Los Angeles Chargers’ Win Over Tennessee Titans Isn’t A Waltz, But Their Playoff Push Hums Along

The Los Angeles Chargers are sizzling and Justin Herbert, their young quarterback, might be even hotter.

The Chargers, winners in three of their past four games, solidified their chances to make the playoffs for the first time since 2018 with a thrilling 17-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

It was a victory that was far from a waltz.

Herbert again carried the load in the closing minute, collecting enough yardage for rookie Cameron Dicker to deliver a 43-yard field goal, his third game-winner this season and second for the Chargers.

Of course it took an eye-opening throw by Herbert to set up Dicker’s dandy. Herbert clicked with wide receiver Mike Williams for a 35-yard strike on the run, looking like a shortstop attempting to retire a runner on a slow roller.

“I looked over and we were way down there,’’ Dicker said. “It was a cool thing.’’

Herbert was cold early in the game, a couple picks here and some ill-fated throws there.

But the Chargers (8-6) are all about Herbert and why not? He came through with a sensational pass to Williams when it was needed the most as the Chargers, and not the decimated Rams, continue to be the NFL’s toast of the town.

Although it should be noted the Chargers still have work to do in gaining traction in the L.A. region. Tickets for the contest were as low as $25 on the secondary market and man did those folks entering at those prices get their money’s worth.

Just like the Chargers have to do with Herbert, a third-year pro.

They are riding his right arm and the right contract — his rookie deal counts a measly $7.2 million against this year’s cap — into playing meaningful games in mid-January.

But what made the Chargers’ win so titanic was the icebergs struck by their closet competitors for one of the AFC playoff invitations in the days leading up to Sunday’s conquest. With the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots falling, the Bolts rose to the No. 6 in the conference’s playoff seeding.

It’s mostly because Herbert threw a late seed to Williams along the western sideline that sent the Titans back down south with their fourth straight loss.

Straight-up, the Chargers didn’t play great offensively in scoring just twice on the ground and in going four for 13 on third downs. During one seven-possession stretch, the Chargers delivered a bagel, instead of points.

Instead of crying ‘oy vey,’ Herbert, 24, went to work. He hit on three straight passes in the Chargers’ final drive, with his last laser sure to be remembered if L.A. stands tall in its final three games.

L.A. will be favored in every one of them, blessed to face opponents already eyeing their offseason vacation destinations in the Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1), Los Angeles Rams (4-9) and Denver Broncos (4-10).

The Chargers are in a doggone playoff push thanks, again, to the shove from their most valuable player. Herbert went 52 yards in 44 seconds with no timeouts remaining.

“That was an amazing two-minute drill for him,’’ Chargers coach Brandon Staley said.

While Herbert’s performance was up-and-down, the Chargers’ defense kept down, to a degree, thundering Titans running back Derrick Henry.

“The King” rushed for 104 yards on 21 carries, but his longest effort was for but 13 yards. The defense held its ground, until Herbert could find another level.

L.A. is a city where stars are born and Herbert continues to prove how bright he can shine. On Sunday he became the first NFL player to throw for more than 4,000 yards in each of his first three seasons.

“I got it fellas,’’ Herbert screamed to his defensive teammates before proving he wasn’t fibbing. “You just give us a chance and we got it!”

The Chargers snagged the win and a swagger that has been enhanced, and not diminished, in the NFL’s most critical month after L.A. lost two straight in November.

Do well in December and the real gifts come in January. The Chargers’ present which is wrapped around Herbert’s 6-foot-6 frame is one that just keeps giving.