The Los Angeles Chargers handled their road game against the New England Patriots about as well as they possibly could have, getting a dominant 40-7 victory which officially puts the team in the playoffs.
The Chargers will return to the playoffs after missing out last season in the first year under head coach Jim Harbaugh. There will still be playoff positioning to play for in Week 18, but the Chargers have accomplished one of their goals this year.
Here are our three game balls from Saturday’s big win.
Los Angeles Chargers Week 17 game balls
Game Ball #1: Ladd McConkey
The Chargers’ rookie wide receiver is putting a fine cap on his first season in the league. While catching eight passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday, McConkey broke Keenan Allen’s 11-year-old record for most receptions in a season by a rookie.
Later in the game, he also broke the team record for most receiving yards in a season, also previously held by Allen.
McConkey has been nothing short of fabulous for the Chargers this season and he will be a big weapon for the team in the postseason.
Game Ball #2: J.K. Dobbins
It’s not flashy and it hasn’t been all season, but the Chargers are just better offensively when J.K. Dobbins is in the backfield.
Dobbins returned on Saturday after missing four games with a knee injury and carried the ball 19 times for 76 yards and one touchdown. He doesn’t do anything to blow you away, but he’s a grinder and those are the kind of players Harbaugh loves.
Game Ball #3: Justin Herbert
You could also give a game ball to the offensive line for giving Justin Herbert a clean pocket to throw out of all day. The Patriots forced almost no pressure on Herbert but he still deserves credit for leading his team to this big win.
Herbert made some great throws in this game and passed for 281 and three touchdowns.
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