ATLANTA — Two rookies set the Chargers up for a 17-13 victory Sunday over the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tarheeb Still had two interceptions, running one back for a 61-yard touchdown, and Ladd McConkey set a Chargers’ rookie record for receiving yards in a half with 105.
Derwin James Jr.’s interception on a fourth-and-12 play at his own 35-yard line with 40 seconds to play sealed the Chargers’ victory. It was the Chargers’ fourth interception of the game, handing them a hard-earned defensive victory less than a week after a 30-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Still’s interception of an errant Kirk Cousins pass on a fourth-and-5 play and a 61-yard return for a touchdown (plus Joshua Palmer’s catch on a two-point conversion pass from Justin Herbert) gave the Chargers an all-too-brief 17-10 lead with 1:39 remaining in the third quarter.
Atlanta kicker Younghoe Koo cut the Chargers’ lead to 17-13 with a 26-yard field goal with three seconds remaining in an eventful third quarter. Cousins later drove the Falcons to the Chargers’ 9, but Still, a recently-signed defensive back, picked off his pass in the end zone to end the threat.
Cameron Dicker kicked field goals of 45, 51, and 34 yards in the first half, the last of which gave the Chargers a 9-7 lead with 58 seconds left before halftime. Dicker’s 51-yarder, with 11:08 left in the second quarter, was his eighth successful kick in nine attempts from 50 yards or more this season.
McConkey proved to be Herbert’s favorite target in the first half, the only receiver to get open consistently. Herbert targeted nine times and connected with him eight times for 105 yards. Herbert completed 11 of 15 passes for 115 yards in the first half, driving the Chargers for three field goals.
McConkey broke Keenan Allen’s rookie record for receiving yards in the first half of a game. Allen had 104 yards receiving in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12 of the 2013 season. It was McConkey’s third game this season with 100 more receiving yards in a game.
Still, who was playing only because of injuries in the secondary, intercepted a pass from Cousins that set up Dickers’ 51-yard field goal. Cousins was looking for wide receiver Drake London, but apparently didn’t see Still lurking behind in deep coverage. It was Still’s second interception of the season.
The Falcons took a 7-0 lead after Chargers running back Hassan Haskins fumbled on their first possession. Cousins drove the Falcons 29 yards, the last two coming on Bijan Robinson’s run around the left end and into the end zone with 3:59 remaining in the first quarter.
Atlanta regained the lead on Koo’s 41-yard field goal that made it 10-9 with 7:23 remaining in the third quarter. Koo missed a 35-yard field goal wide right on the Falcons’ first possession of the game. Atlanta drove 53 yards on 13 plays, but came up empty with 8:37 left in the first first quarter.
More to come on this story.