INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers snapped their two-game losing streak.
The Chargers (3-4) bolted out to a 17-7 lead and didn’t look back as they dominated the Chicago Bears (2-6), 30-13, on "Sunday Night Football."
Herbert completed his first 15 passes to begin the game as the quarterback led the Chargers on four-straight scoring drives to begin the first half.
The Chargers had a 24-7 lead at halftime and increased their advantage 30-7 entering the fourth quarter as fans started to head toward the exits in the final period.
Herbert ended 31-of-40 passing for 298 yards and three touchdowns, resulting in a 122.7 passer rating in what was the most complete performance for the Chargers team this season.
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The Bears struggled for nearly the entire game. Bears QB Tyson Bagent was intercepted twice in the loss. Bagent finished with 232 passing yards.
The Chargers defense was led by linebacker Eric Kendricks, who had 10 tackles. Cornerback Ja'Sir Taylor and safety Derwin James each had interceptions. — Tyler Dragon
The Chargers ended a two-game losing streak with a thorough defeat of the Bears at SoFi Stadium.
Justin Herbert: Herbert, who is playing with a broken middle finger on his left, non-throwing hand, completed his first 14 passes and finished 31-of-40 for 298 yards and three touchdowns. He did not throw an interception, nor was he sacked in the victory, and posted a passer rating of 122.7. Herbert directed the Chargers to points on the team's first five drives, marking the first time in six seasons they have accomplished that feat.
It was a stellar performance by the Chargers quarterback, who led the team off a two-game skid.
Austin Ekeler: Ekeler did fumble and couldn't quite get going in the running game (15 carries for 29 yards), but did have seven receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown.
Chargers defense: The unit managed to keep the Bears chasing the game as the offense built a big lead. Joey Bosa had a sack that stopped the Bears' intitial possession and a big fourth-down stop in the second half. Ja'Sir Taylor and Derwin James each had interceptions.
Tyson Bagent: It's hard to be a rough on an undrafted rookie quarterback from a Division II school, but this game was not as promising as Bagent's first start last week in a 30-12 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Starting a second straight game with Justin Fields out with a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand, Bagent threw two interception in the lopsided defeat.
Bears in Los Angeles: The Bears have lost their last four games in Los Angeles and haven't won in the city since the 2018 season, when they defeated the L.A. Rams, 15-6, at the Coliseum. Three of those defeats were in front of a national television audience.
Bears on 'Sunday Night Football': The 30-13 defeat to the Chargers represented the Bears' seventh consecutive loss on "Sunday Night Football." Turns out, that last win in Los Angeles is also the Bears' last win on "Sunday Night Football." Worse yet, three of those defeats during the Sunday night losing streak have come against the rival Green Bay Packers. — Jim Reineking
The Bears capitalized off Austin Ekeler’s fumble.
Chicago took the football on the short field and reached the end zone in 10 plays.
The Bears scored on a 1-yard run by quarterback Tyson Bagent.
Chicago failed its two-point conversion attempt following the TD. The Bears kicked an onside kick, but the football was recovered by the Chargers with 2:07 remaining in the game. — Tyler Dragon
The Chargers coughed the football up.
Chargers running back Austin Ekeler fumbled the football after he caught a short pass from Justin Herbert. Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards recovered the loose football.
The turnover the Los Angeles’ first turnover in the game.
The Bears still trail 30-7 midway through the fourth quarter. — Tyler Dragon
Down 30-7 with a little over nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Bagent’s pass was broken up by Chargers safety Alohi Gilman and intercepted by fellow safety Derwin James.
The interception pretty much slammed the door shut in what’s been a disappointing showing the Bears in Los Angeles.
Bagent’s thrown two interceptions in the game. — Tyler Dragon
Kicker Cameron Dicker hit 53- and 46-yard field goals to extend the Chargers’ lead, 30-7, in the third quarter.
Both defenses showed up in the third period. The Chargers were held to just 50 total yards, but did connect on two field goals.
The Bears had three first downs and 65 total yards in the third quarter.
Chicago is entered the fourth quarter down 30-7. — Tyler Dragon
Down 27-7 on their own 29-yard line, the Bears offense went for it on fourth-and-1.
