The San Diego Chargers bounced back from their late defeat to the Houston Texans with victory over the Philadelphia Eagles to earn their first win of the NFL season.
Both teams had success with moving the ball down field early on, as quarterbacks Philip Rivers and Michael Vick had good rhythm. However, as they reached the endzone, they were thwarted by solid defense leading to field goals from Nick Novak and Alex Henery respectively.
However, it was San Diego who found the endzone first as Rivers drove his team down the field yet again and found Eddie Royal in the flat on the right-hand sideline and he dove over the line for an 11-yard score.
The Eagles responded after Novak extended the Chargers lead to 10 points, when Vick led his side on a an explosive series as they covered 75 yards in just 80 seconds of play, and it culminated with him finding Riley Cooper in the endzone for a 13-yard strike.
San Diego spurned two great chances to increase their lead just before half time as tight end Antonio Gates and running back Ryan Mathew fumbled the ball in Philadelphia territory.
After the break, the Chargers extended their lead when Rivers found Royal again his time on an out route, and he powered into the endzone yet again to make the score 20-10 to Mike McCoy's side.
Vick and the Eagles rallied and Henery pulled them to within seven points when he kicked a 48-yard field goal. Chip Kelly's side were level when Vick found DeSean Jackson on a go route deep and the receiver walked the ball into the endzone to complete the 61-yard touchdown.
Novak kicked the Chargers back into the lead with a 33 yarder, but Vick answered back yet again as he drove his team down the field and ran for the touchdown himself with the aid of a block from LeSean McCoy to go in for the two-yard score.
Rivers was determined on the next drive to get his team back in front and that is exactly what he did as he found Royal,for his third touchdown of the game with a 15 yarder on a wide receiver screen, beating several tackles to cross the endzone.
Henery tied the game for the Eagles following a good drive from Vick but Rivers led his side back down the field and set up a 46-yard field goal for Novak to win the game. The kicker nailed it through the posts to secure their first victory of the season.
Simon Sinclair
