Ryan Mathews, slowed by two broken collarbones a year ago, carried 14 times for 57 yards and a touchdown, and the Chargers beat the mistake-prone Cardinals 24-7 for their first preseason victory under new coach Mike McCoy. Mathews' performance came a week after he carried nine times for 45 yards against Chicago. The Chargers blocked a punt, blocked a field goal and returned a fumble for a touchdown. The Cardinals lost several players due to injury, including left guard Jonathan Cooper, the team's first-round pick who broke his left leg and was helped off the field in the third quarter. Arizona's Rashard Mendenhall carried six times for 47 yards before leaving with an ankle injury. Source: Associated Press [ame="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000234064/Pre-Week-3-Chargers-vs-Cardinals"]Pre Week 3: San Diego Chargers vs. Arizona Cardinals - NFL Videos[/ame]
Three pass interference calls on Jerraud Powers in the first half alone. Gotta be an NFL record. And the fumble returned for a TD? How about the Chargers' RB fumbling at the 2 yard line, picked up by Johnson who then lateraled it (as he was being tackled) to Sam Acho right in the grill, had it bounce up in the air only to be snared by John Phillips of the Chargers and run in from the 3 for a TD. I thought I was watching an episode of the 3 Stooges. Arians said it best after the game: “We talk about being a smart football team, and that’s probably the dumbest 30 minutes of football that I’ve ever seen.†Me too, Bruce.
