Week 5 Recap: Los Angeles Chargers vs. New Orleans Saints

The Los Angeles Chargers traveled to New Orleans to take on the Saints in Week 5. Chargers’ rookie quarterback Justin Herbert put on a show in his first career Monday night start, passing for 264 yards and four touchdowns. After a brutal first half, the Saints bounced back and sent the game to overtime, where they won 30-27 on a game-winning field goal.

First Half

Los Angeles dominated the first half on both ends of the ball. On the Chargers’ second drive, Hebert escaped the pocket and found Keenan Allen for a 17-yard touchdown to take the first lead of the game. The Saints responded with a quick drive that ended in a field goal, making the score 6-3 at the end of the first.

On the following drive, Herbert connected with rookie wideout Jalen Guyton for 49 yards, setting up a Mike Williams touchdown catch on the next play. After a pair of punts, Drew Brees threw an errant pass into the hands of Chargers defensive back Nasir Adderley, who returned the ball 39 yards to the New Orleans 1-yard line.

Herbert found tight end Hunter Henry three plays later for another touchdown, putting the Chargers up 20-3 late in the first half. Brees led the Saints quickly down the field for a touchdown to end the half down 20-10.

Second Half

The Saints came out firing in the second half. They shut down the Chargers offense on three straight possessions and later Brees hit Jared Cook for a 41-yard touchdown to tie the game at 20. With five minutes left in the game, Herbert threw a bomb down the field to Williams who found the endzone on a 64-yard catch and run.

Unfortunately for the Chargers, Brees got the ball back with time left on the clock. He drove the Saints down the field, tying the game on a Taysom Hill touchdown run. The Chargers would get a chance at a 50-yard field goal to win the game at the end of regulation, but Michael Badgley’s kick hit the right upright and was no good.

Overtime

New Orleans won the coin toss and elected to receive. They drove 48 yards down the field, which ended in the eventual game-winning field goal by Wil Lutz. The Chargers would get a chance with the ball, however, cornerback Marshon Lattimore sealed the game by tackling Williams one yard short of the first down marker on fourth and seven.

Highlights

THIS DUO.@Keenan13Allen | #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/d2oeE47g4w

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 13, 2020

DEEP THREAT.@darealmike_dub | #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/KzTjnrTJzr

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 13, 2020

HANDS 🙌#Saints | 📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/rHoAQzkHyO

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 13, 2020

The Saints move to 3-2 and will head into their bye week. They’ll look to continue their success in Week 7 against a red hot Carolina Panthers team. Meanwhile, the Chargers drop to 1-4 and will look to bounce back next week against a struggling New York Jets squad.

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