Justin Herbert outduels Derek Carr, Chargers beat division-rival Raiders

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Justin Herbert threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns, Khalil Mack had three sacks in his Chargers debut and Los Angeles defeated Las Vegas 24-19 on Sunday, spoiling Josh McDaniels’ first game as the Raiders’ coach.

The game was a rematch of last season’s finale, which Las Vegas won on a field goal in the final seconds of overtime to knock the Chargers out of a playoff spot.

Herbert completed 26 of 34 passes and had a 129.4 passer rating despite Keenan Allen leaving with a hamstring injury in the first half and Mike Williams not having a catch until the fourth quarter.

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Safety Nasir Adderley #24 of the Los Angeles Chargers and cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. #26 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrate after Samuel’s interception during the fourth quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Derek Carr was 22 of 37 for 295 yards and two touchdowns but was picked off three times. He connected 10 times with former Fresno State teammate Davante Adams, who was acquired from Green Bay in the offseason. Adams had 141 receiving yards, including a 2-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

All three of Herbert’s TDs went to players added during the offseason. Fullback Zander Horvath, a seventh-round pick, and DeAndre Carter scored in the second quarter to give the Chargers a 17-3 lead at halftime.

Gerald Everett had an 18-yard TD reception midway through the third quarter where he dragged Raiders safety Roderic Teamer the final 3 yards into the end zone to make it 24-10.

RAIDERS’ DAVANTE ADAMS SAYS HE AND DEREK CARR ‘ALMOST DIED TOGETHER’

Carter and Everett each had three catches. Carter had 64 yards and Everett 54.

Los Angeles has won its last four openers.

The Chargers’ defense also benefited from its new additions. Besides Mack’s standout performance, Bryce Callahan jumped a route on a ball intended for Darren Waller for an interception in the fourth quarter.

It was the second time in his nine-year career Carr was picked off three times and the first since the 2018 opener against the Los Angeles Rams.

Quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders fumbles the ball during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Harry How/Getty Images)

TARGETED EARLY

Adams was targeted five times on the Raiders’ opening drive and had three receptions for 54 yards. According to Sportradar, he is the third player since at least 2009 to be targeted at least five times on the opening drive of the season.

The drive ended with Daniel Carlson’s 23-yard field goal to tie it at 3.

INJURIES

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 2022-2023 NFL SCHEDULE

Raiders: CB Anthony Averett suffered a thumb injury in the first half and did not return. … S Tre’von Moehrig (hip) was injured in the third quarter and did not return. Bolden (hamstring) and WR DJ Turner (ankle) suffered second-half injuries.

Chargers: Allen had four receptions for 66 yards before his injury. He had a 42-yard catch on the second-quarter drive that ended with Horvath’s 1-yard TD catch that gave the Chargers a 7-3 lead.

Quarterback Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers attempts a pass during the first half against the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Harry How/Getty Images)

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UP NEXT

Raiders: Host the Chicago Bears next Sunday.

Chargers: At Kansas City on Thursday night.