6 plays that remind us that the Chargers have a bright future

The New York Jets may not have a win this season but that should not take away from how Justin Herbert performed or what the LA Chargers put together as a team to get their third win of the year. The Chargers won 34-28 and Herbert threw three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Jets.

The only other quarterback to throw at least three touchdowns with no picks against New York in 2020 is Patrick Mahomes. The only other guy to come close was Josh Allen.

Herbert has thrown multiple touchdowns in seven straight games, the longest streak in the NFL by two games, with only Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers in his vicinity. All totaled up, Herbert has thrown 22 touchdowns in nine games and 20 of those have come in the last eight.

Justin Herbert is a rookie.

He’s within five touchdowns of the rookie record despite having not started the first game of the season and there still be six contests remaining. The record is held by Baker Mayfield, who also threw 14 interceptions that year. Herbert has thrown six, but only three in his last six starts.

Given that we know Los Angeles also has young talent surrounding Herbert and more of the same on the defensive side of the ball, there’s even more reason for optimism than the Chargers finally getting another win. Would they like to beat teams like the Jets by more than eight points? Yes?

Good, because those days are ahead.

Justin Herbert can launch

He is impressive in so many ways. One of the ways is his deep passing, like this one for 54 yards to Tyron Johnson.

Justin Herbert can beat you down the middle

Mike Williams helped turn this into a 39-yard touchdown. Herbert finished the day with 366 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.

Justin Herbert can create and Justin Herbert can fire bullets

He’s got amazing vision and he seems to be getting better every week.

Keenan Allen’s franchise record 16 receptions

Allen was already all over the franchise’s leaderboard with games of 14 and 15 receptions. On Sunday he caught 16 of 19 for 145 yards and a touchdown. Allen has 81 catches on the year and he only need 24 more to set a new career-high. He has 835 yards and his six touchdowns ties the amount he had in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Tevaughn Campbell makes the first strike

A couple of things went horribly wrong for the Chargers early in the game but then the Jets happened. Campbell had two passes defensed and this touchdown on an incomprehensible throw by Joe Flacco. Keeping on the theme of exciting young prospects, Kenneth Murray had seven tackles, including one for a loss. Joe Bosa had five QB hits. And LA will be in position to add another defensive prospect early in the draft next year.

Denzel Perryman with a sack

Perryman is in his sixth season with the Chargers and deserves credit for having one of his best career days. Former first rounder Jerry Tillery added a QB hit of his own.