Chargers pull ahead in OT to defeat Eagles in tight MNF win

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – In a season marred by team inconsistency. Los Angeles Chargerstheir “Monday Night Football” performance appeared to result in a loss in a similar manner.

The Chargers defense was stifled, leading to five turnovers from the field. Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurtsthe best performance of a Super Bowl MVP's career. But after the first touchdown, the Chargers offense stalled.

But Los Angeles' defense stalled when it needed it most for safety reasons. Tony Jefferson intercepted Hurts' pass and secured Victory in overtime 22-19. Chargers Quarterback Justin Herbert rushed for 66 yards, the third-fastest of his career, just seven days after surgery for a broken left arm.

It was the biggest win of the season for the Chargers, who appeared to be out of playoff contention. A win could help them reach the postseason for a second year in a row.

Los Angeles Chargers (9-4)

What to do with QB performance: Herbert injured his left hand clearly bothered him throughout the game, but he played without much limitation – taking snaps under center, scrambling for yards and absorbing hits. Herbert's scoring stats weren't impressive—he completed 12 of 26 passes for 139 yards—but some of that can be attributed to an Eagles defense that shut down receivers and put him under constant pressure. His performance with a broken hand was an encouraging sign for an offense heading into a four-game stretch in which every opponent is vying for a playoff spot or top seed (Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Denver).

Hole in the game plan: Passage protection.

Eagles' missing defensive star Jalen Carter — pressured Herbert on 68.3 percent of his dropbacks, according to NFL Next Gen stats, and sacked him seven times. One pressure in the second quarter resulted in an interception after an Eagles kicker. Jaelan Phillips pushed tackle Bobby Hart into Herbert's throwing hand. Pass protection has been an issue this season, especially since Joe AltSeason-ending right upper ankle injury in week nine. Since that injury, Herbert has been sacked 21 times, second most in the NFL (Geno Smith30).

A trend to watch: Usage between resource blocks Omarion Hampton And Kimani Vidal.

With first-round rookie Hampton returning for the first time since Week 5, he and Vidal shined.

They combined for 78 yards in the opening drive, capped by Hampton's 4-yard touchdown run. Their workloads were similar – Hampton with 13 carries and Vidal with 14 – and the coming weeks will show whether it should be a shared field or whether Hampton will be the primary back again. — Chris Rome

Next game: V Kansas City Chiefs (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

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Philadelphia Eagles (8-5)

Entering Monday night's game on the back of a two-game skid, the Eagles needed Hurts to shake the offense out of its funk and lead the team to a stabilizing win over the Chargers.

Instead, he produced one of the worst performances of his career, which contributed greatly to their defeat.

Hurts had five turnovers, including an interception in overtime that ended a promising drive at the goal line. He's been defending the football like everyone else for most of the season, but he's had seven turnovers over the last two games. His receiving corps could help him more… AJ BrownA collapse at center in the second half led to a peak, but Hurts held the offense in check better than anyone else against Los Angeles.

A mediocre walk would have been enough on a night when the defense recorded seven sacks and Saquon Barkley rediscovered some of his 2024 magic with a 50-plus-yard touchdown.

The Eagles remain in solid position to win the NFC East. But their offensive woes have reached crisis levels, fueling fears in Philadelphia that the defending champions are headed for a 2023-like collapse.

Most amazing performance: Two surprise defenders made a big impact on the game. Cornerback Adoree Jacksonthe subject of close attention in the team's attempts to identify the opposing CB2. Quinion Mitchellthrew an interception and picked off two passes on defense to continue his improved play. Defensive tackle Byron Young made the most of his increased role in Jalen CarterNo player with 1.5 sacks, two QB hits and a tackle for loss.

Trend to watch: Kicker Jake Elliott has three missed field goal attempts and one missed extra point attempt over the last three games. He missed a 48-yard attempt late in the second quarter Monday. With the offense struggling, the difference is too small to sustain inconsistent kicking in the long run.

Stat to know: Barkley's 52-yard run early in the fourth quarter was his 15th career 50-yard rushing touchdown, including playoffs, tying him for second most in NFL history with Barry Sanders. Adrian Peterson16 years old. Barkley entered Monday's contest with just one run of 40-plus yards on the season. — Tim McManus

Next game: against. Las Vegas Raiders (1 p.m. EST, Fox)