Chargers Like This Twist --a Victory
SAN DIEGO — Few probably expected the Chargers and Colts to provide this kind of entertainment.
There was San Diego running back Gary Brown, an NFL castoff last year, carrying 28 times for 169 yards and one touchdown. There was Charger linebacker Junior Seau spending almost as much time in the Indianapolis backfield as the Colts themselves.
And finally, there was San Diego safety Rodney Harrison, who picked up an onside kick and ran 40 yards for the final touchdown as the Chargers won, 35-19, on Sunday to keep Indianapolis winless in eight games.
“It’s just a win. It pulls us up to .500, and now we’ve got to get out of that,” Seau said. “We’ve been uplifted from the shellacking that we got at Kansas City, and I look forward to practice, actually.”
The Chargers (4-4) were coming off an embarrassing 31-3 loss to the Chiefs.
The 35 points were a season-high for the Chargers, who went in ranked 26th in the NFL in scoring. The Colts ranked 30th.
Since these teams have two of the worst offenses in the NFL, it was fitting that the game was capped by two wacky plays.
Greg Davis had five field goals without a miss for the Chargers, then had a 40-yard attempt blocked by Ellis Johnson. Robert Blackmon tried to pick up the ball as it bounced 20 yards toward the end zone, and Ray McElroy finally scooped it up and ran 42 yards to pull the Colts to 29-19 with 2:17 to play. Seau sacked Paul Justin on the two-point conversion try.
On the ensuing onside kick, the ball went straight to Harrison. He eluded two Colts, including kicker Cary Blanchard, for the score. Davis’ point-after-touchdown try was blocked.
