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Chargers forgotten WR Tyrell Williams can still make big plays

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Keenan Allen’s impressive stretch of putting up monster receiving numbers has NFL observers taking notice.

However, Allen’s wing man Tyrell Williams made sure to let people know he’s still on the team.

Williams finished with a season-high 132 receiving yards on four catches, including a 75-yard bomb from Philip Rivers for a score and another 34-yard chunk play to open the game.

Those big plays were two of the 10 explosive gains of 20-yards or more the Chargers generated in a 30-13 win over the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

“We were just hitting the shots,” Williams said. “I was able to get open, and it feels really good just like always. From there, we were able to make big plays.”

With Allen out last season due to an ACL knee injury, the third-year pro out of Western Oregon led the Chargers in receiving yards (1,059) and receptions (69) in 2016. However, with Allen back this season and the emergence of tight end Hunter Henry, Williams has taken more of a complementary role in the offense.

“He understands it because he knows how good of a player Keenan is, but also [thinks he] can make that play, too,” Rivers said. “There’s a balance of running the ball, but also, where is my role on the team? You mix in and go, ‘Who do we want on this deep crossing route to start the game? Do we want Tyrell?’ Or ‘Who do we want on the big post that we hope hits for a big touchdown?’ It’s Tyrell. Those two things hit [on Sunday].

For the season, Williams has 32 receptions for 580 yards and three touchdowns. Williams 18.1 yards per reception is No. 3 in the NFL among qualified receivers.

“He’s competing with Mike [Williams] for playing time,” Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said. “We use both of those guys, and I love to see them compete. I like it when they’re competing. I think he’s handled that well.”

Here’s the Week 14 snap counts for the Chargers against the Washington.

OFFENSE (Based on 72 snaps)

Quarterback: Rivers 57, Kellen Clemens 15.

Running back: Melvin Gordon 47, Austin Ekeler 18, Derek Watt 10, Andre Williams 8.

Wide receiver: Tyrell Williams 51, Keenan Allen 49, Mike Williams 35, Travis Benjamin 33.

Tight end: Hunter Henry 42, Jeff Cumberland 30, Antonio Gates 19, Sean McGrath 17.

Offensive line: Kenny Wiggins 72, Dan Feeney 72, Spencer Pulley 72, Joe Barksdale 63, Russell Okung 59, Sam Tevi 13, Michael Schofield 10.

Offensive analysis: Per ESPN Stats & Information, Rivers was 6-of-6 for 221 yards and a touchdown on passes traveling at least 15 yards downfield, his most such completions without an incompletion since 2006. ... Rivers posted his fourth straight game with a rating over 100. The last time Rivers strung together four games with a 100 or above rating was Weeks 2-6 of 2014. ... The Chargers four-game winning streak is their longest since Weeks 2-6 of 2014. Over the four-game winning streak, the Bolts have outscored their opponents 131-53 and outgained them 1,861-1,132. ... The Chargers are the seventh team in NFL history to lose their first four games of a season and climb above .500 at some point that season.

DEFENSE (Based on 50 snaps)

Line: Melvin Ingram 36, Joey Bosa 36, Darius Philon 31, Corey Liuget 26, Brandon Mebane 25, Chris McCain 18, Tenny Palepoi 14, Damion Square 13.

Linebacker: Denzel Perryman 39, Kyle Emanuel 7, Hayes Pullard 7, Jatavis Brown 5.

Secondary: Tre Boston 50, Trevor Williams 50, Jahleel Addae 49, Casey Hayward 49, Desmond King 43, Adrian Phillips 43, Rayshawn Jenkins 8, Michael Davis 1.

Defensive analysis: The Chargers held the Redskins to 201 total yards. That is the best mark for the Bolts defense since Oct. 5, 2014 against the Jets (151 yards). ... The Chargers have recorded 11 interceptions in their past five games and have registered at least one pick in eight of their past nine games. ... The Chargers have held their last three opponents to under 300 yards of total offense. That mark is their best since Weeks 8-10 of 2012.