‘Hail Mary’ Heralds Chargers’ 27-21 Win Fontes Pulls Out All Stops, But It Gets Sticky In Wayne’s World

The Detroit Lions had 12 men on the field, including a former high jumper who didn’t jump very high. The mismatch went to little Andre Coleman.

A 5-foot-9 receiver who lost his starting job to a rookie a week earlier, Coleman caught a desperation 46-yard touchdown pass from Stan Humphries on the final play of the first half, boosting the San Diego Chargers in a 27-21 victory over the Lions Monday night.

The play was stunning not only because 6-4 Herman Moore couldn’t stop Coleman from catching the ball, but it was another mistake that could cost Detroit coach Wayne Fontes his job.

“Hopefully you don’t want to use that play, because if you use that play it means you’re not winning,” Coleman said.

But Coleman outsmarted the beleagured Lions, and the Chargers (6-4) won for just the second time in five games. The Lions (4-6) lost for the fourth consecutive time, severely damaging their playoff hopes.

Lions owner William Clay Ford has implied that it will take a Lions playoff win to save Fontes’ job. Last year, Ford issued a playoffs-or-else ultimatum when the Lions were 3-6, and they won their last seven to qualify. Detroit was then routed 58-37 by Philadelphia.

“They pushed us around, they beat us,” Fontes said. “We go home now a battered football team. We’re not counting ourselves out yet.”

Coleman was back in as a regular because Charlie Jones was knocked out with bruised ribs in the first quarter. But Coleman was having a miserable night, fumbling on a reverse for a 7-yard loss and then, within a span of three more plays, dropping a perfect pass from Humphries.

He was in perfect position, though, on a play that began with two seconds on the clock. He got behind Moore - brought in on defense because of his size and jumping ability - and 6-2 cornerback Ryan McNeil and caught Humphries’ rainbow pass in the end zone for a 17-14 lead.

“Right before I got ready to jump I knew I had a chance to catch it,” Coleman said. “It seemed like all the other guys were in the air and the ball hadn’t come down yet, so I just jumped and it landed in my hands.”

Coleman didn’t realize until later that Moore was in on the play. “He didn’t have the jump up there with me,” Coleman said.

Coleman came up with his arms outstretched, celebrating his first career touchdown as a receiver. The third-year pro has six career TDs on returns, including a kickoff return in the Super Bowl loss to San Francisco two seasons ago.

Moore, the NFL’s leading receiver entering the weekend, was equally frustrated on offense, catching only three passes for 39 yards.

San Diego kept the momentum, with Humphries throwing his third TD pass of the night on San Diego’s first possession of the second half, a 9-yarder to tight end Alfred Pupunu for a 24-14 lead. Pupunu was carted off the field early in the fourth quarter with a broken left ankle.

Humphries, who returned after missing two starts due to a dislocated non-throwing left shoulder, completed 24 of 32 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns.

The Chargers re-discovered their ground game, with Leonard Russell gaining 80 of San Diego’s 127 rushing yards. Tony Martin caught eight passes for 113 yards and one touchdown.

Chargers 27, Lions 21

Detroit 7 7 0 7 - 21

San Diego 7 10 7 3 - 27

SD-Martin 32 pass from Humphries (Carney kick) Det-Sanders 2 run (Hanson kick) Det-Sanders 11 run (Hanson kick) SD-FG Carney 29 SD-Coleman 46 pass from Humphries (Carney kick) SD-Pupunu 9 pass from Humphries (Carney kick) SD-FG Carney 20 Det-Perriman 1 pass from Majkowksi (Hanson kick) A-60,425.

Det SD First downs 19 27 Rushes-yards 19-82 40-127 Passing 140 279 Punt Returns 2-26 2-33 Kickoff Returns 5-148 4-67 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 0-0 Comp-Att-Int 15-27-0 24-32-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 4-19 3-32 Punts 4-47.5 4-37.0 Fumbles-Lost 3-1 2-0 Penalties-Yards 7-61 11-129 Time of Possession 19:21 40:39 Individual statistics RUSHINGDetroit, Sanders 16-51, Morton 1-18, Perriman 1-13, Majkowski 1-0. San Diego, Russell 20-80, Bradley 7-25, Fletcher 11-22, Humphries 2-0.

PASSINGDetroit, Majkowski 10-18-0-110, Mitchell 5-9-0-49. San Diego, Humphries 24-32-0-311.

RECEIVINGDetroit, Perriman 7-70, Moore 3-39, Morton 3-32, Metzelaars 1-11, Sanders 1-7. San Diego, Martin 8-113, Coleman 3-63, Fletcher 3-35, Pupunu 3-28, Russell 2-33, Jones 2-21, May 1-12, Still 1-7, Mitchell 1-(minus 1).

MISSED FIELD GOALSDetroit, Hanson 53 (WR); San Diego, Carney 49 (WL).