Clutch pick by Asante Samuel Jr. and pass by Justin Herbert save Chargers
They built a 17-point lead on a day when their future Hall of Fame edge rusher was historically dominant, when they were plus-two in turnover margin, when they limited the opposition to one of 11 on third down, when they were facing a quarterback making his NFL debut.
Still, all of that wasn’t enough until Justin Herbert ignored his mangled left hand just long enough to use his healthy right one to throw the Chargers past Las Vegas 24-17 at SoFi Stadium.
“He’s got guts,” wide receiver Keenan Allen said. “Toughest man on the field.”
Added linebacker Eric Kendricks, “He’s a thug, obviously.”
Dismissing an arid second half offensively, Herbert hit Joshua Palmer with a 51-yard rainbow to convert a game-sealing third-and-10 just after the two-minute warning, allowing the offense to run out the clock and avoid disaster.
The Chargers won despite another failure on fourth down in the waning minutes. Yet, this alleged contender looks very suspect heading into off week.
Other than that play, the Chargers produced only 34 total yards and two first downs after halftime.
“You seen the throw,” Allen said. “We needed one play. Him and Josh went out there and made it.”
Herbert finished the game with an injured middle finger on his non-throwing hand. Afterward, he said the finger got caught in a helmet — the one belonging to the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby — following an interception late in the third quarter.
After spending several minutes in the sideline medical tent as backup Easton Stick began loosening, Herbert returned for the Chargers’ next possession without missing a play.
“There was never really a question,” he said of continuing in the game. “It was just get it fixed up, get it taped up and get back out there.”
Herbert wouldn’t disclose much more about the injury — the tip of the finger appeared to be damaged, via TV replay — repeatedly saying he didn’t have “all the details yet.” Asked if he could miss some time, Herbert said, “I’m not sure.”
The Chargers now enter their off week, giving Herbert additional time to heal. They don’t play again until Oct. 16, a Monday night against Dallas at SoFi Stadium.
“One of those things you have to monitor over the next couple days,” Herbert said of the injury, “and see how it goes.”
The Chargers opened a 24-7 halftime lead with Herbert running for two touchdowns and throwing for another before the offensive production suddenly and convincingly vanished.
It was then on the defense to hold off the Raiders and rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who was filling in for the injured Jimmy Garoppolo. Mostly behind Khalil Mack, the Chargers did just enough.
The veteran set a franchise record and personal best with six sacks, two of which resulted in fumbles. He finished with 10 tackles, Mack’s sacks pushing Las Vegas back 45 yards.
“Legendary,” rookie edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu said. “I’m just mind-blown to be honest. I didn’t think I’d ever witness anything like that. To see it in person is just crazy.”
Said defensive lineman Morgan Fox: “You just witnessed greatness. It was like watching someone in a flow state. He couldn’t be stopped.”
The other key defensive moment was supplied by cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., who intercepted O’Connell when the Raiders had first-and-goal at the Chargers’ three-yard line with 2:33 left.
Looking to tie the game, O’Connell instead was picked off by Samuel in the right flat. At that point, Las Vegas was down to one timeout — plus the two-minute warning — with the real estate deep in the Chargers’ territory precious.
But Samuel, with open space in front of him, slid and gave himself up at the 11-yard line, setting up the Raiders for one more potential possession if their defense could get a stop.
Afterward, Samuel said he mistook coach Brandon Staley’s sideline celebration for signaling him to go down. “I was just trying to do what coach was telling me,” he said.
“That’s one that we’re going to learn from,” Staley said. “… We’ll have plenty of teachable moments [Monday], and I assure you that it will be addressed.”
Breaking down the notable numbers behind the Chargers’ 24-17 home victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday — scoring and statistics.
It was the second time this season that a Chargers defensive back made a regrettable decision following an interception near the goal line.
In the season opener, J.C. Jackson opted to try to return a pickoff of Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa from the end zone, the move eventually leading to a Dolphins’ touchdown one possession later.
Thanks to Herbert’s 51-yard hookup with Palmer, Samuel’s miscue didn’t cost the Chargers anything more than additional angst.
The completion also dulled at least slightly the spotlight that would have seared again on another failed fourth-quarter fourth down for the Chargers.
A week after similarly gifting Minnesota a late short field in a tight game, Staley left his offense on the field for fourth-and-one at the Chargers’ 34-yard line with 3:34 remaining.
An attempted sneak by Herbert was stopped for no gain just like a run by Joshua Kelley was stuffed by the Vikings.
“It would have really put us in good position to finish the game and put them in a really tough situation,” Staley said. “We felt like our defense was playing at a high level. We didn’t get the job done.”
The Chargers didn’t get a lot done in the second half Sunday, until their ailing quarterback made them all feel better with a throw that landed like a knockdown punch.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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