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Justin Herbert and the Chargers Veer Happily Off Course

Peter Joneleit/Associated Press

The Los Angeles Chargers could have played it safe. Ahead by 10 points with under four minutes left against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, the team might have handed the ball off and run down the clock to finally end a four-game losing streak.

Having Justin Herbert under center, however, has changed the team’s math. On third-and-5 at the Jaguars’ 34-yard line, offensive coordinator Shane Steichen ended a timeout by giving the rookie quarterback the go-ahead to throw to receiver Keenan Allen, who gained 8 yards and a new set of downs. Soon after, Herbert knelt out the clock to earn his first N.