drove the Chargers to the goal line in his only series of the game. Unfortunately the drive ended with Ryan Mathews fumbling while trying to dive in the end zone. Dallas recovered the fumble for a touchback.

With Tony Romo sitting out, Brandon Weeden got the start for the Cowboys and led the offense to an 80-yard drive that ended with a four-yard touchdown pass to James Hanna.

The Chargers answered back with a 16-yard touchdown run by running back Branden Oliver to tie it 7-7 with 6:09 left in the first half. The undrafted rookie out of Buffalo finished with 61 yards on seven carries in his NFL debut.

 

The play of the game was a 70-yard touchdown pass from Clemens to wide receiver Dontrelle Inman that gave the Chargers a 17-7 lead with 8:25 left in the third quarter. Inman finished with three catches for 107 yards, while Clemens completed 5 of 5 passes for 134.

On the ensuing drive, a sack-fumble by linebacker Thomas Keiser led to a one-yard touchdown run by Kerwynn Williams, extending the Charger lead to 24-7.

The Chargers visit the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks next Friday, August 15th for the second week of preseason action. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. pacific time.