Swanson: Chargers, Justin Herbert mount resounding response

INGLEWOOD — What a response the Chargers mounted with their 34-27 victory over the Denver Broncos on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium.

What a recovery. A wholesale turnaround from the Brandon Staley era, including that embarrassing 63-21 loss in last season’s Thursday night game against the Las Vegas Raiders, a defeat that dropped the Chargers to 5-9 and cost Staley (and General Manager Tom Telesco) his job, clearing the way for Jim Harbaugh to come aboard and infuse the organization with enthusiasm unknown to man.

What a rebound. After two consecutive losses coming into this Thursday’s game, the Chargers muscled out a win, their ninth this season to move into the sixth spot in the AFC, in pole position to be back in the playoffs.

What a rally. After allowing 21 points and 147 rushing yards in the first half, the Chargers pivoted and scored 21 unanswered points themselves after halftime, pressuring the Broncos defensively and getting free offensively.

What a rebuttal! They can send out apology forms next week to all of Justin Herbert’s critics, including those “confused” experts who are so eager to express their dissatisfaction with the quarterback’s smart and often sensational play.

“He is so confusing to me,” former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said before the game on the “Thursday Night Football” broadcast. “Everybody has anointed him already because he looks the part, he’s a beautiful man, and he gets his haircut at Sports Clips and still looks great.

“He’s only thrown two picks this year. And that’s the narrative … he plays super conservative and careful. When they get behind in games I don’t feel like he’s the kind of guy that’s gonna bring them back.”

No?

“Justin Herbert has the size and the arm,” sports commentator Skip Bayless added in a post on social media halfway through the game. “But Bo Nix has a better feel for playing quarterback.”

Oh, but football games are long, Skip.

In the Duck-on-Duck drama, Nix finished 29-for-40 passing for 260 yards and two touchdowns, but after three touchdown drives to open the game, the rookie was outdone by the other former Oregon star.

Herbert threw just his third interception of the season in the first half as the Chargers’ offense – outside of Cameron Dicker, the kicker – sputtered and stalled. But the fifth-year NFL QB finished 23 for 30 for 284 yards, two touchdowns – both coming in the fourth quarter, including a dandy that he delivered across his body, through a tight window, depositing the pass into Derius Davis’ hands. Brilliant.

Herbert completed passes to 10 teammates. And he ran for another 45 yards – including a determined 16-yard scamper from the Chargers’ own 10-yard line on third down that spurred the touchdown drive that essentially iced the game on Hassan Haskins’ 34-yard touchdown that put them ahead 34-24 with 2:36 to play.

All that on a sprained ankle – and in a meaningful December game on national TV, with playoff stakes and the football world waiting to see how these Chargers would respond to the late-season adversity they had been dealt.

“The greatness of Justin Herbert,” Harbaugh calls it. “He’s back running and the throws, the arm, the coolness, the poise, you know?”

Said Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack on his team’s QB: “He is a special, special guy. I am glad everyone is getting a chance to finally see it.”

And Herbert’s on-the-record response following his rousing refutation: “Every single guy in that locker room gives his all, so it’s my responsibility to give my all. You play for each other, you play for the Chargers organization. And we care about each other and in that environment it’s easy to go out there and give it your all.”