Aggressive mentality pays off in Chargers win

The Chargers went for it on two fourth downs inside the Bills’ two-yard line, converting both.

“I made the decision on third down,” head coach Marty Schottenheimer admitted. “I had told Cam. That was an easy choice to be honest with you.”

“That aggressive mentality,” quarterback Drew Brees said of the Chargers going for it on two fourth down opportunities. “It is important to have that. If you are confident in the play call you are going to go for it and it is going to work.”

The Chargers 48 points were the most scored by San Diego since the season opener in 1986 against Miami with Dan Fouts at the helm.

“We want to start fast, finish strong,” Brees added. “The emphasis for us was finishing strong.

The Chargers have scored at least 17 points in 23 consecutive regular season games, the longest active streak in the NFL. The last team to hold San Diego under 17 points was the Denver Broncos, who defeated the Bolts 23-13 last September 26 at Invesco Field. New England owns the league’s second-longest streak at 20 games.

The Chargers have not lost by more than four points in 24 consecutive games, including playoffs. It is the longest current streak and tied for fourth-longest streak in the NFL, dating back to 1950. They tied the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers for the fourth-longest streak (24 games) with their win on Sunday. The Redskins sit third on the list with 26 straight games (1982-83).

The 14 total sacks allowed by the Bolts this season are the fourth-fewest in the NFL. During the current three-game winning streak, the offensive line has allowed only two sacks in 104 pass attempts.

The Chargers are the NFL’s second-highest scoring team with 300 points. Only the Indianapolis Colts (305) have outscored San Diego’s offense.

Six players were credited with a touchdown with Tomlinson and Turner scoring on the ground and Lorenzo Neal, Keenan McCardell, Eric Parker and Antonio Gates nabbing touchdown receptions.

Eight different receivers recorded a reception and six different receivers had three or more.

“It is the first time I have been on offense like that,” Eric Parker explained. “Anybody who steps on the field is explosive. It is a great feeling.”

The ten points allowed was a season-best for the Chargers defense.

“Defensively, we played stout, strong,” said head coch Marty Schottenheimer.