INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The Los Angeles Chargers finally found a way to close out a win this season.
The Atlanta Falcons added another frustrating finish to their pile of losses.
The Chargers entered Sunday with four defeats decided in overtime or as time expired in regulation, but things finally lined up in their favor when Michael Badgley kicked a 43-yard field goal at the final horn to lift them to a 20-17 victory over Atlanta.
“We’ve been struggling in that category, and it feels good,” said running back Austin Ekeler, who had 146 yards from scrimmage to help Los Angeles (4-9) snap a two-game losing streak.
The Chargers got the ball on their 26-yard line with 30 seconds remaining after Michael Davis picked off Matt Ryan’s pass intended for Calvin Ridley.
That set the stage for Justin Herbert to direct his first game-winning drive. The rookie completed three of four passes, including a 15-yarder to Hunter Henry to midfield and a 25-yard throw along the left sideline to Tyron Johnson to get into Badgley’s range. After Kalen Ballage’s 1-yard run to put the ball on the left hashmark, Badgley came on and split the uprights for the second winning kick of his NFL career.
Herbert’s drive is even more impressive considering he was without the starting right side of his offensive line and that wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams were also sidelined.
“It was huge for us. We knew that when we went out there, we had the right guys out there, and we ran the right plays,” said Herbert, who completed 36 of 44 passes for 243 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Herbert benefited from the defense picking off Ryan three times in the second half, with the Chargers able to turn the interceptions into 10 points. After Rayshawn Jenkins picked off a pass intended for Ridley in the end zone, the Chargers went 80 yards in 13 plays, a drive capped by Herbert rolling right and throwing a 12-yard strike to Johnson to even it at 17 in the third quarter.
Los Angeles got contributions in all three phases, and coach Anthony Lynn was pleased his team was able to bounce back from the previous Sunday’s 45-0 loss to the New England Patriots, the biggest defeat in franchise history.
“We didn’t let one game beat us twice,” Lynn said. “We needed those turnovers and found a way to get the win.”
Ryan was 21-of-32 for 224 yards with a touchdown and the trio of picks. Calvin Ridley, who went over 1,000 receiving yards for the season, had eight catches for 124 yards and a score. The Falcons (4-9) were without four starters, including injured star receiver Julio Jones, and fell to 4-4 under interim coach Raheem Morris.
“I don’t think it was the read or pressure. I think it was just a poor throw,” Ryan said of the final pick. “I had to put it high and away on the sideline and give Cal a chance.”
Atlanta went three-and-out on its opening series and trailed 7-0 before scoring on its next three possesions on Ridley’s 39-yard touchdown catch, Younghoe Koo’s 45-yard field goal and Laquon Treadwell’s 9-yard touchdown catch for a 17-10 halftime lead.
On the tying 39-yarder to Ridley, Ryan lined up at wide receiver as Russell Gage took a direct snap and threw. It’s the second pass the third-year receiver has thrown in the NFL, but his first completion and touchdown.
The Chargers got points on an opening drive for the first time in seven games when Herbert found Allen near the right front pylon of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown. Allen – who finished with nine catches for 52 yards – passed Antonio Brown for the most receptions in a player’s first 100 NFL games. The eighth-year receiver has 623 in just 99. Brown had 622 in 100, and Atlanta’s Jones had 619.
Special teams have been abysmal all season for Los Angeles, but they showed some signs of improvement. After Koo’s field goal gave the Falcons a 10-7 lead, Nasir Adderley returned the ensuing kickoff 76 yards to the Atlanta 23. Four plays later, Badgley was good from 35 yards.