The Chargers handled their business during a 27-17 victory Sunday over the Tennessee Titans, a game that marked one of Justin Herbert’s finest showings in four-plus seasons as their quarterback. Here’s what we learned, what we heard and what comes next after their third victory in a row:
BEAST-MODE HERBERT
Coach Jim Harbaugh couldn’t stop talking about Herbert, who has thrown for more yards and more touchdowns in his career than he did Sunday, but might never have been as accurate or as impactful as he was while completing 14 of 18 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown against the Titans.
Herbert’s passer rating was 123.1.
“I’m changing his name to Beast,” Harbaugh said in his opening remarks, after the Chargers improved their record to 6-3, thanks to their three-game winning streak and victories in four of five games since their bye week in the first week of October. “He’s Beast Herbert. Half man, half beast.”
Herbert didn’t mind Harbaugh’s postgame hyperbole one bit.
“I really appreciate it,” Herbert said. “He’s the best. To have a guy like that leading the team, it shows out there. You turn on the tape and everyone wants to play for him, wants to fight for him and the guys are playing energetic. They’re excited to be out there and they’re having fun.”
Herbert appears to be having as much fun as anyone. His pinpoint accuracy while passing the ball Sunday was remarkable. Of his four incompletions against the Titans, two were dropped and two were broken up in spectacular fashion. He never actually missed a target in 18 attempts.
He wasn’t intercepted for the seventh consecutive game. His only interception was during the Chargers’ victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 2.
But it was his running that lifted his teammates and the fans at SoFi Stadium to their feet, and not for the first time this season. He rushed for 32 yards and one touchdown on nine carries, although two attempts were kneel-downs for negative yards in order to run out the final seconds of the game.
Herbert isn’t content to take the easy route when he runs. No, he doesn’t automatically run to the sideline or slide to the turf to avoid tackles. Lately, he’s faked defenders off their feet with cutbacks and picked up additional, valuable, yardage. It might not be the smartest play, but it’s been successful.
“I think it’s a big part of our offense,” Herbert said. “You’re going through your reads and you’re trying to push the ball downfield and, if the defense is playing good coverage or guys are covered and the pressure gives up, you have to be able to break contain and go make something happen.”
O-LINE DEPTH SHINES
Right guard Trey Pipkins III couldn’t play against the Titans because of an ankle injury. Backup linemen Jamaree Salyer and Foster Sarell stepped up to replace Pipkins and the result was that Tennessee didn’t sack Herbert once and pressured him only a handful of times.
It was the first time Herbert wasn’t sacked in a game this season.
“It was our best game up front,” Harbaugh said. “I know I’ll see more when I watch the tape, but some tremendous pass blocking. Great job, Jamaree Salyer coming into the game, Foster Sarell. Both of them were interchanging there at guard (for Pipkins). To step in like that, I thought they did a tremendous job.”
IN THE MOMENT
Harbaugh said he would enjoy the Chargers’ victory over the Titans for a while Sunday night and then turn his attention to preparing to face the Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday night at SoFi Stadium. The celebration of the Chargers’ third consecutive victory would be short and sweet.
“For me, it’ll be the next six hours,” he said. “Those are going to be good enjoyment, then somewhere around the 5-hour, 5:30 mark, 6-hour 6:30 mark, it will hit me. It’ll just hit me that the Cincinnati Bengals are up next and we’re on to them. Then we’ll reset our battle rhythm. But right now, job well done.”
WHAT COMES NEXT
The Bengals (4-6) are up next for the Chargers at SoFi Stadium, then it’s the Baltimore Ravens (7-3) on Nov. 25 before they hit the road to play the Atlanta Falcons (6-4) and the Kansas City Chiefs (8-0). It’s not necessarily a make-or-break stretch, but it could reveal a great deal about the Chargers.