San Diego Chargers Lead Arizona Cardinals 17-6 After Third Quarter

Sep 8, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) runs up the field with the ball during the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians told ESPN’s Lindsay Czarniak at halftime that the third quarter would be about whoever would come out and win the first five minutes would be in control.  Well, the San Diego Chargers did just that.

Quarterback Philip Rivers took the ball right down the field 82 yards for a touchdown pass to receiver Malcom Floyd to take a 10-6 lead.  The next drive Cards quarterback Carson Palmer fumbled the ball back to the Chargers on their own 30 yard line.  The Chargers had no problem moving the ball again.  Running back Ryan Mathews made the Cards pay for the fumble and took a 17-6 lead.

The Cards didn’t go unscathed in the quarter either unfortunately. They lost linebacker John Abraham to a possible concussion.  This of course compounded with the earlier loss of defensive tackle Frostee Rucker and it has been a rough one so far for the Cards defense.

Unless the Cards go back to running the offense they were in the first quarter this one is almost over for them.  They just seem out of sync and discombobulated.  Not a good sign going forward.