Marcus Mariota, Justin Herbert Battle On Thursday Night Football
It was supposed to be a game between Derek Carr and Justin Herbert, but an injury ended Carr’s night early and two former Oregon Ducks Marcus Mariota and Justin Herbert played it out on Thursday Night Football.
For the Los Angeles Chargers, it was a game to improve and look forward to 2021. When Las Vegas Raiders Starting Quarterback Derek Carr went out with an injury, it became a battle of former Oregon Quarterbacks with Marcus Mariota coming in for the Raiders and Justin Herbert making plays for Los Angeles.
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Justin Herbert was the first-round pick for the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2020 NFL Draft. Tyrod Taylor was named the starter at the beginning of the season, but a doctor’s shot for pain punctured a lung, and Taylor was sidelined. In stepped Herbert and he has found a way to be productive despite an injured offensive line for most of the season.
Marcus Mariota has had some struggles this season, as he has in past seasons with injuries. He was recovered enough from a shoulder injury to come off of injured reserve last month to rejoin the Los Angeles Raiders. Both Mariota and Herbert threw the ball around and found completions for most of the game.
Justin Herbert threw his 27th passing touchdown on the season, the most for a rookie QB. Mariota showed he can be impressive when healthy. He took the Raiders on a drive late in the game that lasted more than 10 minutes and scored the touchdown himself. It tied the game at 24. Herbert on the night was 21 for 30 for 261 yards.
The former Oregon Duck threw back to back passes to Darren Waller to get the ball to the Los Angeles 23 yard line. Mariota then threw a costly interception that was returned 51-yards by Chris Harris. It was the first interception of the game setting up Los Angeles.
Herbert would be sacked on third down on the ensuing drive setting up a field goal for Michael Badgley. He has missed the most field goals this season in the NFL with nine. The game would go to overtime tied at 24.
Marcus Mariota would get the ball first in OT. He would get the ball down to the 3-yard line and a field goal gave the Raiders a 27-24 lead. Justin Herbert would have a chance to win the game and just over 3 minutes to do it.
Justin Hebert had a pass interference call go the Chargers way on the second play of the drive. Jaylen Guyton caught the next pass at the three-yard line setting up first and goal for Los Angeles. The 53-yard play was the longest of the game. Herbert won the game in the end with his legs scoring from a yard out with under two minutes to go to give LA a 30-27 victory. It was the Chargers’ first win vs the AFC West since 2018 and back-to-back game-winning drives for Herbert.
Los Angeles now has some time off before hosting the Denver Broncos on December 27th at 1:05 pm Pacific Time on CBS.