Missing offensive linemen Joe Alt and Trey Pipkins III, plus top two running backs Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton, the Los Angeles Chargers had to rely on Justin Herbert to throw on nearly down in a home game against the Indianapolis Colts.
They tried just 16 running plays in a 38-24 loss, six of them scrambles by Herbert, the other 10 good for only 23 yards as Herbert threw 55 times. Ten-year pro and former Duck DeForest Buckner sacked him twice.
Herbert threw for a career-best 420 yards, but under constant pressure he tossed a season-worst two interceptions, one after reaching the Colt 28, the other after a drive reached the opponent's 8-yard line. The visitors led 23-3 at the half.
Buckner generated 10 pressures in 50 snaps while he and his teammates scored ten quarterback hits on the former president of the Sheldon High Fishing Club, who's now dating a pop star and making $52.5 million a year in the NFL.
We had DeForest Buckner with 12 pass rush wins today.
— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) October 20, 2025
That's the most by an interior defender since Dexter Lawrence in Week 8 of 2023 (vs. Jets). pic.twitter.com/cVWXNmJdDk
The loss dropped the Chargers into second place in the AFC West at 4-3, while surprising Indianapolis has raced out to a two-game lead in the AFC South at 6-1.
Elsewhere in the NFL, Dillon Gabriel fought off 25 mph wind gusts to lead Cleveland to a 31-6 win over Miami. The rookie from Oregon and Mililani Hawaii won his first game as a pro, completing 13-18 passes for 116 yards as Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins ran for 84 yards and three touchdowns.
In Jacksonville, Rams rookie Terrance Ferguson scored his first NFL touchdown pass, hauling in a 31-yard scoring strike from Matthew Stafford as the Rams beat the Jaguars 35-7.
Terrance Ferguson, first NFL TD!pic.twitter.com/lxgaVYfaue
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) October 19, 2025