ALLEN IS CHARGING ON

The wide receiver has made waves and helped energize the Chargers' offense at age 33

- BY SAM FARMER

ALLEN J. SCHABEN Los Angeles Times THE CHARGERS' Keenan Allen, celebrating a touchdown against the Broncos, is seven receptions from 1,000 on his career and may set the record for fastest to do it.

Raw speed was never his game, and maybe that helps explain why Keenan Allen has aged so gracefully in his NFL receiving career.

"Father Time isn't really nipping at his heels because he was never a 4.3 guy," said Hall of Fame receiver James Lofton, referring to Allen's time in the 40-yard dash. "He's like a designated hitter in baseball or a great three-point shooter in basketball. Those players are always going to be there, and he has the ability to make them."

Allen, who could make NFL history Sunday when the Chargers play at the New York Giants, runs his routes with surgical precision and has Houdini hands, typically emerging with the football even when a defender is superglued to him.

"I don't count on my speed to get open," said Allen, 33. "It's more like, in close spaces I've got to win."

In another sense, he might be the fastest pass catcher in NFL history. He needs seven more receptions to reach 1,000 for his career, likely doing so in fewer games than any player ever. Sunday will be his 158th game. As it stands, the fastest to 1,000 is Marvin Harrison in 167.

Allen has caught touchdown passes in all three games for the undefeated Chargers, including a 20-yarder against Denver last Sunday that was astounding on both ends — Matrix-like sidearmed sling by Justin Herbert and jaw-dropping catch by Allen who was wearing a defender like an overcoat.

"I was in the end-zone family section right behind him," Zach Maynard said. "I was in shock. I didn’t even know how to celebrate. It was one of those plays where you sit there and say, 'Oh, my God, did that actually just happen?'"

If Maynard was in shock, that’s saying something.