Recap: St. Louis vs. San Diego
Sports Network | August 16, 2008
St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Travis Minor rushed 11 times for a total of 39 yards and scored the game's only touchdown, as the St. Louis Rams edged the San Diego Chargers, 7-6, in the second preseason game for both teams.
Antonio Pittman, who led the Rams (1-1) last week with 21 yards on six carries, led the team in rushing again with nine touches for 67 yards. The Steven Jackson-less Rams garnered 184 yards on the ground.
Marc Bulger connected on 7-of-14 passes for 56 yards, but two of those tosses were intercepted. Randy McMichael caught three passes for 54 yards.
The No. 2 overall draft pick and defensive end Chris Long, out of Virginia, recorded his first, and only, tackle in the NFL. The Rams allowed 495 yards of total offense to the Titans last Saturday, but fared better against the Chargers, yielding only 203 total net yards.
Charlie Whitehurst was 6-of-14 passing for 67 yards in the loss. Chargers (1-1) starting running back LaDainian Tomlinson did not play. Jacob Hester, a third-round pick out of LSU, had 12 carries for 59 yards. Fellow rookie Marcus Thomas had three carries for 14 yards.
Craig Davis had two catches for 40 yards and one rush for 10 yards. Nate Kaeding hit 2-of-2 field goals in defeat. Rookie Lamar Divenshad had four tackles and a forced fumble, while Cletis Gordon recorded four tackles, an assist and had an interception.
Kaeding nailed a 31-yarder and a 27-yard attempt to give the Chargers a 6-0 lead after 15 minutes of football.
The Chargers stopped the Rams on fourth-and-goal from the two-yard line with 10:44 showing before the half, and SD headed into the half ahead 6-0.
St. Louis finally put some points on the board as Minor capped a 13-play, 71- yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run with 5:46 left in the third quarter, making it a 7-6 affair.
On the injury front for San Diego, tight end Antonio Gates (toe) did not play. Wideout Vincent Jackson (hamstring) and linebacker Shawne Merriman (knee) were not suited up, either. Starting fullback Andrew Pinnock (knee) had a chance to see his first action of the preseason, but didn't play on Saturday.
The Chargers are now tied in the all-time preseason series with the Rams, 18-18.