Bears running back Roschon Johnson rushed up the middle but was denied by Joey Bosa and the Chargers defense.
The Chargers offense couldn’t move the ball much after the Bears turned it over on downs. Los Angeles settled for a 46-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker.
Dicker’s now made all three of his field goal attempts in the game.
The Chargers have a 30-7 advantage late in the third quarter. — Tyler Dragon
The Chargers’ first drive of the second half stalled in Chicago territory, but Cameron Dicker converted a 53-yard field goal to pushed Los Angeles' lead to 20 points.
Dicker’s been successful on both of his field goal attempts on Sunday night.
The Chargers' kicker has made 10 of 11 field goals attempts this year. — Tyler Dragon
The Chargers stormed out to a 17-0 lead in the first half and finished the second quarter with another score to go up 24-7.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert completed his first 15 passes to start the game. Herbert went 21 of 25 passing for 212 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. The Chargers scored on all four of their possessions in the first half (three touchdowns and one field goal). He’s completed passed to seven different players.
The Bears haven’t had much success on the road.
Chicago punted on its first two possessions and quarterback Tyson Bagent was intercepted during the team’s third series.
The Bears did get back into the game on a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive at the end of the second quarter, but the Chargers answered quickly with another touchdown drive of their own in the two-minute drill. — Tyler Dragon
The Bears responded after getting into a 17-0 hole.
The Bears converted four third downs on a 14-yard, 75-yard touchdown drive to cut their deficit.
Chicago running back Darrynton Evans had a lane wider than the 405 freeway on his 11-yard touchdown run.
The Bears’ 75-yard drive was easily their longest drive of the night.
Chicago has 46 rushing yards in the first half. — Tyler Dragon
The Chargers didn’t reach the end zone for the third time in three possessions but they didn’t manage to get three points off Ja'Sir Taylor’s interception.
On third-and-3, Justin Herbert’s pass was nearly picked off by Bears defensive end Khalid Kareem. The Chargers had to settle for a field goal after the incompletion.
Kicker Cameron Dicker made a 43-yard field goal to extend the team’s lead 17-0 midway through the second quarter. — Tyler Dragon
It went from bad to worse for the Bears.
On Chicago’s third possession, quarterback Tyson Bagent’s pass intended for wide receiver DJ Moore was picked off by Chargers cornerback Ja'Sir Taylor.
The Bears have two punts and one interception on their first three drives.
The interception was the first of Taylor’s career. — Tyler Dragon
Tyson Bagent’s first pass went for 41 yards to wide receiver Darnell Mooney, but Chicago’s offense hasn’t moved the ball well since its initial play of the game.
The Bears ended the first quarter with just two first downs and 62 total yards. Chicago’s defense has given up 147 yards and two touchdowns to begin the game. — Tyler Dragon
The Chargers’ first two drives resulted in touchdowns.
After the Chargers defense forced a three-and-out, Justin Herbert led the offense on a nine-play, 55-yard touchdown drive. Herbert capped off the drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Simi Fehoko on a shallow cross.
The touchdown gave the Chargers a 14-0 lead.
Herbert’s started the game a perfect 11 of 11 passing for 120 yards and two touchdowns. — Tyler Dragon
The Chargers are off to a good start.
Los Angeles strolled down the field on a 10-play, 92-yard touchdown drive on their first possession. The Chargers scored on a Justin Herbert screen pass to running back Austin Ekeler. Ekeler caught the football with plenty of room and ran down the sideline for a 39-yard touchdown.
Herbert went 6-for-6 on the Chargers’ opening drive. — Tyler Dragon
The Bears at Chargers kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET. The game will air on NBC and Peacock. The game is also available to stream for free on FuboTV.
Tyson Bagent will make his second straight start with Justin Fields still out with thumb injury on his throwing hand. Last week, Bagent — an undrafted rookie quarterback from Division II Shepherd University — led the Bears to their first home win since Week 3 of last season.
The Chargers, meanwhile, will be without starting tight end Gerald Everett, who is nursing a hip injury.
