Rookie first round pick (RB) Ryan Mathews is looking good so far this pre-season.  Mathews has carried the ball 34 times for 136 yards (4.0 ypc) and he has caught 5 passes for 33 yards (6.6 avg) so far this pre-season.  The Chargers have not been shy about giving the rock to Mathews this pre-season to get him ready for the grind of his rookie year as he will be the main man in the running game.

This game was a lot closer than the scoreboard shows as the Saints intercepted a pass and returned it to the house with 7 seconds left in the game (it was a 87-yard return).  Philip Rivers started this game and he looked sharp in completing 16 of 27 passes for 167 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  Billy Volek finished up the game by completing 9 of 21 passes for 97 yards at 2 INTs.  Ryan Mathews led the way on the ground for the Chargers in this game with 43 yards rushing on 13 carries (3.3 ypc).  FB Jacob Hester pitched in with a 6-yard TD carry the only time he touched the ball in this game.  TE Antonio Gates (5 rec, 66 yards) and WR Malcolm Floyd (4 rec, 51 yards, TD) led the way in the passing attack for the Chargers last night.  They finished up with 68 yards rushing (3.4 ypc) and 255 passing yards last night.

LB Kevin Burnett (6 tackles) and CB Quentin Jammer (6 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) led the way for the Chargers’ D last night.  The Saints finished up with 129 yards rushing (4.6 ypc) and 423 yards passing in this game.    The Chargers are now 1-2 on the pre-season.

The Chargers were awesome on defense in this game but the offense just didn’t come through last Saturday Night.  Philip Rivers completed 11 of 15 passes for 125 yards with 1 INT.  He also had 1 carry for 1 yard and it went for a TD.  Billy Volek was so-so completing 5 of 12 passes for 94 yards.  5th round pick Jonathan Crompton finished up this game by completing 3 of 6 passes for 8 yards with 1 INT.  Rookie first round pick Ryan Mathews led the way for the Chargers on the ground in this game with 53 yards rushing on 12 carries (4.4 ypc).  Mike Tolbert pitched in with 10 carries for 34 yards (3.4 ypc) and 2 receptions for 21 yards (10.5 avg) in this game.  Marcus Mason pitched in with 8 carries for 7 yards (0.9 ypc) with a TD run and he also caught 1 pass for 6 yards.  Darren Sproles only had 1 carry for 3 yards but he also caught 3 passes for 38 yards (12.7 avg) on Saturday.  WRs Seji Ajirotutu (3 rec, 71 yards) and Malcolm Floyd (3 rec, 47 yards) both pitched in for the Chargers in the passing game last night.  The Chargers finished up with 92 yards rushing (2.7 ypc) and 202 yards passing in this game.

Safety C.J. Spillman (7 tackles) and LB Darry Beckwith (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) led a good effort by the Chargers’ D last night.  The Cowboys finished up with 54 yards rushing (2.3 ypc) and 140 yards passing on Saturday Night.

The Chargers had little problem in dominating the Bears on Saturday night.  Philip Rivers looked sharp completing 4 of 6 passes for 62 yards with 1 TD pass (a 28-yarder to Legedu Naanee).  Billy Volek looked so-so completing 7 of 14 passes for 77 yards.  Rookie 5th round pick Jonathan Crompton finished up the game at QB by completing 6 of 11 passes for 81 yards with 1 INT.  Rookie 1st round pick Ryan Mathews led the way on the ground for the Chargers in this game with 50 yards rushing on 9 carries (5.6 ypc).  Curtis Brinkley (5 car, 36 yards) and Mike Tolbert (6 car, 17 yards, TD) also pitched in on the ground for the Chargers in this game.  The Chargers spread the ball around pretty well in the passing game using 14 different receivers.  None of them caught more than two passes or had more than 36 yards.  The Chargers rushed for 120 yards (3.6 ypc) and they passed for 215 yards against the Bears.

LB Darry Beckwith (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) and safety Steve Gregory (6 tackles) led the way for the D on Saturday night.  Safety Paul Oliver made a huge impact in this game with 1 tackle, 1 pass defensed, 1 fumble recovery and a interception.  The Bears finished up with 48 yards rushing (2.3 ypc) and 168 yards passing in this game.

The Chargers didn’t have to use to much effort to dominate the Niners last Friday Night.  Billy Volek started the game at QB and he was efficient as usual completing 8 of 13 passes for 103 yards with 1 TD pass.  Charlie Whitehurst finished things up by completing 10 of 14 passes for 98 yards with 1 TD pass.  Rookie RB Gartrell Johnson was the workhorse in this game for the Chargers as he carried the ball 20 times for 85 yards (4.3 ypc).  12 different receivers caught passes in this game but no one had more than two catches or 39 yards.  The Chargers finished up this game with 346 total yards on offense (161 rushing, 185 passing) as they hogged the ball for 40:14!

Linebacker Antwan Applewhite led the way for the Chargers in this game with 4 tackles and a sack.  The Chargers only allowed 188 total yards in this game (60 rushing,  128 passing)!   The Chargers finished the pre-season with a 2-2 record.