HERBERT LOSES DUEL TO BRADY
Justin Herbert completed 80 percent of his attempts Sunday, threw three expertly placed balls for touchdowns and, entering the fourth quarter, had a perfect passer rating.
Bucs 38, Chargers 31
But a handoff — of all things — torpedoed what was setting up to be an epic day for the rookie in a developing shootout with Tom Brady, a cinch Hall of Famer and a quarterback widely considered to be the greatest.
Herbert and Josh Kelley had a less-than-clean exchange late in the first half, the miscue resulting in a Kelley fumble.
Tampa Bay used the gift to score an unexpected touchdown and launch a roaring comeback that ended as a 38-31 Chargers defeat at Raymond James Stadium.
“Those two guys, they have to make that exchange,” said coach Anthony Lynn, who called the mistake “inexcusable.” “Something we work (on) every day. If you can’t hand the ball off cleanly then something ’s wrong, you know?”
Herbert explained the turnover as being more a product of penetration from the Buccaneers’ Ndamukong Suh, who was credited with causing the fumble.
Three plays later, Brady connected with Mike Evans for a 6-yard touchdown as Tampa Bay began erasing a 17-point Chargers lead.
“I think that’s just one of those plays where the Dlineman made a great play and knocked it out,” Herbert said. Asked specifically about the exchange, he said, “It felt normal to me.”
To that point and well into the second half, Herbert f latly dazzled, throwing early TD passes of 53 yards to Tyron Johnson and 19 yards to Donald Parham Jr.
Johnson was on the practice squad until getting promoted Saturday. Parham’s most recent game appearance had come in the XFL.
Both players were making their NFL debuts and both touchdowns came on their first career receptions.
The Chargers defense also produced some offense, cornerback Michael Davis returning a Brady interception 78 yards for a first-quarter touchdown. When Michael Badgley kicked a 53yard field goal with 1:37 to go before halftime, the Chargers had the Buccaneers down 24-7.
But the tenor of the afternoon shifted after the Chargers defense forced a punt, giving the offense the ball again, this time at its 9-yard line with 47 seconds left.
Later, both Evans and coach Bruce Arians indicated to Tampa Bay reporters that they were surprised the Chargers opted to not kneel down and run out the rest of the clock.
Following the fumble, the Buccaneers scored 21 consecutive points as they staged the second-largest comeback in franchise history against a Chargers defense that had permitted only four touchdowns in the first three games.
In all, Brady passed for five scores and 369 yards. Tampa Bay amassed 484 total yards and had a 100-yard rusher (Ronald Jones) and a 100-yard receiver (Evans).
“We had some busted assignments,” Lynn said. “It’s that simple. Guys gave up some explosive plays.”
Herbert finished 20 for 25 for 290 yards, narrowly missing an NFL record third consecutive 300-yard game to start his career. His lone interception came on the Chargers’ final attempt for a tying drive.
Notable
Lynn would not name a starting QB for the game a week from tonight in New Orleans. Herbert has been filling in for the injured Ty
rod Taylor, who could be close to returning to practice. Lynn has remained steadfast that Taylor will return as the starter when he’s “100 percent healthy.”
• The Chargers lost another key piece Sunday when running back Austin
Ekeler left in the first quarter with what the team said is a hamstring injury. “The way that young man limped off the field, I’m not sure how bad it is,” Lynn said. “But it looked pretty bad.”