Bears' inactive players
Chargers' inactive players:
Here are the USA TODAY Sports’ staff picks for this game:
Highlighting Sunday Night Football odds, the Chicago Bears are among the best bets for NFL Week 8 as heavy underdogs against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers are favored by 8.5 points at home, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2023.
According to the top NFL betting apps, no player on either roster is among those with the best NFL MVP betting odds in 2023, but Chargers QB Justin Herbert (+5000) is an interesting longshot. Neither team can claim the best early Super Bowl betting odds.
Not interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered with Thursday Night Football odds, Monday Night Football odds and more.
If you’re new to sports betting, don’t worry. We have tips for beginners on how to place a bet online. And USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with the online sportsbooks and sports betting sites. — Richard Morin
All odds provided by BetMGM.
Tyson Bagent is an undrafted rookie from Division II Shepherd University. Bagent relieved Bears starter Justin Fields, who suffered a dislocated right thumb during Chicago’s 19-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings during Week 6.
Bagent helped the Bears earn a 30-12 victory against the Las Vegas Raiders during Week 7. It was Chicago’s second win in three games after a 14-game regular-season losing streak.
Bagent was 21-of-29 passing for 162 yards and one touchdown. He added 24 yards rushing on three attempts.
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has been playing with a fractured middle finger on his left non-throwing hand.
The Chargers star QB injured his finger while he was being blocked by Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby after he threw an interception during the third quarter of the Chargers’ 24-17 win during Week 4. Herbert was able to return to the game with a splint on his finger.
Herbert hasn’t missed any time and isn’t expected to do so due to the injury. — Tyler Dragon
Football players typically approach their craft exactly that way given the nature of the game essentially demands as much. And NFL teams strive to make a similar pledge given collective success very much requires the entire roster – and more – to contribute in a way not necessarily needed in other team sports. But one way to truly emphasize being all in for a Super Bowl push is making that additional move at the trade deadline, a last-minute tweak that just might put you over the top while also signaling intention to the locker room.
Nate Davis came up with one trade these eight Super Bowl contenders should strongly consider ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline to execute a transaction.
The Dolphins, Seahawks and Titans (as the Houston Oilers) each wore throwback uniforms in Week 8. Where do those throwback looks rate among all of the league's alternate gear? Nate Davis does a deep dive on NFL couture and ranks the alternate uniforms from best to worst.
➤ PHOTOS: Alternate and throwback uniforms of 2023 season
The "GSH" that is on the shoulder of the Chicago Bears' uniforms stands for George Stanley Halas.
Halas, one of the original founders of the NFL and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was a founder, owner, player and head coach for the Bears.
At the meeting during which the NFL was formed in Canton, Ohio, Halas attended while representing the Decatur Staleys, who would become the Chicago Bears.
Halas coached the Bears for 40 seasons, and his 318 regular-season victories (324 total wins, counting playoffs), were a long-standing NFL record until broken by Don Shula in 1994.
Hallas was coach of the Bears for the team's 73-0 win over Washington in the 1940 NFL championship game, the largest blowout in league history. In all, Halas won six NFL championships as Bears head coach. — Jim Reineking
For 56 seasons, the Chargers had called San Diego home. However, in January 2017, the team announced it would move to Los Angeles.
Initially, the Chargers played at the home stadium of Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy. In 2020, both the Chargers and Los Angeles Rams moved into new SoFi Stadium, which the teams share.
The Chargers, as part of the original American Football League, played their inaugural season in 1960 in Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which was also home to the Rams at the time. The team moved to San Diego for the 1961 AFL season.
The Chargers won the 1963 AFL championship and advanced to Super Bowl XXIX, the franchise's lone Super Bowl appearance. — Jim Reineking
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The NFL's top 15 players in average annual salary are all quarterbacks, according to OverTheCap.com. As Joe Burrow proved in his new deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, teams place a huge priority on having a top-flight QB under center. Burrow's five-year, $275 million contract extension made him the league's highest paid player at a staggering average annual value of $55 million. San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league after signing a five-year, $170 million extension.
Here’s the complete list of the league’s highest-paid players.
We have a complete list at every position:
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