Justin Herbert passes for 420 yards, but Chargers still lose to Colts

The Chargers had the look. All-gold uniforms. Retro logos. Powder-blue end zones with script from the nostalgic days of Dan Fouts and Don Coryell.

But their defense?

As dead as disco when it counted most.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, the NFL’s leading rusher, trampled the Chargers on Sunday with touchdowns of 23, eight and 19 yards in a 38-24 victory at SoFi Stadium.

VIDEO | 01:09

Takeaways from Chargers’ loss to Colts

• Share via Close extra sharing options

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Threads
  • Reddit
  • WhatsApp
  • Copy Link URL Copied!

Sam Farmer breaks down what went wrong for the Chargers in their 38-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.

🏈 Colts 38, Chargers 24 — FINAL

A 21-play, 67-yard drive orchestrated by Justin Herbert fizzled out on the edge of the red zone with just over three minutes left in regulation, all but ending the Chargers’ hopes of a comeback.

After a DeForest Buckner sack and a delay of game penalty, the Chargers came up short on fourth-and-27 when Herbert connected on a 24-yard pass to Quentin Johnston.

Two plays earlier, Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin broke up a 40-yard pass in the end zone intended for Ladd McConkey that could have made it a one-score game.

The Colts then sealed the win with a 22-yard run by Jonathan Taylor and a 13-yard catch by Alec Pierce.

The Chargers converted on two fourth downs during the drive, but it was not enough to fend off a tough loss at home.

Justin Herbert completed 37 of 55 passes for 420 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

🏈 Colts 38, Chargers 24 —13:40 left in the fourth quarter

Chargers rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Justin Herbert as the Chargers once again cut into the Colts’ lead.

Herbert orchestrated an 11-play, 76-yard drive that included a 24-yard reception by Gadsden and a 15-yard pass to Ladd McConkey.

Herbert has completed 26 of 39 passes for three touchdowns, with two interceptions. Gadsden is having huge game — he has six catches for 156 yards.

The big question is: Can the Chargers defense stop Daniel Jones?

🏈 Colts 38, Chargers 17 — 3:28 left in the third quarter

The Chargers can’t stop Jonathan Taylor.

The prolific Colts running back scored his third touchdown of the game, this time on a 19-yard sprint, to rebuild the three-touchdown lead they’ve maintained since halftime.

The touchdown capped another efficient drive by Daniel Jones and the Colts that the Chargers defense could do little to slow.

Jones connected on a 29-yard pass to Tyler Warren at the start of the five-play, 73-yard drive. He then completed a 14-yard pass to Alec Pierce before the touchdown.

🏈 Colts 31, Chargers 17 — 6:13 left in the third quarter

Justin Herbert avoided being nearly sacked to find Keenan Allen in the end zone on a four-yard pass to cut into the Colts’ lead.

The 10-play, 76-yard drive also included a 17-yard reception by Allen. Rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II caught a 12-yard pass and rookie wide receiver Tre’ Harris hauled in a 14-yard pass during the possession.

🏈 Colts 31, Chargers 10 — 12:03 left in the third quarter

Following an 81-yard kickoff return by Ameer Abdullah, Jonathan Taylor scored on an eight-yard touchdown run to help give the Colts a commanding lead once again.

Abdullah’s big return put the ball on the Chargers’ 14.

After the touchdown, Daniel Jones connected with Michael Pittman on a successful two-point conversion attempt.

🏈 Colts 23, Chargers 10 — 13:01 left in the third quarter

On fourth-and-five, Justin Herbert connected on a seven-yard touchdown strike to Quentin Johnston to cap a speedy, six-play, 70-yard drive coming out of halftime.

A 53-yard reception by rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II fueled the drive.

🏈 Colts 23, Chargers 3 — HALFTIME

Although the Colts didn’t seem to be in a particular rush to score on the final possession of the first half, they still managed to add to their lead.

Michael Badgley kicked a 36-yard field goal as time expired to give the Colts a 20-point lead at the break after an impressive first half by Indianapolis.

A 17-yard pass to Alec Pierce and a 16-yard reception by Michael Pittman set up the field goal at the end of a nine-play, 64-yard drive.

The Chargers have struggled to find much rhythm on offense. Justin Herbert has completed 12 of 20 passes for 131 yards, but threw two interceptions.

Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, who orchestrated scoring drives on Indy’s first three possessions, completed 17 of 26 passes for two touchdowns. The Colts, who are three for three on fourth down, have 274 total yards to the Chargers’ 141.

🏈 Colts 20, Chargers 3 — 1:20 left in the second quarter

Colts safety Nick Cross intercepted a pass from Justin Herbert intended for Quentin Johnston in the end zone to spoil another scoring opportunity for the Chargers.

The Chargers’ last two possessions have ended in interceptions.

Until that bad pass, the Chargers were making quick progress against the Colts. Keenan Allen made a spectacular 30-yard catch, managing to keep both feet in-bounds to move the ball into Colts territory.

Two plays later, Ladd McConkey made a leaping grab for 13 yards — and it turned into a 25-yard play when cornerback Kenny Moore II was flagged for a face mask penalty, putting the ball on the Colts’ 11-yard line. But the promising drive ended three plays later.

🏈 Colts 20, Chargers 3 — 5:57 left in the second quarter

Colts defensive tackle Grover Stewart intercepted a Justin Herbert pass, ending a promising-looking drive for the Chargers.

