Herbert, Ekeler propel Chargers to 28-14 home win over Raiders

Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers came into their showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders after a signature win on the road at Kansas City. In front of a prime-time audience Monday night, the Chargers showed they are indeed for real. Herbert threw for three touchdowns, and Austin Ekeler rushed for a career-high 117 yards and scored twice as the Chargers knocked the Raiders from the unbeaten ranks, 28-14. Los Angeles is 3-1 for the first time since 2014 and part of a three-way tie atop the AFC West with Las Vegas and Denver. The Arizona Cardinals are now the NFL’S lone undefeated team.

“We stayed patient, I thought we had a good mix of the run and pass. Justin was extremely patient and Austin came alive,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said. Herbert accounted for all of his TDS in the first half as the Chargers built a 21-0 halftime lead. The Raiders scored on their first two possessions of the second half to draw within a touchdown, but Ekeler gave Los Angeles some breathing room with an 11-yard TD run.

Herbert achieved a pair of milestones. He completed his 500th pass in his 19th start, the first QB in the Super Bowl era to reach that mark before his 20th start. He has accounted for 10 TDS in his first three prime-time games, tying Patrick Mahomes and Dan Marino.

Derek Carr was 21 of 34 for 196 yards with two TDS and an interception. The Raiders could manage only 48 yards rushing against a Chargers defense that was last in the league in run defense. Former Georgia Tech player Darren Waller caught a 3-yard pass in the third quarter for one of the Raiders’ scores.