Justin Herbert and LA Chargers hand Las Vegas Raiders first loss of the season.
The Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 28-14 on Monday night,
with Justin Herbert throwing three touchdowns and Austin Ekeler rushing for a career-high 117 yards and two scores.
For the first time since 2014, Los Angeles is 3-1 and tied for first place in the AFC West with Las Vegas and Denver.
After the Raiders‘ loss, the Arizona Cardinals are the only unbeaten club in the NFL after four weeks.
Justin Herbert is quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s finest young players.
Will all four teams in the AFC West,
which is incredibly stacked, make the playoffs?
Brandon Staley, the Chargers’ first-year coach,
was happy with his team’s offensive balance and ability to stick to the game plan.
Los Angeles controlled the ball for almost 35 minutes,
with three of their four scoring drives spanning nine or more plays.
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“We were patient, and I felt we had a nice combination of running and passing.
Justin was really patient, and Austin really came to life tonight,” he added.
As the Chargers established a 21-0 halftime lead, Herbert accounted for all of his touchdown touchdowns in the first half, completing 25 of 38 passes for 222 yards.
The Raiders scored on their opening two drives of the second half to get within a touchdown,
but Ekeler’s 11-yard run-off left guard gave Los Angeles some breathing space.
On fourth-and-two from midfield, Herbert made the crucial play of the drive,
a 13-yard connection to Jared Cook.
In winning, Herbert set a few records.
19th start, he threw his 500th pass, becoming the only quarterback in the Super Bowl era to do it before his 20th.
In his first three prime-time games, he has accounted for 10 touchdowns,
matching Patrick Mahomes and Dan Marino.
In the second quarter, Ekeler, who had 145 total yards, scored a touchdown catch.
Derek Carr completed 21 of 34 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns while throwing an interception.
Against a Chargers team that ranked worst in the league in run defense,
the Raiders could only muster 48 yards on the ground.
“We can’t come out in the first round and absorb that many blows.
Raiders coach Jon Gruden remarked, “I’m pleased of our players for showing fortitude to get up and keep battling, but that was crazy tonight.” “They pounced on us in all three phases,
and we found a way to turn it into a football game and give ourselves a chance, but it’s just too difficult in this league against strong teams.”
The Chargers received the first kickoff and drove 75 yards in 12 plays.
On the drive, Herbert completed all six of his throws,
including a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Donald Parham in the end zone to put them up 7-0.
Los Angeles scored on the last two drives of the first half to increase their advantage to 21-0 at halftime. Herbert’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Cook was set up three plays earlier by a 41-yard connection to a wide-open Stephen Anderson on the Raiders‘ 12.
The Chargers embarked on a nine-play drive after the Raiders went three-and-out.
He completed his last five throws, including a 14-yard touchdown screen to Ekeler.
In the first half, Las Vegas was limited to only one first down and 51 net yards,
but it adjusted after halftime and scored on its first two drives of the second half.
The Raiders took the third-quarter kickoff and scored on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Carr to Hunter Renfrow.
With 1:44 left in the third quarter,
Darren Waller grabbed a three-yard pass to pull Las Vegas within a touchdown.
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