The defense and QB Justin Herbert buoyed the Chargers as they avoided another late-game meltdown to beat the Bengals on Sunday night, a scenario that illustrated how different the team is under coach Jim Harbaugh.
— The Los Angeles Chargers have long been synonymous with losing in the most heartbreaking fashion.
As Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase danced in the end zone in the fourth quarter Sunday after helping Cincinnati rally from an 18-point first-half deficit, this game appeared to be another chapter in a book laden with Chargers disappointments.
But Sunday night was different. The defense and quarterback Justin Herbert buoyed the Chargers as they avoided another late-game meltdown to beat the Bengals 34-27. The win was the most glaring declaration of how different these Chargers are under coach Jim Harbaugh.
« This team came with more purpose », linebacker Daiyan Henley said on what’s different about the Chargers with Harbaugh. « Maybe it wasn’t there last year for whatever reason, but right now we have purpose, we have belief. »
Outside linebacker Joey Bosa is the longest-tenured Charger, drafted by the team in San Diego in 2016.
In a meeting with the defense on Saturday, he told them about a cynical feeling that would overcome Chargers teams in big games that they would always somehow lose.
