DALLAS -- During his introductory news conference in January, Los Angeles Chargers coach Anthony Lynn emphasized his team would take care of the football.
And over the next 10 months, that mindset has been pounded into veteran quarterback Philip Rivers' head throughout the offseason and in the first half of the regular season, perhaps to the detriment of the Chargers' offense.
Lynn made no bones about it -- he wanted an offense focused on the ground game and taking care of the football, while Rivers and the Chargers had previously thrived in a pass-first offense based on taking calculated risks.
Well, with five games left in 2017, Lynn and Rivers appear to have reached a happy compromise. Rivers’ 434-yard passing effort in an impressive 28-6 road win against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day was the result of a months-long battle of wills over how the Chargers would move the football.
Ultimately, the Bolts have benefited. The Chargers have scored an average of 41 points a contest over the past two games and did not punt against the Cowboys.
“The turnover deal was emphasized so hard early on that maybe we didn’t take as many chances down the field that we could have,” Lynn said. “Now we’re finding that balance. We’re not turning it over. We’re taking shots down the field. ... Philip’s just done a good job of taking care of the ball.”
In his past two games, Rivers has thrown for 685 yards and five touchdowns, with no interceptions. He has been sacked just once in those two games, throwing on rhythm to wide open receivers downfield.
The Chargers have won five of their past seven games, inching their way back into playoff contention at 5-6. Rivers has thrown for 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions during that stretch.
“The whole philosophy opened up,” Rivers said. “When you’re trying to establish the run and do those things -- which I know are important -- sometimes it gets you in a little bit of a ‘grrrrr’ early, and you don’t have that flow. …
“I feel like the last two weeks, collectively everybody’s pulling in the same direction and pulling the same rope. There’s some newness and we all want what’s best for us, but I just think the approach has been that way, too.
“I don’t think I played cautious early at all. I always want to take care of the ball. But the way we’ve gone after people the last two weeks has allowed for some flow and rhythm.”
Players such as second-year tight end Hunter Henry are benefiting from the Chargers’ new approach. Henry finished with five receptions for 76 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown, against the Cowboys.
“We’re starting to click,” Henry said. “It helps Whiz [offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt] call the plays when everything we do works. Even when we get behind the sticks, we’re able to convert and get back to manageable third downs and convert big third downs. So it was a good day.”