HOW THEY MATCH UP

TONIGHT, 5: 15, ESPN

When Chargers have the ball: Rookie Justin Herbert will make his fourth consecutive start but first as the team’s publicly acknowledged No. 1 quarterback. He’ll be without at least one significant weapon because of injury, with running back Austin Ekeler ( hamstring) going on injured reserve. Wide receiver Mike Williams also has a hamstring issue and is questionable. The Chargers are down two starting offensive linemen as well. But all those absences didn’t prevent Herbert from playing so well in a Week 4 loss at Tampa Bay. He had a perfect passer rating entering the fourth quarter. The New Orleans defense has to look a little more inviting than the Buccaneers’ pressurebased, run- stuffing front seven. The Saints have surrendered nearly 31 points per game and are last in the NFL in red- zone defense, allowing touchdowns on 82.4% of possessions. The latter fact could be vital Monday. With Herbert, the Chargers have been capable of sustaining drives and amassing yards. Their issue has been pushing possessions into the end zone. Against Tampa Bay, Herbert f lexed quick- strike ability by hitting Tyron Johnson for a 53- yard score and Jalen Guyton for a 72- yard touchdown. Johnson and Guyton are littleknown speedsters who might have caught the Buccaneers unaware. Everyone is fully cognizant of Keenan Allen, the Chargers’ three- time Pro Bowl wide receiver who led the AFC with 32 receptions entering Week 5. When Saints have the ball: Drew Brees has spent most of this season hearing all about the sad, petering- out end of his otherwise brilliant career. At 41, he has been the subject of rampant debate about whether he’s completely washed up or simply beyond repair. He has regained some shine the past two weeks, throwing for five touchdowns and completing 79% of his attempts. The Saints had thought they might have No. 1 weapon Michael Thomas ( ankle) back this week, but the wide receiver was ruled out Sunday because of disciplinary reasons. He already has missed three games. Facing Brees means the Chargers will, in back- to- back games, go against quarterbacks who are a combined 84 years old. Herbert is 22. Tom Brady hardly acted his age last week, especially in the second half when he lit up the Chargers. Coach Anthony Lynn explained that his defense was guilty of blown assignments and miscommunication in the secondary while allowing the Buccaneers to erase a 17- point second- quarter deficit. “We had some busted assignments,” Lynn said. “It’s that simple.” A repeat performance could leave the Chargers’ defense torched in consecutive weeks by the NFL’s two oldest players. When they kick: The Chargers’ Michael Badgley is seven for nine on field- goal tries and eight for eight on extra points. New Orleans’ Wil Lutz has made all 21 of his attempts — six field goals, 15 extra points. By the numbers: Per- game averages except for sacks and turnovers. NFL rank in parentheses: