The Chargers defeated the Eagles on Sunday, 27-24.
Which players had the biggest impact on the game?
A look at a few standouts from Week 9’s victory:
QB Justin Herbert
So much for a sophomore slump, am I right? After back-to-back poor performances, Herbert bounced back in a big way. In order to mask the uneven defensive output, he put the team on his back, finishing 32 of 38 for 356 yards with three total touchdowns and no interceptions (123.2 quarterback rating). Herbert also engineered the final drive, finishing 5 of 6 for 37 yards and eating up nearly six minutes of the clock to ensure the Eagles got the ball back for just a measly one second.
WR Keenan Allen
The offense being slowed the two games prior also meant that Allen’s production took a toll. The 29-year old took advantage of the Eagles’ zone defense early and often, carving up the short to intermediate parts of the field. He caught 12 of 13 targets for 104 yards, marking the fifth time in eight games Allen has seen double-digit targets.
TE Stephen Anderson
The entire tight end group should be spotlighted, but Anderson is deserving of his own recognition. Anderson posted four catches for 39 yards and his first touchdown on the season. But what stood out the most that may have gone unrecognized was his work as a blocker. Not only did he open up holes in the run game and help in pass protection, but Anderson was the one who pushed Herbert and running back Austin Ekeler to help them pick up the first down on a pair of crucial fourth-down situations.
OT Storm Norton
Like the tight-end unit, each member along the offensive line is worthy of being listed. But Norton, in particular, played a solid game after being the primary culprit of the pass protection problems against the Ravens and Patriots. Going up against some good pass rushers, Norton only surrendered a pressure and a hurry throughout the afternoon. He was aided by some chip blocks, but still a promising sign, nonetheless.
NT Linval Joseph
The Eagles might have picked up 176 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, but that primarily came in the first half and it was Joseph who came up big in run support in the second half of the contest. The big 330 pounder showed the ability to anchor, control blockers, and make plays near the line of scrimmage, finishing the game with nine tackles, which was the most by any Charger on Sunday.
Special teams unit
I could highlight returner Andre Roberts and kicker Dustin Hopkins, but it goes beyond them. Roberts averaged 24 yards per kick, with a long of 39 yards. He also made something out of nothing on his lone punt return. Despite missing one of his two extra-point attempts, Hopkins had the game-winning field goal. Moreover, the coverage units looked better than prior weeks, allowing an average of just 11.5 yards per kick. Hats off to Derius Swinton’s group.