The Chargers took care of business last Sunday, defeating the Bengals by the score of 41-22.
With that being said, here is a look at the players who helped en route to Los Angeles’ victory and some others who had a rough day.
Star: QB Justin Herbert
Herbert and Joe Burrow faced off for the first time in their professional careers, and the matchup was nothing short of entertaining. But it was Herbert who reigned supreme. His performance consisted of 316 passing yards and three touchdowns. He aired it out, something everyone has wanted to see – finishing with a 10.2-yard average depth of target — his highest average this season, per Pro Football Focus. But his eye-popping showcasing didn’t end there. In a two-point conversion trick play, Herbert caught a pass from Keenan Allen. He also made a touchdown-saving tackle after throwing an interception. Along the way, he became the fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach 700 completions.
Stud: WRs Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Jalen Guyton
The trio of receivers combined for 14 receptions, 234 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. Herbert spread the wealth, and Guyton’s first touchdown of the season was a direct outcome of this. The scoring play came from a beautiful 44-yard catch from Guyton, which Jessie Bates contested. Allen also had quite the performance with two touchdowns in the red zone. Although Williams didn’t score, his production on the field with a few deep catches helped the Chargers get to the end zone. The big-bodied receiver averaged 22 yards per catch.
Stud: The defense
The defensive dominance consisted of 27 pressures on Burrow and holding Mixon to 2.8 yards per carry on 19 attempts, which was all done with injured Joey Bosa and Justin Jones. The Chargers forced four turnovers, one more turnover than they’ve collected in the last five games. After recovering a fumble by Joe Mixon, the scoop-and-score 61-yard touchdown from Tevaughn Campbell was the momentum switch. The unit also had interceptions from Chris Harris Jr. and Michael Davis and a strip-sack and fumble recovery from Uchenna Nwosu.
Dud: Running backs
The run game was extremely limited against the Bengals because they played with loaded boxes. Therefore, it was another week of no one stepping up and establishing themselves as the backup to Austin Ekeler. Although Ekeler scored a rushing touchdown, he fumbled the ball twice. Ball security was a problem for him against Cincinnati, and dropped passes had been a reoccurring issue coming into the game.
Dud: CB Tevaughn Campbell
While he was responsible for the scoop-and-score, Campbell’s struggles in coverage continued while handling the starting role in place of Asante Samuel Jr. He was targeted eight times and allowed six catches for 78 yards, per Pro Football Focus.