Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Violence widens ahead of Greek austerity vote

Fires make way for game, Chargers beat Texans

Two days after last evacuees left Qualcomm, San Diego rolls, 35-10

Arnold Schwarzenegger, William Lansdowne, Bill KolenderAP
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, center, San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne, left, and San Diego Sheriff Bill Kolender during the national anthem after a pre-game ceremony honoring emergency personnel who responded to the California wildfires before the NFL football game between the Houston Texans and the San Diego Chargers.

The Chargers gave their fans a lot to cheer about, scoring 35 points in a span of 18 minutes, 18 seconds in the first half.

Gates had TD catches of 49 and 31 yards.

Cromartie’s first TD came when Bryan Pittman snapped the ball over punter Matt Turk’s head and it rolled into the end zone. Turk stumbled trying to recover and Cromartie jumped on it for a 14-0 lead. It was the first NFL TD for the second-year pro, who was San Diego’s first-round draft pick in 2006.

Turk bolted from the locker room afterward, telling reporters, “Bye guys.”

“It’s a nightmare for a specialist like myself,” Pittman said. “It did have velocity, but not when it’s 10 feet in the air like that.”

Cromartie came up big again when he picked off a pass that was tipped by Merriman. Cromartie stayed on his feet, worked his way across the field and finished off his TD run down the left sideline.

Cromartie intercepted Schaub again just five plays later. That set up Rivers’ 14-yard touchdown pass to Chris Chambers, the wide receiver’s first score since joining the Chargers in a bye-week trade with Miami.

Schaub was leveled by linebacker Stephen Cooper, who was called for two personal fouls, a hit to the head and unnecessary roughness. The first penalty was declined. Schaub was replaced the next series by Sage Rosenfels. Rosenfels threw a 28-yard TD pass to Joel Dresseen in the fourth quarter.

Notes: With his family out of town, Rivers donated the seats in his luxury box to families and relatives of four state firefighters who injured doing their jobs. ... Chargers LB Shaun Phillips strained his groin and cornerback Quentin Jammer hurt his right hamstring.

© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


< Prev | 1 | 2

advertisement
More news
Image: Gerald Sensabaugh, Terence Newman, Mike Jenkins, DeSean Jackson
AP
Offseason needs for NFC teams

Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.

Image: Wild Card Playoffs - Pittsburgh Steelers v Denver Broncos
Getty Images
Wesseling: Offseason priorities for AFC teams

Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.

Slideshow
Image: Super Bowl XLVI
  Super Bowl XLVI shots
See the best moments before, during and after the Giants' win over the Patriots

more photos

Slideshow
Image:
  Sideline support
Check out some of the NFL cheerleaders from across the league.

NBCSports.com