Quarterback Justin Herbert's breakout rookie season continued Sunday as he threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score to lead the host Los Angeles Chargers to a 39-29 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Herbert picked up his first win as a starter, completing 27 of 43 passes for 347 yards and running for 66 yards on nine attempts to help the Chargers (2-4) snap a four-game losing streak. The Jaguars (1-6) suffered their sixth consecutive loss.
According to ESPN Stats and Info, the Jaguars became the third team in NFL history to allow 30 or more points in six consecutive games in a single season.
The Jaguars gained only 14 yards on their first 12 plays and didn't record a first down until the 10:28 mark in the second quarter.
But Jacksonville's offense ignited in the second quarter down 16-0 behind quarterback Gardner Minshew, who completed 14 of 27 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie running back James Robinson rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.
But Herbert brought the Chargers back twice during a wild third quarter that featured a combined 35 points.
Herbert's 26-yard touchdown pass to veteran tight end Virgil Green with 5:34 left in the period gave the Chargers a 22-21 edge.
Minshew answered Herbert's score on the ensuing drive with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Chris Conley, and followed that with a two-point conversion pass to Ben Ellefson to give Jacksonville a 29-22 lead.
But Herbert would help the Chargers score the final 17 points of the game, first by answering the Jaguars' score with a 70-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Guyton.
The Chargers' special teams made a game-changing play on the ensuing kickoff when Tevaughn Campbell stripped receiver Dede Westbrook of the ball and Troymaine Pope recovered at the Jaguars' 19-yard line. Four plays later, Herbert rolled to his right and dove for the goal line scoring on a 5-yard touchdown run that put the Chargers ahead for good with five seconds left in the third.
Westbrook was carted off the field with a serious leg injury on the final play of the third quarter, according to Jacksonville.com. His knee appeared to give out as he made a cut, and as he was tackled, a cry could be heard from the field.
--Field Level Media
Jacksonville | L.A. Chargers | |
James Robinson | Player | Justin Herbert |
22 | Attempts | 9 |
119 | Yards | 66 |
5.4 | Avg Yards | 7.3 |
1 | Touchdowns | 1 |
22 | Long | 31 |
Jacksonville | L.A. Chargers | |
Laviska Shenault Jr. | Player | Keenan Allen |
3 | Receptions | 10 |
44 | Yards | 125 |
14.7 | Avg Yards | 12.5 |
0 | Touchdowns | 0 |
36 | Long | 27 |
Yards | Scoring | Defense | ||||||
Team | Tot | Rus | Pas | TD | FG | INT | Sck | FF |
Jacksonville | 294 | 140 | 154 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 |
L.A. Chargers | 484 | 135 | 349 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5.0 | 1 |