INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers delivered a commanding performance against the New Orleans Saints, securing a 26-8 victory at SoFi Stadium on Sunday. The Chargers’ defense stifled the Saints’ offense, handing New Orleans its sixth consecutive loss—a low not seen since their 2005 season—while the Chargers advanced to a 4-3 record.
New Orleans struggled to find their rhythm with Spencer Rattler at quarterback, completing just 12 of 24 passes for 156 yards before being replaced in the second half by Jake Haener. The second-year quarterback provided a brief spark, completing nine of 17 passes for 122 yards, but failed to steer the Saints past Los Angeles’s defense. Blake Grupe managed two field goals, and the Saints recorded their first safety since 2020 when an errant snap led to a botched punt by JK Scott.
Chargers’ rookie wideout Ladd McConkey had a breakout game, hauling in six receptions for 111 yards, including two touchdowns. McConkey’s standout moment came in the third quarter with a 60-yard touchdown catch that marked the Chargers’ first second-half touchdown since Week 1. “That’s pretty cool, so hopefully I get another,” McConkey said, reflecting on his milestone as the first Chargers rookie receiver in 11 years to achieve a 100-yard game.
Quarterback Justin Herbert was instrumental in the Chargers’ victory, accumulating 328 total yards—279 through the air and 48 on the ground—and throwing two touchdown passes. Herbert praised McConkey, stating, “He’s a complete receiver. To have that short game and those intermediate routes that he’s been so good at, and now you open up some of those go balls that you’ve got to respect.”
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh lauded Herbert and McConkey’s chemistry, highlighting McConkey’s spectacular 60-yard score as a decisive momentum swing. “I mean, it’s what we needed,” Harbaugh commented on the play that widened the Chargers’ lead.
Despite the absence of Derek Carr due to an oblique injury, the Saints aimed to rally but couldn’t overcome the Chargers’ fortified defense. “I think we all understand that it’s a results-oriented business, and we need to play better football,” said Saints coach Dennis Allen, who now faces mounting pressure following the team’s lackluster performance.
Saints running back Alvin Kamara, fresh off signing a two-year, $24.5 million extension, managed 122 total yards, while Chris Olave contributed eight catches for 107 yards. Yet, these efforts were overshadowed by the Saints’ offensive struggles and the Chargers’ unyielding defensive front.
The Chargers capitalized on the Saints’ miscues, with fullback and defensive tackle Scott Matlock making NFL history by recording both a sack and a reception in the same game, a feat last accomplished in 2019. Matlock sacked Rattler early in the third quarter and caught a 9-yard pass in the fourth.
With Herbert’s dynamic play and McConkey’s emergence as a reliable target, the Chargers look to build on their momentum as they prepare to visit Cleveland this Sunday.
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