The 10 Most Impactful Plays of Week 3
2. Stay Classy, San Diego Defense
Win Probability Added: +25.48
NEP: +10.44
In a game marred by yet another Achilles’ tear for a San Diego Chargers player, no one expected the defense to step up and be the factor that kept the Bolts in a shootout against the Indianapolis Colts’ high-flying offense. It was Chargers linebacker Manti Te'o who went down with the injury in the Sunday afternoon matchup, and very few expected fifth-round rookie Jatavis Brown to step into the lineup and be much help. Te’o provided versatility from the linebacker spot; surely Brown would find it tough to replicate that production.
In just the second quarter and only about 30 yards from their own end zone, Brown and safety Adrian Phillips combined to sack quarterback Andrew Luck. While riding him to the ground, Brown ripped the ball out of Luck’s hands forcibly. On one bounce, defensive lineman Caraun Reid reeled the fumble in and returned it 61 yards for a game-tying score. This was the Chargers’ sixth takeaway of the season, and that’s without rookie defensive end Joey Bosa.
