Derwin James Jr. was seated on the bench, mic’d up and providing running commentary on what would become a 27-21 victory for the Chargers in Week 1 over the Kansas City Chiefs in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He sat with fellow safeties Elijah Molden on his left and Alohi Gilman on his right.
In time, James moved past simply exhorting his teammates to “take it one play at a time” and “let’s go” and “they’re not going to lie down” to more insightful observations on what was playing out while he and his defensive teammates got ample rest in the latter part of the Sept. 5 game.
As the Chargers faced a critical 3rd-and-7 situation from their own 40-yard line during the fourth quarter, quarterback Justin Herbert dropped to pass and then connected with wide receiver Keenan Allen for a nine-yard gain and a first down at their own 49, continuing a drive toward a touchdown.
“Third down and Keenan,” James shouted, still seated on the bench, relaxing among his teammates, as if he expected nothing less than another big play from Herbert and Allen. “Easy. Third down and Keenan. I told you. Third down and Keenan. Y’all don’t know, but that’s like clockwork.”
Moments later, Herbert fired a 23-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Quentin Johnston. Cameron Dicker’s extra point gave the Chargers a 27-18 lead with 5:02 remaining. The Chargers would not give up their late lead and would put an end to a seven-game losing streak to Kansas City.
Herbert’s ability to forge connections with his receivers, especially Allen and especially while facing third downs, was a key part of their victory. It wasn’t the only reason they will take a 1-0 record into their “Monday Night Football” matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders, but it was the most important.
The Chargers were 7 for 13 on third down conversions with Herbert and Allen connecting on three of them. Overall, Allen caught a team-leading seven passes on 10 targets from Herbert for 68 yards and one touchdown in his first game back with the Chargers after spending last season with the Chicago Bears.
Allen’s touchdown, on a 3rd-and-3 from the Chiefs’ 11, gave the Chargers a 20-12 lead with 32 seconds left in the third quarter. It also capped a 12-play, 74-play drive that gave the Chargers’ defense a 7-minute, 33-second rest after the Chiefs’ 11-play, 80-yard TD drive took 5:53.
“Just feeding off each other, everybody wants the ball,” Allen said of the Chargers’ wide receiver corps when asked about the many targets Herbert could pick and choose from while throwing for 318 yards and three touchdowns against the Chiefs. “When that opportunity comes, you want to make the best of it.”
The Chargers’ receiving depth was on full display against the Chiefs, and if they’re going to defeat the Raiders on Monday, then it will have to be so again. Allen, Johnston, Ladd McConkey and tight end Tyler Conklin each caught passes totaling 50 yards or more in Week 1.
In all, Herbert completed passes to eight different targets.
In addition to Allen’s seven receptions, McConkey caught six passes for 74 yards; Johnston caught six passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns; Conklin caught two passes for 50 yards; Omarion Hampton caught two passes for 13 yards; and Will Dissly, Tre’ Harris and Najee Harris caught one each.
So, it wasn’t a one-man show with Allen making all the plays and it wasn’t just the wide receivers making them, either. Conklin and Dissly are tight ends and Hampton, a first-round draft pick, and Najee Harris are running backs. Tre’ Harris, a second-round pick, is a wide receiver.
“It was awesome, especially on third downs,” Herbert said. “They came up clutch. There were five or six of them (conversions) where we were behind the chains. The routes they ran to get separation like that and then to have the protection – I thought the offensive line did an incredible job – and with (Johnston), Ladd, Keenan making big plays on third downs, it’s only going to help our offense.”