The first half started off very weak with the score being 10-7 thanks to K Mike Nugent kicking a 46 yard field goal to end the half after a running TD by HB Danny Woodhead and a TD catch by TE Jermaine Gresham. It went downhill from there for the Cincinatti Bengals.
The Chargers scored 20 unanswered points in the second half. WR Ladarius Green caught a pass from QB Phillip Rivers and K Nick Novak scored two field goals before the Chargers started trying to run the clock out which led to a 58 yard break away up the middle by HB Ronnie Brown to seal Cincinatti's fate.
QB Andy Dalton played horribly with 334 yards passing a TD and 2 interceptions as well as 2 fumble (only one was recovered by Chargers). Dalton proved he really has a lot of work to do before he can be a playoff QB, but he wasn't the only weapon that failed. WR AJ Green only caught 3 catches for 34 yards. Unsurprisingly, Green was getting double teamed which left room for WR Marvin Jones to keep the game alive with 8 catches on some twinkle toe plays for 130 yards. HB Giovani Bernard also finished the day well with 7 receptions for 73 yards and 42 yards on the ground.
The running game is what kept the Chargers alive in this one. San Diego combined for 196 yards rushing on the day. A lot of those yards are thanks do HB Ronnie Brown's late game run to seal the deal. Phillip Rivers almost went unnoticed in this game; he went 12-16 with 126 yards passing and a TD. Phillip Rivers was very diverse with the ball though by hitting 7 different players with Ladarius Green getting the most receptions with 3.
The MVP of this game would most likely be ILB Donald Butler who led the Chargers in tackles with 9 solo and 3 assisted as well as an important forced fumble which was crucial to lead the Chargers to victory in this very nonoffensive-strong game. The Chargers will go to Denver to play QB Peyton Manning and his most likely Super Bowl bound Broncos. Rivers led the Chargers to a win on Thursday night football last time they faced off. Can lightning strike the same place twice?
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