CARSON (CNS) - Los Angeles Chargers coach Anthony Lynn acknowledged “there wasn't a whole lot to get excited about” over the first three quarters when they were limited to Michael Badgley's 40-yard first-quarter field goal.
Rookie quarterback Easton Stick entered the game with 16 seconds left in the third quarter, and drove the Chargers to touchdowns on their next two possessions in a 23-15 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in a preseason game in Carson.
“I thought Stick came in and did a good job the way he led the guys down the field,” Lynn said. “He made some nice throws. I like the way he stayed in the pocket and the pressure came at him and he delivered the mail down the field.
Stick completed five of six passes for 41 yards and scrambled for a 10- yard gain on the first play on his first possession, setting up his 8-yard touchdown pass to Andre Patton.
“I started looking left and didn't see anybody open,” Stick said about the touchdown pass. “The line protected really well. I had all the time in the world. Andre did a good job separating for his guy and made a play.”
Ty Long's first conversion attempt of the preseason was wide left.
Stick completed five of six passes for 41 yards the next time the Chargers had the ball to set up his 4-yard touchdown run with three minutes, 22 seconds left, eight plays after Michael Dickson's 33-yard punt went out of bounds at the Seahawks 45-yard line.
Long's conversion attempt was blocked.
The Chargers (0-3) forced Seattle to punt after three plays on the ensuing possession, getting the ball back on their own 48-yard line with 2:47 to play and one time out remaining.
Stick completed a 4-yard pass to Detrez Newsome on the first play, then threw three consecutive incomplete passes to turn the ball over on downs. Justice Liggins slipped to the ground on the final play.
Lynn called the final pass “a nice throw.”
The Seahawks then ran out the final 1:55 before a crowd at Dignity Health Sports Park announced at 23,377.
Stick, who is competing with Cardale Jones to be the third-string quarterback behind Philip Rivers and Tyrod Taylor, completed 12 of 16 passes for 82 yards.
The Chargers were outgained, 367 yards to 280, trailed 24-17 in first downs and 33:30-26:30 in time of possession.
Taylor made his third consecutive start at quarterback for the Chargers, completed six of nine passes for 61 yards on their first three possessions.
The Chargers punted after three plays on their first possession, drove 58 yards on 12 plays for Badgley's field goal on their second, and failed to convert on a fourth-and-1 play on their third when Taylor fumbled, the ball was recovered by tight end Hunter Henry, who was stopped for no gain.
Jones completed four of five passes for 50 yards in his two possessions, one which ended when receiver Troymaine Pope was tackled for a 2- yard loss on fourth-and 1 from Seattle's 15-yard line and the other with the Chargers being forced to punt after three plays.
Russell Wilson guided Seattle (2-1) to touchdowns on two of his three possessions, a 3-yard run by Rashaad Penny and a 1-yard run C.J. Prosise, both in the second quarter.
Wilson completed six of nine passes for 73 yards.
Former Charger Geno Smith replaced Wilson 1:48 before halftime, completing four of his first seven passes for 27 yards and scrambling for an 11- yard gain to set up Jason Myers 58-yard field goal with two seconds left in the first half.
Smith completed 11 of 18 passes for 117 yards and ran eight yards for a touchdown with 16 seconds left in the third quarter in six possessions.
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