Chargers dominate on defense to open Jim Harbaugh era with a win over Raiders

Justin Herbert thought about the times something such as this didn’t happen. All the critical drives that the Chargers needed but never produced.

On Sunday, the star quarterback would not add to the list.

Losers of eight of their last nine games, the Chargers ushered in the Jim Harbaugh era with a gritty 22-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium.

After an offseason of change, the Chargers flashed a dominant defense that allowed only one touchdown and forced three takeaways with a tough offense that wore down its opponent late.

After the Raiders (0-1) punted on fourth and one from the Chargers’ 43-yard line with 7:09 remaining, Herbert led a 92-yard touchdown drive that sealed the first win.

Running back J.K. Dobbins came alive in the second half with 131 of his 135 rushing yards after halftime as the Chargers (1-0) got payback for an embarrassing 42-point loss last December.

“When we had to be our best, we were our best,” Harbaugh said.

Herbert, who missed the end of last season because of a broken finger, finished with 144 yards on 17 of 26 passing. His passing total was the second-lowest of his career, but the star quarterback punched his fist in the air all the same when rookie receiver Ladd McConkey wiggled past two defenders and into the end zone to cap the drive with 3:40 remaining.

Herbert, the 2020 first-round draft pick who still is looking for his first NFL playoff victory, found himself speaking to backup quarterback Easton Stick after the game about the organization’s change of fortune. There were times Herbert remembered when mistakes such as five offensive penalties in the first half or the five three-and-outs would have derailed the offense.

Instead, the Chargers responded by scoring two touchdowns in the second half and punctuated the victory with an interception by defensive tackle Poona Ford on a tipped pass by Khalil Mack.

“To have a complete team win like that, where the offense takes it down, defense comes with a big stop, I just thought that was awesome to see,” Herbert said.

The Chargers won their fourth consecutive game over their AFC West rivals at SoFi Stadium, where the Raiders regularly have a decided advantage in the stands. The away fans helped force four false start penalties on the Chargers in the first half.

Raiders players were waving their arms toward the crowd for more noise on critical third downs. After scoring their last touchdown, it was Chargers players pumping up the home crowd.

The Chargers clung to a 9-7 lead despite starting two drives inside Raiders territory that resulted in field goals. Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II gifted the Chargers an inexplicable fumble as the ball slipped out of his hand on an attempted screen pass with 1 minute 22 seconds remaining in the first half. Mack scooped up the loose ball and put the Chargers on the Raiders’ 12-yard line.

Mack was “like a wrecking ball” returning the fumble for 22 yards, Harbaugh said, but the Chargers settled for a 25-yard field goal from Cameron Dicker. He previously booted a 53-yard kick in the first quarter after the Chargers came up with a fourth-and-one stop at the Raiders’ 41-yard line.

Mack, coming off a career-high 17 sacks last season, had 1½ sacks and recovered a fumble. Bosa tied for the team lead with seven tackles, including a sack and a forced fumble. Harbaugh called it a “lights out” performance by the defense that inspired the entire team.

“I think it shows that we’re a physical team, we’re a connected team,” linebacker Daiyan Henley said. “I think that’s the biggest part: we’re connected. And we don’t back down to nobody. We don’t care what your mentality is, your mindset is as a team, we’re going to show you what ours is every time we’re out there.”

With divisional rivalry tensions running high, Chargers receivers Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston and tight end Will Dissly were involved in a fourth-quarter fight in the end zone after the Chargers scored their final touchdown. Palmer and Raiders defensive back Jack Jones, who were jawing back and forth for much of the game, were ejected.

Harbaugh, whose own NFL career included confrontations with opponents and teammates alike, ran into the fray but it was to play peacemaker as he separated players. With the first win of his Chargers tenure in hand, he said he didn’t address the skirmish after.

“We,” Harbaugh said, “got back to work.”

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times .