The San Diego Chargers continued their fine start to the season by defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars 33-14 in their NFL clash to move to 3-1 in the campaign.
Both sides struggled to get on the scoreboard early on, until the Chargers finally broke the deadlock when Philip Rivers moved them into field-goal range and Nick Novak fired his kick between the posts from 33 yards.
The Jaguars responded to going behind and they powered ahead with a touchdown as Blake Bortles moved his side methodically down the field, and then handed off to Toby Gerhart on the goalline as he went in for the score.
San Diego hit back when Rivers launched a deep pass for wide receiver Royal and he managed to run all the way into the endzone for a 47-yard score to put the home side ahead.
However, Jacksonville ensured they were ahead again thanks to Nic Jacobs, who collected a short pass from Bortles before cruising over for the touchdown.
There would be one final twist in the final minute of a thrilling first half when Royal caught a 43-yard pass from Rivers to put the Chargers back in front.
In the second half, Rivers continued his fine display as he hit another deep pass this time to Malcom Floyd and the receiver found his way into the endzone for the 24-yard score.
San Diego's defense was on top in the game as Bortles was intercepted twice, and that allowed the offense to take the game away from the Jaguars as Novak added another field goal at the end of the third quarter.
Novak added two further strikes from 23 and 37 yards respectively in the fourth quarter to seal his side's victory at Qualcomm Stadium.
Simon Sinclair
