NFL teams
Eric D. Williams, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Melvin Gordon, Chargers offense sputter in road loss to Colts

INDIANAPOLIS -- After a solid first two weeks of production, running back Melvin Gordon and the San Diego Chargers’ offense coughed and sputtered in a 26-22 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday evening at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Gordon totaled just 35 yards on 16 carries.

The Wisconsin product did notch four receptions for 43 yards. However, the Chargers managed just one offensive touchdown, a 1-yard plunge by Gordon -- his fourth TD of the season.

With Danny Woodhead, Keenan Allen, Stevie Johnson and Branden Oliver all done for the year due to injuries -- along with Antonio Gates not playing in this one due to a hamstring issue -- the Chargers needed Gordon to be the engine that drove their offense.

But against an Indianapolis defense geared to stop the run, San Diego’s offensive line could not generate a consistent push up front to ignite Gordon and the running game.

Meanwhile, a gutsy performance by San Diego’s defense allowed the Chargers to hang around until late in the fourth quarter.

Behind cornerback Casey Hayward’s third interception of the season and a strip sack by rookie linebacker Jatavis Brown that was returned by defensive tackle Caraun Reid for a score, the Chargers kept things close heading into the fourth quarter.

Brown, thrust into the starting lineup when Manti Te’o had to leave the game due to an Achilles injury, recorded his strip sack of Andrew Luck late in the first half, and Reid returned the fumble 61 yards for his second NFL touchdown, pulling the Chargers even 13-13 at the half.

Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano devised another solid game plan, keeping Luck from taking over early. Luck was under pressure most of the game, with the Chargers recording two sacks.

The Chargers took a 22-20 lead on a 27-yard field goal by Josh Lambo with 7:34 to play. But Luck finally connected on a game-changing 63-yard pass to T.Y. Hilton for the winning points with 1:17 to play.

Safety Dexter McCoil missed Hilton at midfield, and the speedy Indianapolis receiver outran San Diego’s other safety, Adrian Phillips, for the touchdown.

With the loss, San Diego dropped to 1-2 on the season and into the AFC West cellar. The defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos lead the division at 3-0, while the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs are tied at 2-1.

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