Herbert Leads Bolts With 4 TD Passes – Take Down KC

September 27, 2021 Chargers News and Information

The play that became the game-winning touchdown for the Chargers was supposed to be a run. Justin Herbert told Mike Williams, "Be ready for the fade." Herbert threw it, Williams caught it.

They went for it on fourth down early in the fourth quarter and again late in the fourth quarter.
They called a running play in the final minute but included the option to pass if the young quarterback thought it was best.
At the most crucial moments Sunday, Brandon Staley turned over the Chargers’ game to Justin Herbert, and Herbert delivered his coach a dramatic, dynamic victory.
“We want to put the ball in Justin Herbert’s hand,” Staley explained later, “and have him be the decider.”
Herbert’s decisions — along with his glaring talent and the shiny weapons he has orbiting around him — led the Chargers to a 30-24 win over Kansas City, the franchise that has owed the AFC the past two seasons.
The win represented a stunning bounce back for Herbert and the Chargers, who lost in Week 2 at home to Dallas amid a barrage of mistakes, most of which were self-induced.
“You have to win games like this on the road in this league in order to separate yourself,” safety Derwin James said. “We had a bad taste in our mouth from last week … But we came back. We didn’t pout, and we came back stronger.”
The Chargers (2-1) won after blowing a 14-3 halftime lead and falling behind first in the third quarter and again in the fourth quarter.
They won despite giving up 17 consecutive points and barely possessing the ball — the Chiefs ran 36 offensive plays to the Chargers’ nine — during one stretch.
They won even though they finished with fewer first downs and total yards and more penalties and punts.
The Chargers scored the winning points when Herbert hit Mike Williams for a 4-yard touchdown with 32 seconds remaining.
As the offense broke the huddle, the plan was to run the ball. But Herbert liked the outside matchup of the 6-foot-4 Williams against 5-10 cornerback Mike Hughes.
Williams had torched Hughes for a 20-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter and again for a 16-yard gain immediately before the final score. This time, he ran a fade and easily topped Hughes a third time.
“Justin trusted me to go make a play,” Williams said. “I went up and made a play.”
The fifth-year receiver finished with seven catches for 122 yards and his two scores. He has 22 receptions for 295 yards and four touchdowns through three games.
The Chargers only had a chance late because of what their defense did, especially early. Asante Samuel Jr. had his second interception of the season and Tevaughn Campbell forced two fumbles — all on Kansas City’s first three possessions.
Second-year safety Alohi Gilman had his first career pickoff late in the fourth quarter as the Chargers won the turnover battle 4-0, a statistic Staley said “was as impactful as anything in the game.”

Mike Williams gets the go-ahead TD! Chargers get the win ⚡️ https://t.co/tbjynsiQVX

— PFF LA Chargers (@PFF_Chargers) September 26, 2021

Staley followed through on his pregame promises to be aggressive.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, he decided to not attempt a long field goal and allow Herbert and the offense to go for it on fourth-and-4 at the Kansas City 28-yard line.
Herbert hit Keenan Allen for 9 yards. Just two plays later, he and Williams hooked up for their 20-yard score to put the Chargers up 21-17.
In the final minute, Staley opted to again pass on a long field goal try on fourth-and-four at the Kansas City 30. Following a false start on rookie left tackle Rashawn Slater, Staley stayed with that decision.
Herbert fired a shot to Jalen Guyton, who failed to make the catch but did draw a pass interference penalty. This time, it was three plays later that Herbert and Williams teamed up for a touchdown, Herbert’s fourth scoring pass of the day.
“I felt like all of our decisions were sound decisions,” Staley said. “They weren’t over aggressive. I felt like they were just aggressive.” By Jeff Miller LA TIMES

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