The Chargers headed down to New Orleans to take on the 2-2 Saints in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. In his first three starts Justin Herbert has already faced off against Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady, and has arguably kept up with both of them. Monday night he took on another legend in Drew Brees, in his house.
It took over eight minutes, but Justin Herbert and the Chargers struck first. A nine play drive was capped off by a 17-yard touchdown catch by Keenan Allen. We got an early indicator that this game would be funky though once Mike Badgley missed the extra point.
New Orleans would respond at the end of the quarter with a field goal, making the game 6-3. It wouldn’t take long for Los Angeles to come right back though. A 49-yard reception from Jalen Guyton would set the Chargers up inside the New Orleans five-yard line. Mike Williams would catch his first touchdown of the night on a four-yard reception.
A Drew Brees interception would put the Saints in a very sticky situation already down two scores. Justin Herbert would continue to impress, leading the Chargers down the field for yet another score. After a three-yard catch from Hunter Henry Los Angeles suddenly had a 20-3 lead on the New Orleans Saints.
Los Angeles defense had been extremely stout all night, but New Orleans was finally able to drive down the field for a touchdown. Brees would take it himself on a one-yard run after completing passes to three different Saints on the way there. With just 16 seconds left in the first half, the Chargers still have a 20-10 lead.
The Saints would start the second half off with the ball, but it would take two attempts for them to finally score. On their second drive of the half Wil Lutz knocked down a 53-yard field goal which would bring the Saints even closer, 20-13.
Emmanuel Sanders, who has been rather shy this season so far, had his best game as a New Orleans Saint Monday night. He finished the night with 12 catches for 122 yards, and a near touchdown. He was a big part of the Saints scoring drive to help tie the game 20-20 with 11:21 left in the game.
As mentioned earlier, Mike Williams caught his first touchdown earlier in the second quarter. Is second touchdown would come in a way more crucial moment though. With less than four minutes left in the game Herbert slings a 64-yard bomb to a wide open Mike Williams to give the Chargers the late lead.
Three and half minutes is still plenty of time for Drew Brees though. He would led an eight play drive down the field, but it was Taysom Hill who would score the tying touchdown. In a move that surprised many, Sean Payton plugged his gadget QB in for the clutch 3rd down play, and had him run it in from nine yards out.
Herbert would give it his best Brady impression, but ultimately the game would head into overtime. New Orleans would take nearly half of the overtime period and kick a 36-yard field goal to take a 30-27 lead. The Chargers would get a chance to respond, but Marshon Lattimore came up with the tackle of the night on Mike Williams. On 4th and 6 Lattimore met Williams at the first down line, throwing him backwards and forcing the turnover on downs.
Drew Brees had a rough first half, but turned it on when it mattered most. He finished the night with 325 passing yards, two total touchdowns and an interception. Alvin Kamara had 11 carries for 45 rushing yards and eight receptions for 74 receiving yards. Jared Cook also had the only receiving touchdown for the Saints in this game.
Once again Justin Herbert out-dueled his All-Pro opponent on the other sideline. Herbert finished the game with 264 passing yards and four touchdowns (three in the first half). Mike Williams was responsible for five catches, 109 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Keenan Allen was able to record two catches for 29-yards and a touchdown before he was held out the game due to injury.
Week 7 has the Los Angeles Chargers heading back home to LA to play the winless New York Jets. The New Orleans Saints are scheduled to face their NFC South rival Carolina Panthers.
