SLIDE IS OVER
Behind efficient Herbert, Chargers score early and often to beat Bears, end skid
INGLEWOOD ❯❯ The Chargers' 30-13 victory over the Chicago Bears was many different things at many different times Sunday night at SoFi Stadium. It was dominating. It was comprehensive. It was efficient. Mostly, though, it was cathartic and a reminder of the team they could be.
By defeating the Bears, the Chargers put a halt to a two-game losing streak that threatened to derail their season before the first chill of autumn. By winning in such commanding fashion Sunday, it also underscored their unfulfilled promise through the season's first seven weeks.
Why did it take until Week 8 for the Chargers (3-4) to put it all together?
“We've just got to put one foot in front of the other,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said. “We've just got to go one day at a time here. That's what we did last week (in practice) and that's what, I think, led to us being fresh and focused. We weren't looking too far out in the future.”
Justin Herbert served as the Chargers' capable guide against Chicago, leading them to scores on their first five possessions and a 27-7 lead midway through the third quarter. He completed 31 of 40 passes for 298 yards and three touchdowns by game's end, rebounding from two lackluster games.
Wide receiver Keenan Allen caught eight passes for 69 yards and running back Austin Ekeler caught seven passes for 94 yards and one touchdown, his 30th career receiving touchdown. Tight end Donald Parham Jr. and wide receiver Simi Fehoko also caught touchdown passes from Herbert.
The Chargers defense was as good as their offense and limited the Bears (2-6) to only 13 points. They defended Chicago's passing and running games with equal effectiveness. They created momentum
for the offense, which in turn created momentum for the defense — a rarity in the 2023 season.
“It was complementary football,” Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. said. “We (the defense) stopped them and then the offense went and scored. That's complementary football. That's the football we want to play. All of the (games) we need to win, I feel like, but definitely we need to win this game, for sure.”
Outside linebacker Joey Bosa, rebounding from a broken left big toe and a hamstring injury, had a first-quarter sack of Bears rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent, setting an early tone for the Chargers defense.
James, in the fourth quarter, and Ja'Sir Taylor, in the second, had interceptions.
Cameron Dicker kicked field goals of 43, 53 and 46 yards for the Chargers.
“It don't mean anything,” James said of the relevance of the Chargers' most complete victory of the season. “We've got to stack it, man. We wanted to get it, but we've got to stack it one game at a time. We got the win over here, but we've got to move on to New York next week.”
The Chargers play the Jets on Monday Night Football next week.
“We've got to make sure we stay level and don't get too emotional on either side (high or low), and come back Wednesday in practice and, `Hey, all right, let's do it again,' ” Ekeler said of building on Sunday's victory. “Let's have the same energy and get a win on Monday Night Football.”
Herbert took off the glove he wore for added protection of his fractured left middle finger during the Chargers' losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys. He said the glove helped him grip the football better, but the results were less than stellar after he was hurt Oct. 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
In fact, Herbert hardly looked like the same quarterback against the Bears. He completed 15 consecutive passes for 142 yards to start Sunday's game, throwing touchdown passes of 39 yards to Ekeler and 9 to Fehoko. The Chargers built a 17-0 lead with 8:50 left in the first half.
After the Bears cut the Chargers' lead to 177, Herbert drove them 75 yards in nine plays in 1:43 in an effective twominute drill. He zipped a pass to tight end Donald Parham Jr. for an 11-yard touchdown, with Parham dragging tacklers into the end zone with 4 seconds left in the half.
Suddenly, the Chargers led 24-7.
“I thought it was clean football,” Staley said of the first half. “There were no turnovers, no sacks, no penalties, and then you get the result. You get a 24-7 lead.
“I thought we were really good in the run game defense. I thought we put a roof on the coverage. That's what you're after, to play clean football.”