INGLEWOOD, Calif. – It was not pretty by any stretch of the imagination, but the Los Angeles Chargers secured the team’s first win under head coach Jim Harbaugh, defeating the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium by the score of 22-10.
“It wasn’t pretty, especially on the offensive side,” Chargers offensive lineman Zion Johnson said after the game. “We know we’re going to continue to improve. We’re going to work every day and make sure we get better on the (offensive) O-line. We started 1-0, and that was the goal.”
The first half for the Chargers was challenging as Los Angeles managed just two first downs through the first two quarters and had a net gain of 83 yards in total offense. Running the football was rough sledding for Harbaugh’s team.
The Chargers mounted a total of 26 yards on the ground and trailed 7-6 at intermission, thanks to a couple of Cameron Dicker field goals. Things improved dramatically in the second half for the Chargers. Los Angeles finished the game with 316 yards in total offense, 176 yards coming by way of running the football.
One of the team’s top new running backs, J.K. Dobbins took things into his own hands and wound up rushing for 135 yards and a touchdown to bring a spark to an otherwise lethargic Chargers’ offense.
“That man runs with a passion,” Johnson remarked. “It was great, especially in that fourth quarter when we needed it the most…he was getting loose. It feels great as an offensive lineman to block for a guy like that, who’s got that wiggle and can get loose.”
With quarterback Justin Herbert tallying only 61 yards passing in the first half, the Chargers offense looked putrid for the most part. Los Angeles wound up having to punt five times in the first half.
The third quarter was more of the same with the Chargers getting one more field goal from Dicker to take a 10-9 lead.
But two touchdowns in the final quarter by the Chargers sealed the Raiders’ fate. Dobbins did the scoring honors for the Chargers’ first touchdown of the regular season, scampering 12 yards for a touchdown early in the final period.
Dobbins then put the game on ice with a 60-yard run late in the contest to set up a 10-yard touchdown pass from Herbert to rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey to help the Chargers finish off their AFC rivals. Chargers right guard Tre Pippins III said getting the win was “awesome.”
It was not just the running game and the offense that stepped up. LA’s defense put a hurting on the offense of the Raiders to less than 300 yards in total offense and just 71 yards rushing. The Chargers came up with an interception and forced two fumbles.
Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley said securing the turnovers was a “huge.”
“That’s something that we preach on every day,” Henley said. “A part of, you know, our everyday meetings, we talk about getting the turnover game, you know, making plays for the offense, just to keep everybody involved. I think that’s what you see out there.”
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