Justin Herbert and Chargers dominate in victory over Vikings
The offense topped 30 points for the first time all season.
The defense went from rattled to relentless.
What about special teams? The Chargers made three field goals in their 37-10 loss to Minnesota on Thursday night, but that’s what they did. doesn’t doing this was most resounding.
For the first time in four years, the Chargers couldn’t punt.
What a turnaround for a team that was embarrassed on home soil four days earlier.
“They just decided they weren’t going to get denied,” said Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, whose team came out of a tailspin in dramatic fashion after losing three of its previous four games.
The wire-to-wire victory was sweet redemption for a Chargers defense that faltered significantly Sunday in a 38-24 loss to Indianapolis.
On Thursday night, in front of a national audience, Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz was drowning in a sea of ​​navy-clad defenders, with the Chargers sacking him five times, rarely allowing him to settle into the pocket, and finally prompting him to throw his helmet in frustration on the Minnesota sideline.
“We just wanted guys to stay fresh and evolve and just call the right calls,” linebacker Troy Dye said. “It’s easy when you can drop seven or eight guys and only bring four. It’s a fun time to play like that.”
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert throws during the second half against the Vikings on Thursday.
(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)
The Chargers transformed the defensive gem without the services of All-Pro safety Derwin James Jr., the team’s leading tackler this season, who left the second quarter with an ankle injury. His replacement, Tony Jefferson, was also hampered by a hamstring injury. That left those duties to rookie safety RJ Mickens, who recovered an interception early in the fourth quarter.
The Vikings converted just three of 11 third downs. Chargers defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe had two sacks, and Tuli Tuipulotu, Khalil Mack and Odafe Oweh contributed one each.
Mickens was one of several promising Chargers who made an impact, including running back Kimani Vidal, promoted from the practice squad in Week 6, who rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown.
The 207 rushing yards – 62 by quarterback Justin Herbert – were the most for the Chargers since Week 2 of the Harbaugh era last season. This is exactly the type of dominance espoused by the coach who is so enamored with establishing a ground attack. And Herbert had 25 pass attempts, less than half (55) in the loss to the Colts.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert carries the ball during the second half against the Vikings on Thursday.
(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)
The decisive victory propels the Chargers into their mini-bye on a high note, erasing some of the bitter taste of last month. Their next game will be against the Tennessee Titans on November 2. That means the Chargers will have more time to heal, a vital recovery for a team so out of whack.
Herbert threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns. He got off to a bad start, however, with an apparent interception on his second snap. He threw a short pass to his left that ended up in the hands of diving cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, who stood up and returned the pick for an 18-yard touchdown.
The play was called off, however, when replays showed the ball hitting the turf and moving as it hit the ground.
After surviving that scare, the Chargers took advantage of their new life with a 14-play touchdown drive capped by an eight-yard touchdown run by rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II.
Chargers safety RJ Mickens (27) shows his excitement after intercepting a pass from Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz in the second half on Thursday.
(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)
“Great people are measured by what they do After something’s wrong,” Harbaugh said of Herbert’s response. “After an interception – that’s the worst thing that can really happen to you as a quarterback – then plot out what they’re going to do with the next drive.”
The coach said that kind of mistake would “shake” a lot of quarterbacks, but not Herbert.
“Having been in this position, I know what it’s like,” Harbaugh said. “I mean, it’s like your brain is burning. It’s like sirens and whistles and bells are going off. And being able to go ‘3, 2, 1, let it go,’ and then come back and score points. That’s still an exercise for the best of the best.”
Herbert has been pressured and hit more than any NFL quarterback this season, but he had much better protection Thursday night, thanks in large part to the return of left tackle Joe Alt.
The Chargers took a 21-3 lead through the first two quarters, a reverse version of what happened in the Colts game, when they found themselves in a 23-3 gap at halftime.
This time, the Chargers had 29 first downs to 12 for the Vikings.
The defensive performance was much closer to what the Chargers might have achieved last season when they led the AFC in allowing just 18.5 points per game. In the three games leading up to Thursday, they had allowed an average of 30.6 points.
If the Chargers have proven anything, it’s that they’re not just scorers. They are also rebounders.
