The New Orleans Saints headed west for a week eight matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. It was a low-scoring affair as the Chargers came out on top 26-8, dropping the Black and Gold’s record to 2-6.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Los Angeles got the ball first and went three-and-out as quarterback Justin Herbert completed a pass to running back J.K. Dobbins for a two-yard loss, then threw two straight incompletions.
The Saints began their first drive at their 21-yard line and Alvin Kamara had a 23-yard run on 1st & 10. Taysom Hill picked up eight yards on the next play. Kamara was stuffed for no gain on third down and the Black and Gold punted the football into the endzone.
Herbert threw two more incompletions in the following possession to set up another punt. Chargers punter JK Scott couldn’t coral a bad snap and fumbled the ball in the endzone. The football went out of bounds and the Saints scored a two-point safety.
Four drives later, Los Angeles started at their 16-yard line. Herbert scrambled out of the pocket for a 38-yard gain, then found Jalen Reagor for an 11-yard pickup. Will Dissly was tackled three yards short on 3rd & 12. Cameron Dicker opened the second quarter with a 46-yard field goal to go up 3-2.
Los Angeles extended its lead late in the second quarter. The offense went 90 yards in 15 plays and took eight minutes off the clock. Herbert completed passes to Dissly and Ladd McConkey for 16 and 15 yards early on. A defensive pass interference call on Marshon Lattimore set up 1st & GOAL at the New Orlean three-yard line. Dobbins scored from one yard out on third down. The PAT by Dicker was wide left and put the Chargers up by a full touchdown with 97 seconds remaining in the first half.
Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler found Chris Olave across the middle for a 15-yard gain. A 10-yard catch by Mason Tipton moved New Orleans past midfield and a 22-yard catch and run by Juwan Johnson put the offense in field goal range. Blake Grupe knocked through a 40-yard attempt with five seconds to go and both teams headed into the locker room with the Chargers ahead 9-5.
The Chargers scored again less than seven minutes into the third quarter. Herbert went deep to McConkey, who won the jump ball against Alontae Taylor and broke free for the 60-yard touchdown.
A couple of drives later, Saints head coach Dennis Allen made a change at quarterback to Jake Haener. The second-year signal caller led the offense down the field for a 43-yard field goal with 1:05 left in the third. Kamara’s 24-yard run was the possession’s highlight as he slung himself out of a tackle attempt.
Dicker made it an 11-point difference with a 29-yard kick less than four minutes into the fourth quarter. The scoring drive was set up by a 45-yard catch by Joshua Palmer on rookie Kool-Aid McKinstry.
Chase Young and Taylor worked together to sack Herbert and force a punt deep in Charger territory. New Orleans got down to the Los Angeles 34-yard line as Kamara dropped Haener’s pass on 3rd & 10. Grupe’s 44-yard field missed wide right and the Charger offense took over.
Herbert put the nail in the coffin late in the fourth quarter. Reagor made a 24-yard sideline catch after Dobbins had a 15-yard play earlier in the possession. Three plays later, Herbert rolled out left and found McConkey in the back-left corner of the endzone for the nine-yard touchdown with 3:22 left in the game.
New Orleans couldn’t score a garbage time touchdown and fell to Los Angeles 26-8, dropping their record to 2-6 on the season.
BIG NUMBER: 19
It’s been 19 years since the Saints were on this bad of a losing streak. For the first time since the 2005 season, New Orleans has lost six straight ball games.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Justin Herbert
Herbert was making plays with his arm and legs as he finished Sunday’s contest with 279 passing yards and two touchdowns on 20 completions. The former Oregon Duck also ran for 49 yards as the Saints fell 26-8 to the Chargers.
UP NEXT: The New Orleans Saints will head to the East Coast next Sunday to take on the Carolina Panthers. Kickoff inside Bank of America Stadium is set for November 3rd at noon.