Seahawks win first game at Chargers’ small home stadium
Philip Rivers threw a touchdown pass to Antonio Gates on the opening drive of the Los Angeles Chargers’ first pre-season game since relocation, but the Seattle Seahawks’ backups dominated the rest of the opener in Seattle’s 48-17 victory Sunday.
Rivers and his first-team offence were excellent, marching 75 yards in 13 plays to begin the Chargers’ three-year residency at 27,000seat StubHub Center. The Chargers moved 111 miles north from San Diego into a stadium built for soccer, but providing an undeniably intimate NFL experience for fans.
The L.A. Chargers’ first touchdown was a San Diego classic: Rivers threw over the middle to Gates for a five-yard score, making the next big play in the veteran stars’ 12-year partnership.
The Chargers’ revamped defence clearly has work to do under new co-ordinator Gus Bradley after giving up 459 yards to the Seahawks, whose reserves mostly got off to a stellar start.
Russell Wilson led the Seahawks to a field goal in his only drive with Seattle’s first-team offence despite consistent pressure from Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, the Chargers’ dynamic pass-rushing duo.
The rest of Seattle’s 34-point first half was a showcase for its backup defence, which forced three turnovers, and a solid second-team offence led by Trevone Boykin, who passed for 189 yards.
Terence Garvin returned a tipped interception 37 yards for a Seattle TD, and Chris Carson cashed in a one-yard TD run after L.A.’s Kellen Clemens fumbled a handoff with Andre Williams.
Clemens threw a 74-yard TD strike to speedy Travis Benjamin, but Rivers’ backup also had two interceptions on deflected passes.
COSY CONFINES
A year after the Los Angeles Rams drew 89,140 to their homecoming pre-season game at the cavernous Coliseum, the Chargers had 21,054 in their tidy new home.
But StubHub Center appears to fulfil the Chargers’ promise to provide a unique place to watch football. The smallest stadium in the NFL has exceptional sight lines and remarkable closeness to the field — and the Chargers Cannon is really loud when the home team scores.
“From a player’s perspective, you want to have that home-field advantage type of feel,” said LaDainian Tomlinson, the Chargers Hall of Famer and a special assistant to owner Dean Spanos. “The kind of Seattle feeling that they have, the 12th Man, trying to feel something similar for this place, I think it would be a success for everyone if that could happen.”
BENNETT SITS
Pro Bowl defensive lineman Michael Bennett remained seated on the Seahawks’ bench with a towel on his head during the national anthem.
INJURIES
Chargers: Linebacker Denzel Perryman left the field on a cart after L.A.’s first defensive series with a left ankle injury. Perryman returned to the sideline in the second half on crutches with his foot in a walking boot.
Seahawks: Safety Jordan Simone hurt his left knee on a kickoff return. Receiver Paul Richardson injured his shoulder.