After being down by 21 points to start the game and still down by 14 near the end, the Chargers recovered a fumble and erased the 14 point deficit in about 5 minutes. This sent the "must-win" game into overtime with the score tied at 35 points each. All this happened while the Chargers were missing Wide Receiver Keenan Allen and Running Back Ryan Mathews.

In this matchup, the Chargers needed to win to make sure that they would have a chance to go to the postseason. The Chargers finally played a complete game for the first time in three weeks, which has given the fans some hope that next week might not be the end of the season after all.

Philip Rivers had trouble starting out and ended up throwing a total of 3 interceptions during the game. But when it was all said and done, Rivers had completed 33 of 54 attempts for a total of 356 yards and four touchdowns. It has been no secret that in the past few weeks Rivers has dealt with more than his share of injuries. Reports came out this week that he had been dealing with a bulging disk in his back that doctors are keeping an eye on to make sure it doesn't become herniated since the game in Baltimore.

Even with all the injuries he has been dealing with, Rivers looked up at the 21 point deficit on the scoreboard at halftime and knew with the season on the line he had to take charge. That's exactly what he did in the second half, rallying the Chargers with him to play the way that he knew they could. After the defense recovered a fumble, which Rivers and the offense took down for a touchdown to make the game 35-28, they had one more chance with 2 minutes left and knew they had to make it count.

That is when he and the offense decided to run the clock as they made their way down the field. When it counted most, Rivers was able to convert a 4th-and-8 and a 4th-and-10 on the final drive of regulation to tie the game. Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers tried to drive back down the other way, but in some key situations the Chargers defense held and forced Phil Dawson to attempt a 60-yard field goal, which he missed. Then, the defense held again as the San Francisco 49ers received the kickoff to begin overtime. After getting the ball back, Philip Rivers drove down the field one more time, getting the offense all the way to the San Francisco 22-yard line and setting up the game winning field goal of 40 yards by Nick Novak.

Now, the Chargers playoff hopes hinge on one more road game. They currently have the best record on the road in December of all teams in the NFL with a tough game ahead against Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs. But, if they play the way they did in this game and the way that true Chargers fans know they can, they shouldn't have a problem and will be on their way to the postseason. The only question, if they win, will be if they will be the 5th seed and play the Indianapolis Colts, or the 6th seed and play the Cincinnati Bengals in a rematch from last year which also took place in Cincinnati and sent the Chargers to the AFC Divisional game which was won by the Broncos ultimately.

So, Chargers fans and anyone else who wants to see Kansas City eliminated, reunite next weekend and cheer on the Chargers as they try to repeat what they did last year with a better record.

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