Los Angeles and Jacksonville entered Sunday afternoon seeking their second wins of the season. Rookie quarterback Justin Herbert deserves a lot of credit for the poise and hard work he’s shown since taking over starting duties in just the second game of the season. The hard work paid off Sunday with Herbert receiving his first career win as a starter.
The Chargers defeated the Jaguars in a high scoring affair 39-29.
“To put together four quarters like that was huge for us today, it was a big step forward,” said Herbert.
Herbert looked fantastic Sunday. The rookie threw for 347 yards three touchdowns and rushed for 66 yards tacking on a rushing touchdown.
The rookie was in a groove early. Herbert got the day started with a read-option run down the sideline for 31 yards showing his elusive mobility.
With five seconds left in the first quarter, Chargers wide receiver Joe Reed collected the first touchdown of the day on a 12-yard jet sweep prancing into the endzone on behalf of great blocking.
The Chargers continued to strike the Jaguars. The Bolts increased their lead to 16-0 with 10:34 left in the second quarter on a 22-yard touchdown pass from Herbert to tight end Donald Parham Jr.
After being shut out in the first quarter. Jacksonville flashed signs of life in the second quarter. Running back James Robinson put the Jags on his back finishing the half with 82 rushing yards, 15 receiving yards, along with a rushing and receiving touchdown.
James Robinson salvaged the first half for the Jags scoring a one-yard touchdown and adding rushing up the middle once again for the successful 2-point conversion trimming the Bolts lead 16-8.
Once again Robinson was at the hand of another score. Gardner Minshew tossed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Robinson with 17 seconds left on the clock swinging the momentum in Jacksonville’s favor heading into the second half.
Straight out of halftime the Jaguars blocked a Chargers punt returning it for a touchdown less than two minutes into the half to take a 21-16 lead on the Bolts.
Herbert led the Chargers down the field on a 42-yard drive. A sailing throw dropping in the back right left corner of the endzone found tight end Virgil Green, as the Bolts regained the lead 22-21.
The Jags threw a haymaker back at the Bolts. Minshew dropped an absolute dime to his speedy wide receiver Chris Conley connecting for a 28-yard touchdown gaining a 29-22 lead after a successful two-point conversion attempt.
In just two plays and 58 seconds, the Bolts drove 80 yards to even the score 29-29 on Jalen Guyton caught a 70-yard touchdown streaking catch down the sideline. On once again another perfect throw from Herbert.
“Growth. We could’ve easily said here we go again. I love the way the team fought back,” said Lynn on the Chargers’ resilience and not giving up.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Chargers forced kick return man Dede Westbrook to fumble at the 19-yard line leading to a Herbert five-yard rushing touchdown resulting in a 36-29 Chargers lead.
The exhausting back and forth affair finally came to a halt. Los Angeles sealed the win with a Michael Badgley 35-yard field goal increasing their record to 2-4 on the young season.
“Were swimming upstream. It’s going to take a lot of hard work,” said Lynn on the Chargers outlook the rest of the season.
The Chargers will aim to add to the win column next Sunday at 1:05 pm against the Broncos in Denver.
