Quick analysis and takeaways from week 8

The Los Angeles Chargers put Monday night’s ugly loss to the Arizona Cardinals behind them and stuffed the New Orleans Saints 26-8 to improve to 4-3 on the year. It wasn’t a particularly impressive game for the Chargers, but a win is a win any time you can get one in this league.

The offense is still a walking disaster. Quarterback Justin Herbert is a one-man show, and the lack of skilled players around him is starting to make it increasingly difficult for the Chargers to find ways to win.

Here are some quick insights from the game.

Defense is strong: The offense may be a mess, but the defense is a black hole full of monsters that strike fear into every attack made against them. The Chargers defense forced the saints to make a quarterback change in the second half, but it didn’t stop the Chargers pass from getting five sacks.

The Herbert Show: The offense is still a work in progress, and by work in progress I mean it may need a complete makeover that only Jon Taffer can do. However, there is one spotlight on this offense: Justin Herbert. Herbert did it through the air and on his feet, leading the team in rushing yards until late in the fourth.

The Chargers quarterback finished with two touchdown passes and 279 yards passing 20 of 32.

A day for the boy: Herbert could help make a star in wide receiver Ladd McConkey. McConkey surpassed the century mark by receiving yards on six receptions, and his two touchdown receptions put this game out of reach for the Saints.

six receptions and two touchdowns: The Week 8 win is known as the McConkey Game. The rookie is tired of the same old rule that we can even use here: namely that Herbert has no weapons on offense. Is it a new day in Los Angeles?

W.R. Ladd McConkey: A monster performance from the novice receiver. I could talk about his performance against the Saints. However, it feels like our bases are covered. McConkey earned this week’s Player of the Game honors.

The Chargers travel to Cleveland next Sunday to take on a Browns team that showed new life with their win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8. Once again it will be a chance for the Chargers to build some wins for a postseason run. However, the Browns defense won’t be an easy day for this Chargers offense.

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