National Football League

Chargers show grit in comeback win

Published Sep. 11, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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A day removed from agreeing to a seven-year, $96 million contract extension, Adrian Peterson has already bounced a check.

It was the one written by his mouth in a radio interview last week where the Minnesota Vikings running back told “The Dan Patrick Show” to mark him down for 200 yards and a victory over the San Diego Chargers in the season-opening contest at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday.

Try 98 yards and a 24-17 loss.

“It’s the greatest disrespect of all time to come into our house and tell us what you’re going to do,” Chargers linebacker Takeo Spikes said. “I’m glad you got your money, but you can get your rocks off next week against whoever you are going to play."

Peterson did break one first-half run for 46 yards, but that was about all of his heroics for the game. Quarterback Donovan McNabb, making his first regular-season start for the Vikings, made a longer play with his legs (23 yards) than on any single play with his arm (12 yards), allowing the Chargers to concentrate on the four-time Pro Bowl back.

“We paid greater attention to detail, and we wanted to make some plays,” Spikes said. “You have to realize that your success is predicated on the men in front of you. I know we have some dogs out front, and we had to let them do some hunting.”

A few of those dogs --- especially on special team’s on the opening kickoff --- might have been a little hesitant early. Vikings return man Percy Harvin took the ball 7 yards deep in his own end zone and ran it back, a play that not only gave Minnesota an early 7-0 lead, but cost the Chargers their kicker as Nate Kaeding went down with a knee injury on the play.

The Vikings eventually made it a 17-7 game heading into the half as McNabb connected with Michael Jenkins for a 3-yard TD the play after Peterson’s long run.

“It was tough to come out here and get a great start in the first half, and I feel like we really couldn’t get it going in the second (half),” said Peterson, part of a Vikings team that gained just 26 yards in the second half.

The Chargers --- now without Darren Sproles as a possible option in the backfield --- gained only 35 yards on the ground in the first half and 77 for the game. The Chargers’ backfield had more success as receivers, including Mike Tolbert. He had two TD receptions to go along with one rushing touchdown, although he sustained a knee injury that isn’t thought to be serious.

That’s hardly a surprise since everything goes through Rivers anyway, and he didn’t blink at a 10-point halftime deficit.

“We’ve been through a lot worse than today,” said Chargers QB Phillip Rivers, who was 33 for 48 with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

“That seemed like nothing. We weren’t in two-minute mode or anything. We took that first drive (of the second half) and scored. We were able to get into a little bit of rhythm.”

No matter the route, the Chargers — who lost five of their first seven games, including the opener, in a disappointing 2010 campaign — are 1-0.

“I would have loved to not have thrown any interceptions, and we’d love not have a kickoff return and all that,” Rivers said. “But it’s these kinds of wins where you really grow. You grew more than a week better in these kinds of wins because you have to fight through some adversity.”

Getting to 2-0 for the first time since 2006 will take a couple fewer miscues as the Chargers travel to face the New England Patriots. The Chargers, along with finding a path toward a smoother start to next game, could also be in search of a kicker.

Punter Mike Scifres had a 40-yard field goal and booted in three PATs, but Chargers coach Norv Turner, who earned his 100th NFL win as an NFL head coach, hinted he’d go after another place kicker if Kaeding isn’t able to return.

The Patriots aren’t a team that typically provides bulletin-board material, just ask Wes Welker. (The Pats receiver was fined a season ago for just alluding to another team’s coach.) Motivation will have to found elsewhere.

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