Herbert was struggling to find an open receiver and pumped faked before trying to throw to rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II. That’s when Stewart deflected the pass straight up into the air and caught it.

Gadsden II caught a 30-yard pass from Herbert early in the drive.

The Chargers defense, however, held the Colts to a three-and-out on the possession.

🏈 Colts 20, Chargers 3 — 8:56 left in the second quarter

Colts quarterback Daniel Jones found tight end Tyler Warren in the back of the end zone for a five-yard touchdown pass to give Indianapolis a commanding lead in the second quarter.

The Chargers have been unable to stop the Jones and the Colts — they’ve given up three touchdowns on the Colts’ three possessions.

Jones connected on a 48-yard pass to wide receiver Alec Pierce, who managed to break away from coverage. On the next play, he found Jonathan Taylor on a 19-yard catch-and-run to set up the touchdown.

Khalil Mack, playing in his first game since missing four games with an elbow injury, sacked Jones earlier in the drive, but it didn’t slow the Colts.

On the previous possession, the Chargers sputtered at midfield after tight end Will Dissly dropped a pass and Justin Herbert failed to connect with Keenan Allen on third down.

🏈 Colts 13, Chargers 3 — 14:54 left in the second quarter

On fourth-and-two, Colts quarterback Daniel Jones tossed a short pass to wide receiver Michael Pittman, who ran it in for a four-yard touchdown to extend the Colts’ lead.

It wasn’t the only fourth-down conversion on a 17-play, 70-yard drive that took 7 minutes 41 seconds off the clock. Running back Jonathan Taylor converted on fourth-and-one with a seven-yard run to break into the red zone.

The longest play of the drive came on a 14-yard run through the middle by Ameer Abdullah.

🏈 Colts 6, Chargers 3 — 7:35 left in the first quarter

Cameron Dicker kicked a 43-yard field goal to put the Chargers on the board after an eight-play, 44-yard drive.

A 25-yard pass interference penalty on Colts cornerback Mekhi Blackmon on a pass intended for Quentin Johnston was the biggest play of the drive.

Austin Deculus, who is filling in for the injured Trey Pipkins III on their injury-riddled offensive line, sustained an ankle injury on the possession, but later returned to the game.

🏈 Colts 6, Chargers 0 — 12:31 left in the first quarter

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor scored on a 23-yard touchdown run as Indianapolis didn’t waste any time marching through the Chargers on their opening drive.

Taylor entered Sunday as the NFL’s leading rusher (603 yards).

Michael Badgley — a former kicker for the Chargers — missed the extra-point attempt.

The five-play, 75-yard drive was fueled, in part, by a 29-yard reception by tight end Tyler Warren.

Making matters worse for the Chargers, defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia sustained an elbow injury and went to the locker room. He was listed as questionable to return.

When the Chargers are successful — and they have won four of six games this season — you can most often trace the results back to two elite components: the arm of Justin Herbert and the leg of Cameron Dicker.

The football world celebrates the former. Herbert has pinpoint precision, even when draped in defenders. But the latter, Dicker’s record-breaking reliability, has almost become an afterthought. He’s going to make his kicks.

Nearly 80% of NFL games were decided by one possession last season, underscoring the value of a kicker who can deliver three points time after time. For instance, Dicker tied a career high by kicking five field goals in the 29-27 win at the Dolphins, including the 33-yard clincher — and in his five seasons he has never missed a field goal of 40 yards or fewer.

As expected, pass rusher Khalil Mack (elbow) and linebacker Denzel Perryman will play for the Chargers against the Colts after coming off injured reserve Saturday.

Here’s a look at the players who will not be playing Sunday:

Kimani Vidal waited in the shadows of a tailback logjam.

The one-two punch of Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton blocked a route to consistent playing time. However, after Harris and Hampton were placed on injured reserve, questions arose about who would lead the Chargers’ running game behind its deteriorating offensive line.

Vidal, the second-year running back who played sporadically last season, didn’t make the 53-man roster to begin the season. The Troy University alumnus finally earned his opportunity to start for the first time last Sunday against Miami.

“I was most excited about him as next man up,” coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters last week. “[It’s] not another game to him. It’s the game.”

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The play will live on a loop in Jim Harbaugh’s mind.

Thirty-four seconds left. The Chargers trailing by a point and needing 20 yards to get into range for a field goal. Justin Herbert drops back under heavy pressure from his right side, and suddenly has Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips hanging on his torso like a 260-pound Hula-Hoop.

The quarterback — in what his coach would call a “Hercules” move — twisted free of a sure sack and completed a short pass to Ladd McConkey, who shook a defender with an ankle-snapping juke and picked up 42 yards before running out of bounds at the 17.

It wasn’t just the signature moment of a 29-27 victory over the Dolphins — cemented by Cameron Dicker’s fifth field goal of the day — but a Houdini-like escape from a third loss in a row.

There used to be some classic Colts-Chargers games, back when it was Peyton Manning versus Philip Rivers.

Now, the next generation of quarterbacks, Daniel Jones and Justin Herbert, are capable of putting on a show. The Colts are 5-1 and Jones is redefining his career, definitely a comeback player of the year candidate.

Herbert has made some heroic plays for the Chargers, including his Houdini-like escape from a would-be sack down the stretch at Miami last week, and toss to Ladd McConkey for a huge gain on a do-or-die drive.