Winslow Townson/Getty Images
The Los Angeles Chargers cruised past the host New England Patriots 40-7 en route to clinch a playoff berth on Saturday.
The dominant performance cemented a tremendous one-season turnaround under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, who’s worked his magic in college stops (San Diego, Stanford, Michigan) and the pros (San Francisco 49ers) before heading to L.A. from Ann Arbor and doing the same again.
The Bolts went 5-12 last year but have doubled their win total with one game to go under Harbaugh, whose efforts should have him under consideration for Coach of the Year.
As for Saturday, L.A. entered the afternoon in position to make the playoffs with a win, and the Bolts left no doubt in a rout.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert completed 26-of-38 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns. He’s now No. 1 all-time in passing yards among quarterbacks in their first five seasons.
He connected with Derius Davis for a 23-yard touchdown in the first quarter to cap a 91-yard drive before finding rookie wideout Ladd McConkey for six-yard and 40-yard touchdowns in the second and third quarters, respectively.
The latter McConkey score finished off a 10-play, 94-yard drive that effectively put the game away and gave L.A. a 27-7 lead.
McConkey had eight receptions for 94 yards and became the franchise’s rookie receiving leader in the process.
NFL @NFL
Ladd McConkey sets a new <a href=”https://twitter.com/chargers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Chargers</a> rookie receiving record, breaking Keenan Allen’s yardage from 2013.<br><br>📺: <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/LACvsNE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#LACvsNE</a> on NFL Network<br>📱: Stream on <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#NFLPlus</a> <a href=”https://t.co/dUSJNVFPdS”>pic.twitter.com/dUSJNVFPdS</a>
This was a thorough beatdown from start to finish. L.A. opened a 20-7 halftime lead, and it felt as though the Chargers could have been up even more.
The Bolts defense dominated the Patriots.
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson notably had just one yard on two carries. Through the air, Pats rookie quarterback Drake Maye did little outside a 36-yard touchdown toss to Pop Douglas. For the day, he was 12-of-22 for 117 yards.
For the game, the Chargers outgained the Patriots 428-181. They had 29 first downs to New England’s 11 and possessed the ball for 40:34.
Both teams went to the bench in the fourth quarter with the game no longer in doubt. During that frame, Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins (76 rushing yards) punched one last touchdown in.
In sum, it was an incredible victory for the Harbaugh-led Chargers, and fans recognized the head coach’s phenomenal season most recently punctuated by this 33-point win.
eddie_graciano @nez7won4
Playoffs on a rebuild year <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/BoltUp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#BoltUp</a> thank you coach <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Harbaugh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Harbaugh</a> and <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Herbert?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Herbert</a> <a href=”https://t.co/yetpD7gQL1″>pic.twitter.com/yetpD7gQL1</a>
Ryan DePaul @RyanDePaul
This “win and in” game is the type of game that the Brandon Staley Chargers would drop.<br><br>The Jim Harbaugh Chargers, have us w/ our feet up relaxing to a 30-7 shellacking, as the Chargers are 1Q away from doubling their win total from last season & clinching a playoff berth. <a href=”https://t.co/GdYArY6jLN”>pic.twitter.com/GdYArY6jLN</a>
Sam Block @theblockspot
Stanford with Jim Harbaugh? Great.<br>Stanford since then? Not great.<br><br>49ers before Jim? Not great.<br>49ers with Jim? Great.<br><br>Michigan before Jim? Not great.<br>Michigan with Jim? Great.<br>Michigan since then? Not great.<br><br>Chargers before Jim? Not great.<br>Chargers with Jim? Playoffs.<br><br>Elite.
𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓼𝓮𝓪 @Chelsea_Nykole
I couldn’t stand how high strung Harbaugh was with the 49ers but he’s always been a hell of a coach. I’m glad he’s on our side now. Chargers in the playoffs 😎<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chargers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Chargers</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/BoltUp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#BoltUp</a>
Don Thomas @REALDonThomas
Michigan Football had an unfair competitive advantage by having one of the greatest football coaches that ever lived as a head coach.<br><br>After going 5-12 last year, Jim Harbaugh has the Los Angeles Chargers in the playoffs in his first season at the helm. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoBlue?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#GoBlue</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/BoltUp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#BoltUp</a> <a href=”https://t.co/MGLlhz7qMU”>pic.twitter.com/MGLlhz7qMU</a>
Eddie_King @Friar2Bolts
Just a quick reminder this is Jim Harbaugh’s FIRST year as HC of the Chargers. Took over a team that was 5-12 last year with 75% roster that he did not install. Jim has the Chargers qualifying for the playoffs (10-6 atm) with one game left in the season. Coaching matters and if… <a href=”https://t.co/k95lSwdaJO”>pic.twitter.com/k95lSwdaJO</a>
The Chargers close out the regular season on Sunday, Jan. 5 at the 3-12 Las Vegas Raiders.
The following weekend, they’ll be on the road in the AFC Wild Card round against a to-be-determined opponent.