Chargers 26-8 Saints (Oct 27, 2024) Game Recap

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — — Ladd McConkey was a downfield menace whereas serving to lead the College of Georgia to a pair of School Soccer Playoff championships.

After getting used totally on routes in the midst of the sphere and third downs throughout his first seven NFL video games, McConkey confirmed Sunday how a lot of an all-around receiver he might be for the Los Angeles Chargers.

McConkey had two landing catches, together with a 60-yard rating within the third quarter, and have become the primary Chargers rookie receiver in 11 years to have a 100-yard receiving recreation as Los Angeles defeated the reeling New Orleans Saints 26-8.

“That’s fairly cool, so hopefully I get one other,” mentioned McConkey, who had six receptions for 111 yards. “Any time you get ultimately zone, it’s an enormous deal, so simply glad I used to be in a position to contribute for the blokes right now.”

McConkey has emerged as one in every of Justin Herbert’s favourite targets in a Chargers passing assault nonetheless discovering its means with out a reliable veteran receiver after the offseason departures of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

“He’s a whole receiver. To have that quick recreation and people intermediate routes that he’s been so good at, and now you open up a few of these go balls that you have to respect,” mentioned Herbert about McConkey. “And for him to have the ability to line up anyplace — inside, outdoors. , we have now a real ballplayer on our fingers.”

Herbert had 328 whole yards (279 passing, 48 dashing) and two TD passes to assist the Chargers (4-3) bounce again from a last-second loss final Monday night time at Arizona.

The Saints (2-6) have misplaced six straight for the primary time since 2005, which can ramp up the stress on coach Dennis Allen, who has an 18-24 file in his third season.

“I feel all of us perceive that it’s a results-oriented enterprise, and we have to play higher soccer,” Allen mentioned.

Alvin Kamara, who signed a two-year, $24.5 million contract extension earlier this week, had 122 whole yards. Chris Olave had eight receptions for 107 yards.

Jake Haener changed an ineffective Spencer Rattler within the third quarter and accomplished 9 of 17 passes for 122 yards.

Rattler — making his third straight begin with Derek Carr sidelined with an indirect harm — was 12 of 24 for 156 yards. The Saints did not attain the purple zone and managed solely a area purpose within the 9 drives he directed.

Carr returned to observe this week and might be again within the lineup subsequent week.

“Clearly we didn’t get any wins, in order that’s very unlucky,” Rattler mentioned. “We wish to win. Our purpose is to come back in right here and win, get some momentum going.”

The Saints received on the board within the first quarter with their first security since 2020 when Chargers punter JK Scott was unable to catch an errant snap and the ball rolled out of the again of the top zone. The opposite factors got here on a pair of area objectives by Blake Grupe.

McConkey, chosen within the second spherical of the draft, completed with six receptions for 111 yards to turn into the primary Chargers rookie to achieve the century mark since Allen had 5 such video games in 2013. He is the fourth because the 1970 merger with 100 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

McConkey’s third-quarter rating was the Chargers’ first second-half TD because the fourth quarter in Week 1 towards Las Vegas.

McConkey caught the move from Herbert close to the correct sideline on the Saints 35, reversed area and averted a diving sort out try by Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor on the 14 earlier than entering into the top zone and lengthening the Chargers result in 16-5.

“He discovered it, tracked it, made an unbelievable catch after which a SportsCenter spotlight the place he went to attain the landing and put the ball ultimately zone,” coach Jim Harbaugh mentioned. “I imply, it is what we would have liked.”

The Chargers added one other TD with 3:22 remaining within the fourth quarter when Herbert scrambled out of the pocket on third-and-7 on the Saints 9 and located McConkey within the again left nook of the top zone.

“I feel he was again there scrambling a bit bit after which rolling. Simply gave me an opportunity,” McConkey mentioned.

Momentum changer

The Chargers could not generate something on their first three possessions. On the opening play of their fourth drive, Harbaugh discovered a gap round proper finish and scrambled 38 yards earlier than being pushed out of bounds on the Saints 46 for the longest run of his five-year NFL profession.

The drive would outcome within the first of two area objectives by Cameron Dicker to place the Chargers on high.

“We didn’t do a lot earlier than that, however I assumed the blokes did a fantastic job of sticking it, staying affected person, ready for his or her alternatives and made one thing occur,” mentioned Herbert, who bounced again after a gradual begin to full 20 of 32 passes.

Los Angeles prolonged its result in 9-3 with 1:37 remaining within the first half on JK Dobbins’ 1-yard run off proper finish to finish a 15-play, 90-yard drive that went eight minutes. Dicker was huge left on his extra-point try, although.

Uncommon double

Chargers fullback and defensive sort out Scott Matlock turned the primary NFL participant since 2019 with a reception and sack in the identical recreation.

Matlock, in his second 12 months with the Chargers, sacked Rattler early within the third quarter and had a 9-yard catch within the fourth quarter.

Accidents

Saints: WR Bub Means injured a hand within the first quarter and had an ankle harm on the finish of the sport. … RB Kendre Miller and CB Marshon Lattimore suffered hamstring accidents within the second half and didn’t return. For Lattimore, it was the identical hamstring that saved him out of final week’s recreation towards Denver. … CB Rico Payton left with a again harm within the fourth quarter. … TE Juwan Johnson was evaluated for a concussion.

Chargers: CB Kristian Fulton aggravated a hamstring harm throughout the third quarter.

Up subsequent

Saints: At Carolina subsequent Sunday.

Chargers: At Cleveland subsequent Sunday.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl