CHICAGO -- It wasn’t pretty, but the way things have gone for the Los Angeles Chargers of late, they’ll take it.
On the strength of two forced turnovers in the fourth quarter by the defense -- a Mitchell Trubisky interception and fumble -- the Chargers earned a hard-fought, 17-16 comeback victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
The Chargers had to hold off a late Chicago rally, with kicker Eddy Pineiro hooking a potential game-winning 41-yard field goal wide left.
With the win, the Chargers ended a three-game losing streak and won at Soldier Field for the first time in franchise history.
At 3-5 on the season, the Chargers return home to face another NFC North division team, the Green Bay Packers, next week at Dignity Health Sports Complex.
At the heart of the Chargers’ victory was an impressive effort from defensive end Joey Bosa, who finished with seven combined tackles -- including four for a loss -- and two sacks.
Bosa became the first Charger since Kevin Burnett in 2010 to post back-to-back games with two-plus sacks.
Pivotal play: With 9:25 left to play and his team trailing 16-10, defensive tackle Damion Square stripped Trubisky of the ball and Melvin Ingram recovered at the Bears’ 26-yard line. Austin Ekeler scored from 11 yards out three plays later on an out route from Philip Rivers, and the Chargers held on for the win.
Troubling trend: The Chargers still can’t stop the run. Entering the contest, the Bears averaged just 70 rushing yards a contest, No. 28 in the NFL. However, the Bolts allowed the Bears to roll up 150 yards on the ground, led by David Montgomery’s 133 yards on 26 carries. The Chargers are consistently getting beat at the line of scrimmage and giving up big plays in the running game.
QB breakdown: Rivers completed 19 of 29 passes for 201 yards, a touchdown to Ekeler and an interception. Although he wasn’t at this best on Sunday against a stout Bears’ defense, Rivers recorded his 400 career touchdown pass, making him the sixth quarterback in to accomplish that feat, joining Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and Dan Marino.