Chargers take advantage of Raiders’ decision to punt on late 4th-and-1

09.09.2024 05:01

DailyNews.com

INGLEWOOD — As pivotal decisions go, none was bigger than Las Vegas coach Antonio Pierce’s decision to punt on fourth-and-1 at the Chargers’ 43-yard line with his team trailing 16-10 with a little more than seven minutes to play in the season-opening game for both teams Sunday at SoFi Stadium.

The Chargers had already stuffed the Raiders on a fourth-and-1 run earlier in the game, taking over on downs, and maybe that played into Pierce’s decision to punt instead of trying for a run or pass that could have netted a first down and a chance to continue driving for a potential go-ahead touchdown.

Then again, perhaps he was thinking a quality punt would pin the Chargers deep in their own end of the field. Stopping them and forcing them to punt, would give the Raiders the ball back with plenty of time to play. AJ Cole did his job, forcing Derius Davis’ fair catch at his own 8-yard line.

Then a funny thing happened.

The Chargers drove the ball down the field for a back-breaking score and an eventual 22-10 victory. They went 92 yards on eight plays over 3 minutes, 29 seconds, sealing the game on Justin Herbert’s 10-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey with 3:40 remaining.

A two-point conversion attempt failed, but no matter.

The game was theirs.

There would be no repeat of the many times in the 2023 season that the Chargers couldn’t seal the deal, couldn’t maintain possession or a lead late in a game. In fact, they lost seven games in the final 2:33 or later on field goals or touchdowns that wiped out leads or broke ties.

There would be no repeat Sunday.

Not only did the Chargers capitalize on the Raiders’ decision to punt, they also stopped Las Vegas’ final drive on defensive lineman Poona Ford’s interception of Gardner Minshew II with 1:44 remaining in the game. Edge rusher Khalil Mack tipped the ball and Ford said he “just watched it into my arms.”

Watching and cheering from the sideline as the Chargers drove for their final touchdown, defensive lineman Morgan Fox recalled that it was “great to see us finish a game. We know we’ve always been able to do it, and to put it together against an opponent like this was awesome.”