Bolts leave no doubt in big win vs. Jets
SAN DIEGO — Finally, the San Diego Chargers could celebrate.
The clock ran out, and they were well ahead.
Stunned by two gut-wrenching losses, Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson and the rest of the Chargers raced past nemesis Brett Favre and the New York Jets for a 48-29 victory in a wild game befitting two original AFL teams.
"It was a good win, a good win to build on," Rivers said. "We're 1-2. We didn't all of a sudden become 3-0 like we wished we were."
San Diego (1-2) looked like the team picked by many to reach the Super Bowl. The Chargers lost their opener to Carolina on the last play, then lost by one point at Denver in a game remembered for referee Ed Hochuli's blown call that set up the Broncos' winning score.
Rivers tied his career-high with three touchdown passes, Tomlinson scored his first two TDs of the season and San Diego finally got back at Favre after all these years. They sacked him three times and intercepted him twice, including a 52-yard return for a score by All-Pro cornerback Antonio Cromartie.
"It didn't matter how any of us felt. We were going to do what we had to do to win this game," Tomlinson said. "We needed this bad. If we lost this game, we go 0-3 and I don't know what's going to happen. For us to get that first win, there is a sigh of relief."
Favre always seemed to come up big on Monday nights with Green Bay. This night, though, he finally lost to the Chargers after beating them five straight times dating to 1993.
Tomlinson, the two-time defending NFL rushing champion, scored on a 2-yard leap to give the Chargers a 38-14 lead in the third quarter. He had been slowed since jamming his right big toe late in the Carolina game. He scored on another 2-yard run late in the fourth quarter, one play after Rivers' 60-yard pass to Vincent Jackson.
"I almost forgot what it felt like," said Tomlinson, who has 131 career touchdowns to tie Cris Carter for sixth place all-time. "I was happy to get a rushing touchdown to keep you guys off our backs," he quipped.
Favre rolled his left ankle early in the third quarter.
"It felt like I got shot in the leg or something," said Favre, who played all but the Jets' final possession. "They took some X-rays and I think it's OK."
Rivers has thrown three TD passes in every game this season. He was 19-of-25 for 250 yards on Monday, while Tomlinson had 67 yards on 26 carries, his third straight game under 100 yards.
Favre had three touchdown passes for the Jets (1-2), including fourth-quarter TD throws of 4 yards to Chansi Stuckey and 13 yards to Dustin Keller. The 38-year-old Favre was 30-of-42 for 271 yards.
