Dec

18

Detroit Lions vs San Diego Chargers NFL Week 15 - Recap

Posted by Kevin Mack

December 18, 2007 |

  • NFL Week 15 Detroit Lions vs San Diego Chargers - Recap

Photos Source: Detroit News

Seems like the Lions have hit rock bottom with a 51-14 loss to the San Diego Chargers. The game started bad and got worse. Detroit was unable to stop the Chargers from scoring on San Diego’s first seven possessions. Detroit turned the ball over 6 times including 5 interceptions thrown by QB Jon Kitna. San Diego scored on their 1st 7 possessions and they added a TD on an interception to lead 44-7 on their way to the 51-14 rout. Once again the Lions running game was non existent with only 9 attempts for 26 yards. San Diego was unable to sack Jon Kitna but it could be that was their plan to allow him to throw the ball and pick it. Your ‘Lion Eyes’ blogger knew that the Lions had a very difficult schedule during the season’s 2nd half, but I did not think the Lions would lose 6 games in a row. Now it seems that they are headed for 8 straight losses to end the season. I do now understand why QB Jon Kitna said he would be disappointed if the Lions didn’t win 10 games this season. Remember Jon said the offense was looking great and he thought teams would have trouble stopping this Mike Martz controlled offense. Well keep in mind that Kitna said this after going against the Lion defense everyday during off season drills. Therefore Kitna got an inflated view of how good the offense was because the Lions defense couldn’t stop them.

  • 1st Quarter

Detroit started with the ball and tried two running plays with RB Kevin Jones that gained 3 yards. QB Jon Kitna then threw an incompletion and Detroit is forced to punt. LT scores against LionsSan Diego starts on their own 38 and march to a TD in 7 plays. RB LaDainian Tomlinson gains 43 yards on 5 carries and scores the TD to make it San Diego 7 - Detroit 0. Detroit provides another 3 and out and punts back to San Diego. The Chargers start with possession on their own 19. QB Phillip Rivers mixing passes to Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson with runs by Michael Turner and LaDainian Tomlinson easily moves the Chargers to the Lions 5 yard line and a 1st and goal. Detroit’s defense toughens and San Diego is forced to kick a 22 yard Field Goal by K Nate Kaeding. San Diego now leads 10-0. Detroit begins at their own 20 and tries a running play with RB T.J. Duckett for 1 yard and then QB Jon Kitna throws a pass to WR Calvin Johnson who lets the ball Clinton Hart Intercepts Chargersdeflect off his hands and it is intercepted by Safety Clinton Hart and returned to the Lions 17. Seemingly the Lions again stop the Chargers but on 3rd down the Lions are penalized for pass interference on the 2 yard line and San Diego has 1st and goal on the 2. RB LaDainian Tomlinson scores his 2nd TD of the game on the 1st play after the penalty and San Diego now has the game well in hand 17-0. Detroit now begins on their 26 after the kickoff and QB Jon Kitna completes 3 straight passes and moves the Lions to mid-field and a 1st down as the 1st Quarter ends. At the end of 1 period the score is San Diego 17, Detroit 0.  

  • 2nd Quarter

QB Jon Kitna starts the 2nd Quarter by throwing his 2nd interception of the game to LB Matt Wilhelm and the Chargers get the ball at the 50. QB Phillip Rivers again moves the Chargers deep into Lion territory and has a 1st and goal at the 5. Rivers mixed short passes with running plays and Detroit was unable to stop the Chargers. At the 5 the Chargers gave the ball twice to RB LaDainian Tomlinson and threw it to him on 3rd down and he was unable to get his 3rd TD of the game. K Nate Kaeding came on and kicked his 2nd 22 yard Field Goal and the Chargers lead is expanded to 20-0. After the Kickoff Detroit has the ball 1st and 10 at their own 32 and they keep the ball for 1 play. QB Jon Kitna has a pass intended for RB Kevin Jones batted up in the air by LB Shaun Phillips who intercepts the ball and runs untouched into the endzone and San Diego leads 27-0. Detroit gets the ball at their own 34 and QB Jon Kitna mixes some runs with accurate passes and moves the Lions down the field to a TD. RBs Kevin Jones and T.J. Duckett both getting carries on the drive and passes being thrown to WRs Shaun McDonald, Brandon Middleton, Mike Furrey and Calvin Johnson. Brandon Middleton is on the receiving end of a Kitna TD pass from the 9 and the Charger lead is cut to 27-7. San Diego gets the ball back with 2:50 remaining in the half and Detroit shows again that their defense has trouble stopping all NFL teams. QB Phillip Rivers moves the Chargers LT 49 Yard Run against Lions89 yards in just 8 plays to a pretty easy TD. The big play was a 49 yard run by RB LaDainian Tomlinson on 3rd and 1. On another 3rd and 1 at the Lions goal line Rivers hit a very wide open TE Brandon Manumaleuna for the TD and a 34-7 Charger lead. Detroit starts their last possession of the half at their own 16 after receiving the kickoff. QB Jon Kitna completes passes to WRs Mike Furrey and Calvin Johnson and the Lions have 7 seconds left and the ball at the 50. After an incompletion that leaves 3 seconds in the half Kitna throws a ‘Hail Mary’ pass that WR Calvin Johnson catches at the 1 and he is unable to fight his way into the endzone against 4 San Diego defenders.  

