Herbert throws 5 TDs as Chargers edge 49ers 40-38

Inglewood, CA - Justin Herbert threw for 418 yards and five touchdowns as the Los Angeles Chargers extended their winning streak to five games with a 40-38 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 15.

The two-point result continued the teams' movement in opposite directions. Los Angeles entered the game with four consecutive wins and emerged with another, while San Francisco absorbed its fourth straight loss after arriving in Inglewood on a three-game skid.

Herbert completed 28 of 37 passes and finished with a 151.8 passer rating. His 418 passing yards were the game high, and his longest completion covered 76 yards. That connection also stood as the longest reception of the game.

"We were productive through the air, and a lot of guys contributed," Herbert said. "Five touchdown passes reflects how many people were involved. We had different players giving us production, and we needed all of it in a game with that kind of score."

Quentin Johnston delivered the largest receiving total, catching four passes for a game-high 109 yards and two touchdowns. Ladd McConkey added 97 yards and a touchdown on three receptions, including the 76-yard gain, while David Njoku caught seven passes for 91 yards and another score.

The breadth of that production gave Los Angeles three receivers with at least 91 yards. Johnston supplied the Chargers' only 100-yard receiving performance, while McConkey's average of more than 32 yards per catch reflected the explosive side of a passing attack that finished with 409 team passing yards.

"There were chances for yards and chances in the end zone," Johnston said. "I wanted to be reliable whenever the ball came my way. When several guys are producing, everybody has to stay ready for his opportunity."

The Chargers finished with 440 offensive yards despite gaining only 31 on the ground. Their passing total exceeded San Francisco's by 207 yards, and Los Angeles recorded 21 first downs to the 49ers' 18.

Third-down efficiency offered another pronounced contrast. Los Angeles converted 9 of 12 attempts, while San Francisco went 3-for-7. Inside the red zone, the Chargers recorded three touchdowns and two field goals across seven trips. The 49ers had two touchdowns and one field goal in six red-zone possessions.

San Francisco countered the Chargers' passing advantage with the game's leading rushing performance. Christian McCaffrey carried 13 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns, with a long run of 29 yards. He accounted for nearly all of the 49ers' 136 team rushing yards and was the only player in the game with more than 12 yards on the ground.

"The production on the ground was there, but the result is what sticks with you," McCaffrey said. "Putting up 38 points and leaving without the win is frustrating. There are things we can take from it, but the first thing you feel is the loss."

Brock Purdy completed 18 of 27 passes for 208 yards, one touchdown and one interception, finishing with an 86.6 passer rating. Ricky Pearsall led San Francisco's receivers with 60 yards on three catches as the 49ers totaled 338 offensive yards.

The teams each recorded one sack, but Los Angeles also came away with the game's only interception. San Francisco's defense did not record a takeaway. The 49ers converted their lone successful fourth-down attempt on two tries, yet the statistical profile remained sharply divided: San Francisco held the substantial rushing advantage, while Los Angeles generated more than twice as many team passing yards.

For the Chargers, the result moved a winning streak that began at four games into a fifth consecutive victory. Herbert's five-touchdown performance and a deep receiving group stood at the center of a 40-point output. San Francisco produced 38 points and a 124-yard rushing performance from McCaffrey but remained on the wrong side of a close final score for its fourth consecutive defeat.

Up Next

Los Angeles will take its five-game winning streak on the road against the Miami Dolphins in Week 16, while San Francisco will try to rebound when it visits the Kansas City Chiefs.