Seahawks spoil Chargers first game in Los Angeles

CARSON, California — Philip Rivers’ sharp throw found Antonio Gates in the middle of the end zone, and StubHub Center shook with cheers from fans who were thrilled to see this familiar teamwork in a brand-new setting.

Although the rest of this preseason opener belonged to the Seattle Seahawks, at least the Los Angeles Chargers opened their new home with a classic San Diego connection.

Rivers threw a five-yard scoring pass to Gates on the opening drive of the Chargers’ first preseason game since relocation, but the Seahawks’ backups otherwise dominated a 48-17 victory Sunday night.

The Chargers had 21,054 fans in their tidy new home for the first game of a three-year residency at 27,000-seat StubHub Center. The team moved 180 kilometres north into a stadium built for soccer, yet providing an undeniably intimate NFL experience for fans.

“The atmosphere was great,” Gates said. “I really wasn’t expecting a full house. I assumed that Seattle would bring their fans, and we would have some Los Angeles fans that would be there to support us. I was more anxious to see what we were about as a team.”

Rivers and his first-team offence were excellent, marching 75 yards in 13 plays capped by Gates’ TD catch. Although many things are changing for the Chargers this season in LA, they’ve still got Rivers and Gates going into their 14th year as teammates.

“You’re talking about countless hours and hard work and practicing with anticipation of certain looks,” Gates said. “The balance we had that first drive, it was great to get off to the right start.”

The rest of the night was more impressive for Seattle. 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.

“Really good first night for us in a lot of ways,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “It started off with the defence not getting off the field the way we like to see them do. After that, I think we played pretty good football, save one play or so.”

Russell Wilson led the Seahawks to a field goal in his only drive with Seattle’s first-team offence. 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.

“He did beautifully,” Carroll said. “Threw the ball really well. Moved well, made some plays with his feet. Just was in really good command of what was going on.”