1st Half ends with San Diego leading 34-7.

  • 3rd Quarter

The 3rd Quarter starts the way the 1st half was played, San Diego driving and Detroit unable to stop them or even slow them down. QB Phillip Rivers starts from his own 15 and on the 1st play gives the ball to RB Darren Sproles, in for LaDainian Tomlinson because the Chargers are so far ahead, and Sproles runs for 34 yards. A couple more runs by Sproles and a pass to TE Antonio Gates and one to WR Buster Davis and the Chargers have 1st and 10 at the Lions 22. After a pass to WR Vincent Jackson gives the Chargers 1st and goal RB Darren Sproles runs the ball 3 times for the 9 yards and scores his 1st NFL TD. The Chargers now lead 41-7. Detroit kick returner Aveion Cason fumbles the kickoff and San Diego CB Antonio Cromartie recovers at the Lions 24. Detroit holds San Diego to a 3 and out and San Diego must settle for a 45 yard Field Goal by K Nate Kaeding. Detroit starts their next drive on their 31 and QB Jon Kitna throws on every play. On 3rd and 10 from his own 31 he hits WR Mike Furrey for 12 yards to keep the drive alive. He follows that with a 16 yard pass to WR Calvin Johnson and then continues with another 13 yarder to Mike Furrey. Kitna’s next 3 passes are to WR Shaun McDonald to cover the final 28 yards and the secure the TD. Detroit has cut the San Diego lead to 44-14. San Diego responds to Detroit’s TD with a 3 and out and for the 1st time during the game must punt to Detroit. The Lions start on their 10 after the punt and run 3 pass plays and move to their own 47 to end the 3rd Quarter.  

San Diego leads 44-14 at the end of the 3rd Quarter.

4th Quarter

On the 1st play of the 4th Quarter QB Jon Kitna throws his 4th interception of the game to CB Antonio Cromartie who secures his 10th pick of the year to lead the NFL. San Diego for the 2nd time during the game does not score and turns the ball back to the Lions on downs. San Diego went for a 1st down with 4th and 2 at the Lions 32. Detroit took over and moved the ball to the San Diego 43 where they were faced with 4th and 3 and Kitna threw an incompletion to turn the ball back to the Chargers. Believe it or not the Chargers went 3 and out and punted. For the 3 straight possession the Chargers did not score on the Lions. Kitna back to passing on every play got 1 first down and then was Stephen Cooper Intercepts against Lionsfaced with a 3rd and 15 after a False Start penalty. Attempting to hit WR Shaun McDonald Kitna is intercepted for the 5th time by LB Stephen Cooper who returns the ball to the Lion 27. San Diego gives the ball to RB Darren Sproles 6 straight plays and Sproles gets the ball into the endzone for his 2nd career NFL TD and 2nd of the game. San Diego now leads 51-14. Detroit responds with a 3 and out and punts to San Diego. The Chargers kneel on the ball to run out the clock and the game mercifully ends.

Final Score San Diego 51 - Detroit 14.

Complete NFL Game Statistical Summary can be seen here.
National Football League Game Summary Source: NFL

Stats for Detroit vs San Diego NFL Week 15

Passing Attempts Completions-Yds-Int TDs Rating/Sacks
Jon Kitna - Detroit 45 26 - 302 - 5 2 53.4 - 0
Phillip Rivers - SD 21 14 - 142 - 0 1 101.7 - 0
Receiving Catches Yards TDs Yards/Catch
Mike Furrey - Detroit 7 80 11.4
Calvin Johnson - Det 5 102 20.4
Shawn McDonald - Det 5 48 1 9.6
Brandon Middelton - Det 4 32 1 8.0
Aveion Cason - Det 3 29 9.7
Chris Chambers - SD 4 69   17.3
Vincent Jackson - SD 2 30   15.0
Buster Davis - SD 2 20 10.0
LaDainian Tomlinson - San Diego 2 7 3.5
Brandon Manumaleuna - SD 1 1 1 1.0
Time of Possession 3rd Down Efficiency
Detroit 18:28 Detroit 4-9 44%
San Diego 41:32 San Diego 11-18 61%
Rushing Carries Yards TDs Avg Per Carry
Kevin Jones - Detroit 23 92 2 4.0
T.J. Duckett - Detroit 9 60 1 6.7
Marion Barber - Dallas 7 43 2 6.1
Julian Jones - Dallas 8 29 3.6

Detroit comes back to Detroit to play the Kansas City Chiefs @ Ford Field in NFL Week 16. The Lions are only playing for pride now as they have been eliminated from NFC Playoff contention as a result of the Minnesota Vikings win over the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. Detroit is striving to avoid becoming one of only four teams in NFL history to start a season 6-2 and finish below with more losses than wins.

Cast Your vote in this weeks Poll, Please.

Which Team will Win the Game on December 23, 2007?

  • Detroit Lions (64%, 7 Votes)
  • Kansas City Chiefs (36%, 4 Votes)

Total Voters: 11

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1 Comment so far

  1. NFL » Detroit Lions vs San Diego Chargers NFL Week 15 - Recap on December 18, 2007 2:36 pm

    [...] Here’s another interesting post I read today by Michael Keating [...]

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