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Chargers’ 20-16 victory over Washington by the numbers

Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (30) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against the Washington Football Team.
Chargers running back Austin Ekeler scores the first touchdown of the game against Washington.
(Alex Brandon / Associated Press)
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9

Games that the Chargers’ Justin Herbert has surpassed 300 yards passing in his first two seasons. Since 1950, only Dan Marino and Patrick Mahomes have more (10) in their first two seasons.

2

Herbert became the second player to throw for more than 4,500 yards in his first 16 games. Mahomes was the first.

14-19

The Chargers converted an amazing 14 of 19 third-down plays for a first down. Washington came through on only three of 10 attempts.

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17

Combined catches for the Chargers’ top receivers. Keenan Allen had nine grabs for 100 yards on 13 targets, and Mike Williams eight for 82 yards, with a touchdown, on 12 targets.

6

Washington’s Ryan Fitzpatrick, knocked out of the game in the first quarter, is the only quarterback since 1950 to start a season opener for six teams. He also started for Buffalo, Houston, the N.Y. Jets, Tampa Bay and Miami.

It wasn’t a perfect start to the season for the Chargers, but they responded to earn rookie coach Brandon Staley his first victory, a 20-16 road win over Washington.

Sept. 12, 2021

Summary

CHARGERS 7 6 0 7 — 20
Washington 3 6 7 0 — 16

First Quarter

CHARGERS — Ekeler 3 run (Vizcaino kick), 9:19. Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 5:46. Key plays: Herbert 10 pass to Guyton, Ekeler 11 run, Rountree 13 run, Herbert 11 pass to M.Williams, Herbert 7 pass to Keenan Allen on 3rd and 5. CHARGERS 6, Washington 0.

Washington — Field goal Hopkins 30, 3:00. Drive: 6 plays, 36 yards, 3:07. Key plays: Gibson 27 run, Fitzpatrick 2 run on 3rd and 7. CHARGERS 7, Washington 3.

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Second Quarter

Washington — Field goal Hopkins 43, 13:40. Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards, 2:49. Key play: Gibson 6 run on 3rd-and 2. CHARGERS 7, Washington 6.

CHARGERS — Field goal Vizcaino 33, 9:09. Drive: 11 plays, 76 yards, 4:30. Key plays: Herbert 18 pass to M.Williams, Herbert 16 pass to Keenan Allen, Herbert 10 pass to Ke.Allen, Herbert 22 pass to Guyton on 3rd and 3. CHARGERS 10, Washington 6.

CHARGERS — Field goal Vizcaino 27, :48. Drive: 18 plays, 65 yards, 7:52. Key plays: Herbert 6 pass to M.Williams on 3rd and 7, Nabers 2 run on 3rd and 1, Herbert 17 pass to Guyton, Herbert 4 pass to M.Williams on 3rd and 3, Herbert 17 pass to Palmer, Herbert 11 pass to M.Williams, Herbert 2 run on 3rd-and 1. CHARGERS 13, Washington 6.

Washington — Field goal Hopkins 48, :05. Drive: 6 plays, 45 yards, 00:45. Key play: Heinicke 12 pass to L.Thomas. CHARGERS 13, Washington 9.

Third Quarter
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Washington — L.Thomas 11 pass from Heinicke (Hopkins kick), 11:29. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 3:40. Key plays: Carter kick return to Washington 19, Heinicke 11 pass to Gibson, Heinicke 34 pass to McLaurin on 3rd and 6. Washington 16, CHARGERS 13.

Fourth Quarter

CHARGERS — M.Williams 3 pass from Herbert (Vizcaino kick), 11:25. Drive: 3 plays, 3 yards, 00:45. CHARGERS 20, Washington 16.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: CHARGERS, Ekeler 15-57, Rountree 8-27, Jackson 1-5, Nabers 1-2, Herbert 4-(minus 1). WASHINGTON, Gibson 20-90, Heinicke 3-17, Patterson 2-9, McKissic 1-8, Fitzpatrick 1-2.

PASSING: CHARGERS, Herbert 31-47-1-337. WASHINGTON, Heinicke 11-15-0-122, Fitzpatrick 3-6-0-13.

RECEIVING: CHARGERS, Allen 9-100, Williams 8-82, Cook 5-56, Guyton 3-49, Hill 3-30, Palmer 1-17, Jackson 1-2, Anderson 1-1. WASHINGTON, McLaurin 4-62, Thomas 3-30, Gibson 3-18, Humphries 2-10, Sims 1-17, Brown 1-(minus 2).

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PUNT RETURNS: CHARGERS, Hill 1-3. WASHINGTON, Carter 2-22.

KICKOFF RETURNS: CHARGERS, Adderley 2-35. WASHINGTON, Carter 3-65.

TACKLES-ASSISTS-SACKS: CHARGERS, Murray 6-4-0, James 6-1-0, Samuel 4-1-0, Davis 4-0-0, Covington 3-2-0, White 3-2-0, Bosa 3-1-1, Adderley 2-0-0, Joseph 1-2-0, Gilman 1-0-0, Jones 1-0-0, Nwosu 1-0-0, Banks 0-1-0. WASHINGTON, Holcomb 8-3-0, McCain 7-3-0, Bostic 5-3-0, Fuller 4-1-0, Jackson 4-0-0, St-Juste 4-0-0, Curl 3-0-0, Sweat 2-2-1, Payne 2-2-0, Ioannidis 2-1-0, Davis 2-0-0, J.Allen 1-2-1, Young 1-2-0, McTyer 1-0-0, Toohill 1-0-0, Collins 0-2-0, Settle 0-1-0, Smith-Williams 0-1-0.

INTERCEPTIONS: CHARGERS, None. WASHINGTON, Jackson 1-0.

FIELD GOALS MISSED: WASHINGTON, Hopkins 51.

Officials — Referee Alex Kemp, Ump Rich Hall, HL Mike Carr, LJ Jeff Bergman, FJ John Jenkins, SJ Dale Shaw, BJ Scott Helverson, Replay Mike Chase.

Attendance — 52,753.

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