New York Giants vs San Diego Chargers Match Player Stats On Dec 08, 2013

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 8, 2013


Chargers 37, Giants 14: Philip Rivers tossed two of his three touchdown passes to rookie Keenan Allen as host San Diego kept alive its slim postseason aspirations.

Danny Woodhead also reeled in a 6-yard scoring reception and fellow running back Ryan Mathews rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown. Rivers finished 21-for-28 for 249 yards as the Chargers (6-7) have won two of three to remain one game behind Baltimore (7-6) and Miami (7-6) in the race for the sixth spot in the AFC.

Eli Manning threw a touchdown pass to tight end Brandon Myers and two interceptions in his return to the city he spurned in the 2004 draft. Peyton Hillis had a 1-yard touchdown for the Giants (5-8), who were mathematically eliminated from postseason play with Arizona's 30-10 victory over St. Louis.

Allen opened the scoring midway through the first quarter after reeling in a 43-yard pass from Rivers before diving to hit the pylon in the end zone. The rookie injured his right shoulder later in the first quarter, but returned in the second and caught a wide-open curl pass in the end zone.

Rivers, who improved to 26-6 in December, threw another score to Woodhead out of the backfield before his fumble early in the third quarter led to Hillis' 1-yard score. Undaunted, San Diego rushed 10 times on its ensuing 11-play, 80-yard drive, which was capped by Mathews scooting in from 1 yard out to claim a 31-7 lead.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Manning was originally selected by San Diego with the top overall pick of the 2004 draft, but the two-time Super Bowl MVP's refusal to play for the Chargers and led to a trade with New York. Rivers was selected three spots later. ... Giants CB Charles James was whistled for defensive offside on Chargers K Nick Novak's 41-yard field-goal attempt, which sailed wide right. Novak made the ensuing 36-yard field goal to give San Diego a 10-0 lead in the second quarter. ... New York DE Justin Tuck registered both of his team's sacks after recording a career-high four last week.