Just five days prior at SoFi Stadium, Justin Herbert was chasing points all game and put up some monster numbers.
Back at home on Thursday, Herbert dazzled again with far more favorable results.
Herbert threw for three touchdowns for the second straight game, leading the Los Angeles Chargers to an impressive 37-10 win at home over the Minnesota Vikings.
“Yeah, a big win for us,” said Herbert, who propelled the Chargers to 5-3 after dropping three of their past four. “A big opportunity for us to go correct some of our mistakes. And I thought all three phases did that. It was just good to see a Chargers win today.”
On the night, Herbert completed 18 of 25 passes for 227 yards, the three TDs, one interception and a 122.8 passer rating, while also rushing for 62 yards on eight carries. It was his third career game with three or more TD tosses and 50-plus rushing yards, a stat no other Chargers QB in history has ever produced, according to NFL Research.
On Sunday in a 38-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Herbert and the Bolts trailed by as many as 21 points, so his final line of 37-of-55 passing with a career-high 420 yards, three TDs and two interceptions was a bit misleading.
On Thursday, Herbert led the way from the start, carving up the Vikings, standing tall against their blitz and overcoming a couple of blemishes. Herbert responded to both of them -- a near interception in the first quarter and an INT in the third -- in resounding fashion.
“It’s just another thing about Justin Herbert that I don’t know how he does it,” L.A. head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “It’s nothing but respect. You know, to be able to actually throw an interception and then come back the next drive. That’s the great ones who can do that. The great, great ones. Just measure what they do after something goes bad, after there’s an interception. That’s the worst thing that can really happen to you as a quarterback. And then chart what they do with the next drive, you know, that near interception -- that shakes a lot of guys. Not Justin Herbert, not the great ones, you know, back right down the field. After that near interception and touchdown drive. After the interception on the tip, (he) puts together another drive, another scoring drive and another one after that. It’s incredible.”
The first of those negative plays might well have been the most pivotal turn of the game.
On their opening drive, Herbert and L.A. were on their 14-yard line facing second-and-13 when he threw a low ball that was intercepted by Josh Metellus. Metellus’ pick was overturned though, with replay showing it hit the ground without him securing the catch.
So, instead of Herbert heading to the sidelines, he promptly converted on third-and-13 to Keenan Allen for 17 yards. Thereafter, Herbert continued to march his charges on a 14-play, 83-yard salvo that ended with him throwing a bullet over the middle to emerging rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II for a 9-yard touchdown in between a pair of Vikings defenders.
Minnesota’s defense sacked Herbert twice and hit him eight times, bringing his NFL-high total to 70 hits taken. Herbert stood tall in the face of Brian Flores’ blitzing defense, completing 13 of 15 passes against it for 162 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Herbert hooked up with top target Ladd McConkey with just 45 seconds left in the first half for a 27-yard touchdown and hit rookie Tre Harris for the youngster’s first NFL score in the fourth.
“I go back and watch these tapes and it’s so rare that he doesn’t see it or read it or know the exact coverage and where to go with the ball,” Harbaugh said. “When it’s all covered, he did a great job tonight running and picking up first downs with his athleticism. Just another stellar performance by Justin Herbert.”
The Harris TD was impressive in showcasing Herbert’s resolve, as it followed an interception and subsequent Vikings score to cut the deficit to 24-10. If there were any illusions of a crazy Vikings comeback, Herbert snuffed them out with his retort.
That was the theme on Thursday: Herbert and the Chargers’ ability to rebound.
One of the talks of the NFL town after starting the season 3-0, the Chargers dropped to 4-3 after Sunday’s drubbing at the hooves of the Colts.
The Bolts bounced back in a big way on Thursday though, with Herbert leading the way.