LAS VEGAS — Justin Herbert and the Chargers walked into a roiling cauldron of noise on Monday night at Allegiant Stadium, seeking their second consecutive victory of the season and a chance to quiet the roars coming from an especially boisterous Raider Nation.
The Chargers walked away with a 20-9 victory over the Raiders.
Herbert threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns and the Chargers intercepted Raiders quarterback Geno Smith three times. The matchup didn’t lack for elements of drama, what with coaches Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll renewing their acquaintances, and for the first time as AFC West rivals.
But the Chargers never trailed and were never in serious jeopardy. They can go for a three-game sweep of their division foes with a victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers last started a season with a 3-0 record way back in 2002.
However, the Chargers lost All-Pro outside edge rusher Khalil Mack to an apparent elbow injury on the final play of the first quarter. Mack was hurt when he collided with a teammate while attempting to make a tackle. He ran to the bench holding his left arm and then headed to the locker room.
Mack was later ruled out for the remainder of the game. Bud Dupree replaced him in a defense that was already shorthanded after linebacker Denzel Perryman was placed on injured reserve because of an ankle injury he sustained in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the season opener.
Plus, linebacker Daiyan Henley came down with an illness and was listed as questionable to play. He was on the field when the game began, though, and had four first-half tackles as the Chargers held the Raiders to two field goals by Daniel Carlson while building a 17-6 lead by halftime.
Henley intercepted Smith on the first play of the game, picking off a pass that safety Alohi Gilman tipped into the air and directly into Henley’s hands. Henley’s interception then led to a field goal by Cameron Dicker for a 3-0 lead for the Chargers only 1:17 into the game.
Safeties Tony Jefferson, in the second quarter, and Donte Jackson, in the end zone in the fourth, also picked off Smith. It was Jackson’s 20th career interception. The Chargers sacked Smith three times and limited him to 24-of-43 passing for 180 yards and a 37.0 passer rating.
It was the second consecutive game and the eighth since Jesse Minter was hired as defensive coordinator that the Chargers’ defense did not give up a touchdown in the first half of a game. Their victory over the Chiefs in Week 1 made their record 7-0 when not giving up a first-half touchdown.
After starting the game by misfiring on four of his first five passes, Herbert completed 9 of 14 for 133 yards and touchdowns of 10 yards to Keenan Allen in the first quarter and 60 yards to Quentin Johnston in the second. Herbert’s pass to Johnston and Dicker’s extra point made it 17-6.
More to come on this story.
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