Girls and gents, the victorious Justin Herbert.
Give him a hand.
(The Chargers want you would.)
Herbert, who has been knocked round all season however thus far had averted harm, noticed that streak come to a disappointing finish Sunday, although the Chargers walked away with a 31-14 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. It was the Chargers’ most lopsided victory within the rivalry since 2008.
The spiral-slinging star quarterback sustained a damaged bone in his left (non-throwing) hand that can require him to endure a medical process on Monday, coach Jim Harbaugh mentioned. Harbaugh mentioned he didn’t know if Herbert will miss time due to the harm, however Herbert instructed reporters he’s approaching the week as if he’ll play within the Chargers’ subsequent recreation in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 8.
Herbert solely missed a part of one sequence in opposition to the Raiders and would lead his group to an AFC West win, however he was restricted.
He needed to function out of shotgun, versus being beneath heart, wasn’t as sharp and correct as he sometimes is, and guarded a gloved left hand that regarded borrowed from a Macy’s model. He was nonetheless higher than most NFL quarterbacks, although, even with one hand basically tied behind his again. He accomplished 15 of 20 passes for 151 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception.
Herbert’s harm is an ominous signal for a franchise going through a brutally tough end to the common season with remaining video games in opposition to Philadelphia, Kansas Metropolis, Dallas, Houston and Denver. The Chargers must win no less than two of these for a sensible probability of constructing the postseason.
Sunday, the groups have been tied 7-7 at halftime. The Chargers (8-4) scored with a 10-yard landing reception by Quentin Johnston on the opening possession, and the Raiders answered within the second quarter with a six-yard landing catch by Brock Bowers.
Raiders quarterback Geno Smith was intercepted as soon as within the half by Tony Jefferson, who made an acrobatic snare of a tipped go on the sideline, and the guests answered by selecting off Herbert in the long run zone.
Chargers working again Kimani Vidal broke that tie within the third quarter with a 59-yard landing run, and his group would widen that lead with a seven-yard landing reception by Ladd McConkey late within the quarter. Vidal completed with 126 yards in 25 carries and McConkey led the Chargers’ receivers with 39 yards on 4 catches.
Followers cheer as Chargers working again Kimani Vidal scores on a 59-yard landing run within the third quarter Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Instances)
The Chargers’ protection put the clamps on the Raiders (2-10), limiting them to 31yards dashing and one first down on the bottom. Las Vegas has gone a franchise-record seven consecutive video games with lower than 75 yards dashing — a stat made worse by the actual fact the Raiders used the sixth total choose final spring on working again Ashton Jeanty.
Smith was sacked 4 occasions and threw for 125 yards on 18-of-23 passing.
The Raiders did have a spectacular spotlight, a one-handed, ankle-high landing catch by a falling Bowers within the fourth quarter. It was his second landing catch in three performs, as the primary was nullified as a result of Harbaugh had referred to as timeout an immediate earlier than the snap.
Herbert sustained the harm with about 5 minutes remaining within the opening quarter when he stepped up within the pocket, scrambled to his left and gained a yard earlier than being tackled by security Jeremy Chinn. The quarterback’s left hand collided with the defender’s helmet.
Though Herbert popped to his toes and threw a landing go on the following play, TV replays would later zoom in on his hand as he made his solution to the sideline and the tip of his finger seemed to be bent in an unnatural method.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is sacked by Raiders defensive finish Maxx Crosby within the third quarter Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Instances)
Beating the Raiders was non-negotiable. Las Vegas had come into the sport having misplaced 9 of its final 10 video games, and contemporary off a two-touchdown residence loss to Cleveland wherein Smith was sacked 10 occasions.
It has been a woeful yr for first-year Raiders coach Pete Carroll, who final week bid farewell to offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Greg Olson changed him as interim playcaller and was equally unsuccessful. What occurs in Vegas stays in Vegas — or so prays the remainder of the league.
So dispirited are Raiders followers {that a} recreation that’s sometimes a silver-and-black takeover of SoFi Stadium was far nearer to 50/50.
The Chargers, in the meantime, have struggled to recapture the magic of September after they opened the season with three consecutive division victories. Accidents have made {that a} fantasy, as they’ve gone 5-4 since together with blowout losses to Washington, Indianapolis and Jacksonville.
