Bears rookie Tyson Bagent didn’t fare as well as he did in his first NFL start last week
Justin Herbert played a pivotal role in leading the Los Angeles Chargers to a crucial victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night, with a final score of 30-15. This win marked a much-needed return to the victory column for the Chargers after enduring consecutive losses.
In recent weeks, Herbert had faced criticism for his performance, characterized by missed passes and struggles in igniting the Chargers’ offense. These challenges were exacerbated by his ongoing struggle with a dislocated finger on his non-throwing hand. However, Sunday night’s game showcased a different Herbert.
During the first half, Herbert showcased his prowess by completing an impressive 15 consecutive passes, kickstarting the game in the manner that head coach Brandon Staley and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore had been eagerly anticipating.
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In the first half of the game against the Bears, Justin Herbert delivered one of his strongest performances of the season. He initiated an impressive 92-yard drive at the start of the game, culminating in a brilliantly executed screen pass to Austin Ekeler. Ekeler, the versatile offensive weapon who has been working his way back to full form after an ankle injury, seized the opportunity. He eluded a defender and capitalized on a wall of blockers, covering 39 yards with ease in a catch-and-run play.
While Ekeler’s ground game didn’t shine on this particular night, recording 15 carries for 29 yards, he excelled as the Chargers’ top receiver, amassing 94 yards from seven receptions, which included his first receiving touchdown of the season. The Chargers and their fans hope to see more of such dynamic plays from Ekeler in the games to come.
Following the successful Ekeler touchdown drive, Justin Herbert continued to impress with another passing touchdown. This time, he connected with backup tight end Simi Fehoko, marking Fehoko’s first touchdown of the season.
AUSTIN EKELER! His first receiving TD of the year 🙌
— NFL (@NFL) October 30, 2023
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Later in the first half, Herbert found Donald Parham Jr. for his third and final touchdown pass of the game. Parham, a sizable tight end, displayed his agility by eluding a Bears defender and powering his way into the end zone. This score was his fourth of the season.
Herbert’s performance for the day was noteworthy, completing 31 of 40 passes for 298 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions. This marked the first time in three weeks that he managed to avoid throwing an interception, demonstrating his proficiency and control in the game.
The Chicago Bears had a promising story in rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent, who recently impressed by stepping in for the injured Justin Fields and delivering a strong performance against the Las Vegas Raiders. However, in this particular game against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Bears faced challenges in getting their offense into gear.
Bagent’s statistics for the game showed he completed 25 of 37 passes for 232 yards, although he struggled with two interceptions and didn’t manage to throw any touchdown passes.
Bagent’s primary target throughout the game was tight end Cole Kmet, who caught all 10 passes thrown his way, amassing a total of 79 receiving yards. Star wide receiver DJ Moore also contributed with four receptions for 55 yards, though the Bears had difficulty finding the end zone in this matchup.
D’Onta Foreman played a crucial role in the Bears’ previous victory, securing three total touchdowns. However, in the game against the Chargers, he faced a tough challenge, managing just 34 yards on nine carries as the Chargers’ defense held the Bears to a mere 73 rushing yards.
Tyson Bagent did manage to find the end zone late in the game with a rushing touchdown, marking his second rushing touchdown in his early career.
With this win, the Chargers ended their losing streak, bringing their season record to 3-4. Looking ahead, Justin Herbert and the team will aim to maintain their momentum in the upcoming “Monday Night Football” matchup against the New York Jets.
On the other side, the Bears will be monitoring Justin Fields’ status for next week’s game against the New Orleans Saints on the road, hoping for his return.