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Chargers dominate Packers, 25-11

AP Photo GREEN BAY QUARTERBACK Aaron Rodgers is sacked by Chargers defensive end Melvin Ingram during the first half Sunday.

CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Just when the Los Angeles Chargers’ season looked lost, they put together their best game of the year against one of the league’s top teams.

Melvin Gordon scored two touchdowns and the defense held Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers to one of his worst outings as the Chargers dominated the Packers on Sunday, winning 26-11.

“For whatever reason we do better when it’s a little bit ‘the Chargers don’t have a chance.’ I don’t know why. I don’t think anyone gave us a chance in this one,” said Philip Rivers, who got his first win over Green Bay. “I wish we did better when everyone thought we were really good like the beginning of the season. All three phases did a heck of a job.”

Green Bay came in as the second-best team in the NFC but had its four-game winning streak snapped to fall to 7-2.

“This was a good slice of humble pie for us. We’re kind of rolling, 7-1, and starting to listen to the chatter maybe a little too much,” said Rodgers, who threw for 161 yards, his fifth-lowest total when he plays all four quarters.

For the first time this year, the Chargers (4-5) looked like a team that won 12 games and made the playoffs last season.

The offense was balanced and moved the ball consistently in Shane Steichen’s first game as coordinator, and the defense kept Aaron Rodgers and the Packers out of the end zone until midway through the fourth quarter. Michael Badgley kicked four field goals in his first game back from injury.

Steichen, who was promoted after Ken Whisenhunt was fired last Monday, called a good game as the Chargers held the ball for nearly 36 minutes and averaged 6.5 yards per play.

The running game, which had been held under 40 yards in four straight games, had a season-high 159 yards. Gordon, who came in averaging only 2.5 yards per carry, had 80 yards on 20 carries and Austin Ekeler added 12 carries for 70 yards.

Defensively, the Chargers pressured Rodgers all day with minimal blitzing and sacked him three times. Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram each had 1 1/2 sacks. Bosa has 5 1/2 sacks in his past three games.

“A lot of four-man rushes, and they got after us a little bit up front. We’ve got to get back to protecting and throwing the ball out in time and being accurate,” said Rodgers, who completed 23 of 35 passes.

Rodgers got most of his yards in the final 15 minutes after he was held to a career-low 61 yards through three quarters. He found a wide-open Jamaal Williams for a 10-yard touchdown with 6:21 remaining and then ran it in for the 2-point conversion.

Packers running back Aaron Jones came in averaging 137.8 scrimmage yards in his past four games but was held to 29 yards (30 rushing, minus-1 receiving). Davante Adams had seven receptions for 41 yards after missing the last four games because of turf toe.

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