Tarheeb Still is on a tear.
After intercepting Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins in the second quarter to give the Chargers some much-needed momentum, Still mostly watched Atlanta throw it to the other side of the field or run the ball.
That was a good strategy for the Falcons, who have continued to move the ball effectively against Jesse Minter’s defense. Atlanta put together another long drive late in the third quarter, driving with a 10-9 lead while converting a fourth down to take the ball over midfield.
The Chargers, meanwhile, had asked Ladd McConkey to be the entire offense. A normally dormant Falcons pass rush has sacked Justin Herbert four times, making things hard for LA all day.
Los Angeles needed a spark.
Still provided it when the Falcons went for a second fourth down of the drive, dropping back to pass on 4th-and-5 from the Chargers’ 40-yard line. Still and safety Marcus Maye confused Cousins on the coverage, giving the rookie a prime opportunity to jump a curl route and nearly walk into the end zone from 61 yards away.
The Chargers went for two after that. Justin Herbert fired a strike over the middle to Joshua Palmer, making it 17-10 Chargers with 1:39 left in the third quarter.
