Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Los Angeles Chargers Match Player Stats On Dec 04, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Dec 4, 2016

SAN DIEGO -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rallied in the second half to defeat the San Diego Chargers, 28-21, on Sunday afternoon.

Tampa Bay (7-5) won its fourth straight game by outscoring San Diego, 21-7, in the second half.

The second loss in three contests for the Chargers (5-7) dealt a severe blow to their slim playoff hopes. It would be the sixth time in seven seasons the last-place Chargers failed to advance.

Winston completed 20 of 30 attempts for 280 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Philip Rivers was 15 of 26 for 225 yards, two scores and two second-half interceptions.

One of Rivers' picks was returned for a touchdown and the other one came with three minutes remaining in the Tampa Bay end zone. Keith Tandy made that grab, snatching it away from Dontrelle Inman as Rivers threw his seventh interception in his last three games.

The Chargers' Melvin Gordon rushed for a game-high 84 yards with a score on 17 carries.

The Bucs forged back ahead with nine minutes to play on Winston's 12-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Brate. Winston then found Mike Evans for a completion and two points for a 28-21 edge.

Aguayo nailed his second field goal two minutes into the fourth quarter. His 35-yard effort sliced Tampa Bay's deficit to 21-20.

Rivers spotted Tyrell Williams in single coverage late in the third quarter and fired a 40-yard scoring strike to the wide receiver for a 21-17 cushion.

Williams, who is playing torn labrum, got a step on Brent Grimes and hauled in the Rivers' long heave for his first reception of the game.

Tampa Bay took its first lead of the game, 17-14, in the third quarter when Lavonte David corralled a deflected Rivers pass and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown.

Rivers threw a quick slant to Williams, but the ball was hit by cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III. It bounced straight to David for the defensive touchdown.

The Bucs pulled to within 14-10 early in the third quarter on Aguayo's 27-yard field goal. For the second straight possession, Tampa Bay was inside the San Diego 11-yard line and both times the Bucs had to settle for field goals.

Tampa Bay was poised to tie the game, advancing to the San Diego 15 with a minute to go in the second quarter. But a sack by Joey Bosa derailed the drive and then Roberto Aguayo misfired on a 31-yard field goal.

Gordon rushed over from 2 yards out, giving the Chargers a 14-7 lead with 10 minutes left in the half. It was Gordon's 10th rushing touchdown of the season, the most by a Charger since Mike Tolbert had 10 in 2010.

Doug Martin plowed in from the 2-yard line to make it 7-7 late in the first quarter. It appeared Martin was stopped in the backfield, but he kept his legs moving to pull the Bucs even.

Casey Hayward jumped a pass directed toward Mike Evans, collecting his NFL-high seventh interception in the first quarter. It gave the Chargers a takeaway in every game this season; they entered the game with an NFL-best 23 takeaways.

But Josh Lambo missed badly on a 53-yard field goal as San Diego was unable to convert the pick into points.

The Chargers struck first, capping the game's opening possession with a 45-yard touchdown reception by Dontelle Inman from Rivers. For Inman, it was his second-longest scoring catch of the season, eclipsed only by his 57-yarder against the Saints.

NOTES: CB Brandon Flowers remains out with a concussion and was replaced by Craig Mager. ... For the second straight week, RB Ronnie Hillman was a healthy inactive. ... OLB Jerry Attaochu (foot) was placed on IR and NT Ryan Carrethers was elevated from the practice squad. ... WR Cecil Shorts III left the game on a cart in the first quarter with a knee injury. WR Adam Humphries exited the game in the second quarter with concussion symptoms. ... S Keith Tandy filled in for Chris Conte.