INGLEWOOD — Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert played 11 consecutive games without throwing an interception. He attempted 357 consecutive passes without being picked off but then threw a pass that Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean intercepted in the third quarter of Sunday’s 40-17 loss to Tampa Bay.
So ended the longest streak of consecutive passes without a pick in the Chargers’ history and the fifth-longest in NFL history.
“It is what it is,” Herbert said. “I always do my best to protect the ball and not put our team in harm’s way. Unfortunately, that one got away from me. You play quarterback without fear. I’m going to take my shots downfield. I’ve got to be smart about it and understand maybe a throwaway is better.
“You can’t take the aggressive mentality of throwing the ball down the field, especially to one of your playmakers.”
Herbert was trying to connect with wide receiver Quentin Johnston on a second-and-10 pass from his 10-yard line. Dean made a tumbling catch at the Chargers’ 42. Tampa Bay cashed in the turnover, with Baker Mayfield throwing one of his four touchdown passes.
In the final analysis, Herbert blamed himself for failing to produce enough offense and take some of the pressure the Chargers’ defense was under, particularly in the third quarter. The Buccaneers scored 17 points in the third quarter, the most the Chargers had given up in a quarter this season.
“There have been plenty of times this year when we haven’t put up the points and our defense has come out and they have caused the turnovers and they’ve come up with the big stops,” Herbert said. “They’ve played almost perfectly all year. It’s tough, but we’ve got to do a better job as an offense.”
CURIOUS DECISION
Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker went into Sunday’s game having converted eight of nine field goal attempts from 50 yards or longer this season. So, it seemed to be a strange decision to punt on fourth down from the Buccaneers’ 42-yard line with 3:43 remaining in the first half.
True, it would have been a tall ask for Dicker to convert from 60 yards in that situation, but he would have been kicking off of artificial turf under a roof and with a minimal breeze flowing through the openings at the top of either end of SoFi Stadium. So, the Chargers punted on fourth-and-6.
“I mean, it would have been either a 60-yard field goal or go for it,” Coach Jim Harbaugh said when asked after the game why he didn’t send out Dicker for a field goal. “Our defense had two good stops and turned the ball over twice. I envisioned punting the ball down deep and getting the ball back.”
Tampa Bay drove for a field goal that cut the Chargers’ lead to 17-13 at halftime.
EXTRA POINTS
Rookie cornerback Tarheeb Still’s fourth interception of the season led to Herbert’s second-quarter touchdown pass to Johnston that put the Chargers in front 17-10. The Chargers failed to cash in Rachaad White’s fumble on the Buccaneers’ next possession, however, punting instead of attempting a field goal. …
Cam Hart, a rookie cornerback, suffered a concussion in the second quarter when he fell defending a pass and the back of his head struck the artificial turf. Left guard Zion Johnson injured his ankle when several players crashed into him in the third quarter. Neither player returned to the game.