INGLEWOOD — Justin Herbert threw one touchdown and ran for another and the Chargers’ defense clamped down on the Tennessee Titans in a 27-17 victory Sunday at SoFi Stadium, their third consecutive victory. The Chargers’ win was their sixth this season, one more than all of the 2023 season.
Hassan Haskins’ 1-yard dive into the end zone capped an 11-play, 95-yard drive that chewed up 7:10 and gave the Chargers a commanding 27-10 lead with 7:39 remaining in the game. The Chargers’ defense went into the game giving up an NFL-low 12.6 points per game.
The Chargers are 6-3; the Titans are 2-7.
Herbert completed 14 of 18 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown. He rushed for 32 yards on nine carries and one touchdown. He didn’t throw an interception for the seventh consecutive game, dating to the Chargers’ 26-3 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 2.
The Chargers led 13-7 by halftime Sunday, but only because of a favorable replay decision that wiped out a 20-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Titans’ cornerback Roger McCreary in the dying moments of the half. It was determined Herbert’s arm was moving forward when the ball came out of his hand.
No touchdown.
Just an incomplete pass that preserved the Chargers’ lead.
Herbert rallied the Chargers into the lead with a 4-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-1 play from the 4 with 1:55 left in the half, his first rushing touchdown of the season. Cameron Dicker kicked field goals of 21 and 37 yards in the first half and was successful on the extra point after Herbert’s run.
Tennessee scored on its first possession, clicking on a 42-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Will Levis to wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who got a step on Chargers’ defensive back Ja’Sir Taylor and sprinted the final steps into the end zone for a 7-3 lead with 4;25 left in the first quarter.
Herbert threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston for a 20-10 lead with 3:24 left in the third quarter, after Nick Folk capped the Titans’ first drive of the second half with a 27-yard field goal. Derius Davis set up Herbert’s touchdown pass with a 56-yard kickoff return to the Titans’ 43-yard line.
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Folk misfired on a 49-yard field goal attempt with 6:19 left in the first half.
The Chargers sacked Levis seven times, including two each by Tuli Tuipulotu and Bud Dupree. Joey Bosa also had a sack, the 70th of his career, moving him into second place on the Chargers’ all-time list. Bosa has been slowed by hand and hip injuries since the start of training camp back in late July.
Levis threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Ridley inside the final minute to account for the final score.
More to come on this story.