Chargers fall to Colts 38-24 as Herbert shines but OL struggles

The Los Angeles Chargers fell to the Indianapolis Colts 38-24 on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, dropping to 4-3 and handing the team a fourth-quarter deficit it could not erase despite a career-high passing night from quarterback Justin Herbert. The loss compounded a three-in-four slump for the Chargers and set up a short-week rematch at home Thursday against the Minnesota Vikings, who are also trying to stabilize a shaky start to the season.

Herbert completed 37 of 55 passes for 420 yards and three second-half touchdowns, setting a personal best for passing yards and a single-game franchise record for completions. Yet two first-half interceptions and an ineffective running game left Los Angeles trailing 23-3 at the break. The Colts scored on four of their first five drives, and Jonathan Taylor finished with three rushing touchdowns that the Chargers’ run defense could not contain.

One interception came when defensive tackle Grover Stewart batted a Herbert pass in the air and secured it himself. The other occurred in the red zone when safety Nick Cross jumped a pass intended for Quentin Johnston. Herbert was also under heavy pressure all night, hit 15 times and sacked three times —...