Chargers first year head coach told his team following a hard fought 20-16 road win over defending NFC East champion Washington Football Team that he’s waited his whole life to give out game balls as a head coach.
So, in what he considers the greatest tradition in the league he gave out game balls to quarterback Justin Herbert, defensive back Derwin James Jr. and rock solid receiver Kennan Allen.
Herbert, who turned in one of his gustiest performances yet, then turned to Staley and gave him the fourth game ball. He was clutch when it was necessary passing for 337 yards, a touchdown and an interception against one of the NFL’s elite defensives.
James in his return from two injury plagued seasons has seven solo tackles and a pass defended, but his mere presence on the field makes this revamped defense a forced to be reckoned with.
Allen averaged 11 yards per catch on nine receptions for 100yards. It was his 28th career 100 yard game.
Receiver Mike Williams was also clutch with 6 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown.
The Chargers were 14-of-19 on third down. That’s the most third-down conversations in the NFL since Baltimore converted the same amount in Week 9 of the 2011 NFL season.
Linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. led the Chargers with 10 total tackles. He recovered a fumbled forced by fellow linebacker Kyzir White in the fourth quarter. Safety Derwin James Jr. was second on the team with seven total tackles in his first game since the 2019 season. Outside linebacker Joey Bosa notched his first sack of 2021. He’s 1.5 sacks from reaching 50. He’s also a half-sack from passing former teammate Melvin Ingram for sixth on the franchise’s all-time list.
Now, The Bolts will face the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott who lit up the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers for 403 yards on 42-58 passes and three touchdowns against one INT.
It will be a much more difficult challenge than Washington Football which started journeyman signal caller Ryan Fitzpatrick who they knocked out of the game.
The Chargers are favored by 3 to improve to 2-0 when they finally welcome their fans to SoFi Stadium on Sept. 19 at 1p.m.
