Justin Herbert and Chargers dominate in victory

The offense topped 30 factors for the first time all season.

The protection went from rattled to relentless.

And the particular groups? The Chargers kicked three subject objectives in their 37-10 rout of Minnesota on Thursday evening, but it’s what they didn’t do that was most resounding.

For the first time in 4 years, the Chargers didn’t punt.

What a turnaround for a crew that was embarrassed on its home subject 4 days earlier.

“They just set their minds to it that they weren’t going to be denied,” said Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, whose crew pulled out of a tailspin in dramatic fashion after dropping three of their earlier 4 video games.

The wire-to-wire win was candy redemption for a Chargers protection that faltered in a big method Sunday in a 38-24 loss to Indianapolis.

Thursday evening, before a national viewers, Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz was drowning in a sea of navy-blue-clad defenders, the Chargers sacking him 5 instances, hardly ever permitting him to set up in the pocket, and finally inspiring him to fling his helmet in frustration on the Minnesota sideline.

“We were just having guys stay fresh and rolling through and just calling the right calls,” linebacker Troy Dye said. “It’s easy when you can drop seven or eight guys and only have to bring four. It’s a fun time to play like that.”

The Chargers turned in the defensive gem without the providers of All-Pro security Derwin James Jr., the crew’s main tackler this season, who left in the second quarter with an ankle injury. His backup, Tony Jefferson, was likewise hobbled by a hamstring injury. That left those duties to rookie security R.J. Mickens, who collected an interception early in the fourth quarter.

The Vikings transformed just three of 11 third downs. Chargers defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe had two sacks, and Tuli Tuipulotu, Khalil Mack and Odafe Oweh contributed one each.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert throws during the second half against the Vikings on Thursday.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

Mickens was one of a number of up-and-coming Chargers who made an affect, among them operating back Kimani Vidal, promoted from the follow squad in Week 6, who ran for 117 yards and a landing.

The 207 yards speeding — 62 by quarterback Justin Herbert — have been the most by the Chargers since the second week of the Harbaugh period last season. It’s just the kind of dominance that’s embraced by the coach who is so enamored by establishing a ground assault. And Herbert had 25 move makes an attempt, less than half as many (55) in the loss to the Colts.

The decisive victory propels the Chargers into their mini-bye on a high observe, washing away some of the bitter style of the past month. Their next sport is at the one-win Tennessee Titans on Nov 2. That means the Chargers could have more time to heal, very important recuperation for a crew so banged up.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert carries the ball during the second half against the Vikings on Thursday.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

Herbert threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns. He bought off to a horrible start, though, with an obvious interception on his second snap. He threw a short move to his left that wound up in the palms of diving cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, who climbed to his ft and returned the choose for an 18-yard landing.

The play was nullified, however, when replays confirmed the soccer touched the turf and moved when he hit the ground.

Having survived that scare, the Chargers took benefit of their new life with a 14-play landing drive capped by an eight-yard landing reception by rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II.

Chargers security R.J. Mickens (27) exhibits his pleasure after intercepting a move from Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz in the second half Thursday.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

“The great ones are measured by what they do after something goes bad,” Harbaugh said of Herbert’s response. “After there’s an interception — that’s the worst thing that can really happen to you as a quarterback — then chart what they do with the next drive.”

The coach said that sort of mistake would “shake” a lot of quarterbacks, but not Herbert.

“Having played the position, I know what that’s like,” Harbaugh said. “I mean, it’s like your brain, it’s searing. It’s like sirens and whistles and bells going off. And to be able to go ‘3, 2, 1, let it go’ and then come back and have a scoring drive. That’s another one reserved for the best of the best.”

Herbert has been pressured and hit more than any NFL quarterback this season, yet he bought a lot better safety Thursday evening, thanks in no small half to the return of left deal with Joe Alt.

The Chargers constructed a 21-3 lead in the first two quarters, a script-flipped model of what occurred in the Colts sport, when they discovered themselves in a 23-3 ditch at halftime.

This time, the Chargers had 29 first downs to 12 by the Vikings.

The defensive efficiency was a lot nearer to one the Chargers might need turned in last season when they led the AFC by permitting just 18.5 factors per sport. In the three video games prior to Thursday, that they had allowed an average of 30.6 factors.

If the Chargers proved something, it’s that they aren’t just scorers. They’re rebounders too.