The Chargers offense kept rolling — and going deep — in Week 9.
The trend of the Bolts hitting on explosive plays continued Sunday in Cleveland as the Justin Herbert-led offense hit the Browns for one big play after another in a 27-10 win.
"Understand the looks we could get on defense, the coverages we could expect and see," Herbert said. "Having a receiver group that can communicate and understand where we're going with the ball.
"When everyone is on the same page, we're able to do things like that," Herbert added. "Our whole emphasis is to push the ball downfield and then taking our shots and being smart with the ball."
In total, the Bolts had seven plays (six pass, one run) of at least 20 yards against the Browns.
After having just nine total plays of 20-plus yards in their first four games, the unit has racked up 21 such plays in their four games since the bye week.
And these plays are positives not only for their unit, but are felt for the others as well.
"It does a lot for us [on defense]," safety Derwin James, Jr., said. "When we're up by 10 or more then teams have to pass and have to deal with our DBs and our edge rushers.
"If we can get teams out of running situations, it's going to be better for our defense," James added.
It wasn't just the big plays on Sunday either, it was also the timing of when they happened.
On paper, the Chargers offense had just 45 net yards after the first quarter — but 28 of them set the tone for what the game would look like on that side of the ball.
Following a 53-yard punt return by Derius Davis, the Bolts faced a third-and 20 at the Cleveland 28-yard line.
But instead of settling for a field goal, Herbert dropped back and unleashed a rope to an open Joshua Palmer down the right side of the end zone for the first points of the game.
"It was one of those looks we prepared for," Herbert said. "Had a good plan, a good protection plan… Josh, as well, made a heads up play.
"Just being available with your eyes and understanding the coverage, the leverage," Herbert added.
A similar moment occurred later in the game.
Forced to move to his right in the pocket, Herbert saw a streaking Quentin Johnston, who used a great release down the right sideline, and hit the receiver in stride for a 66-yard touchdown.
"It looked like [Cover] 2," Johnston said. "I gave them an outside release and I looked up and I was wide open.
"Shoot, I'll take it. No complaints about that," Johnston added. "At that point, it's about making sure I secure the catch and finish it."
That touchdown is the longest play of the season for the Bolts so far and gave them control over the game that they would never give back.
"Just taking the shots when we can get them," center Bradley Bozeman said. "Justin was able to make some really good throws and had some explosive plays. Just want to continue on that path."
A week after rookie Ladd McConkey broke the century mark for the first time, it was Johnston's turn to break the mark for the first time in his young career.
The second-year receiver finished the day with four receptions for a career-high 118 yards and a touchdown.
After missing the last two games with an ankle injury, Johnston said he wanted to come back and make a splash for his teammates.
"I was in tune with everything coming off those two weeks being hurt," Johnston said. "I wanted to come back. I was real anxious when I was hurt and wanted to come back last week.
"I had to come back and show up for my team and make up for those two weeks," Johnston added.
Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and Johnston's teammates had high praise for the receiver after the best performance of his career thus far.
"It was a great game by Q. You could really see the speed. It's fast and a problem," Harbaugh said. "Just great. His development just keeps increasing.
"He's really doing a great job with the back-shoulder ball, really every level of his game," Harbaugh added. "[Wide receivers coach] Sanjay Lal has done an incredible job. I couldn't be more proud of Q … just great effort."
Herbert later added: "He's one of those guys you just trust. He's friendly to the quarterback and is able to make things happen. We kind of had a plan to get him the ball as much as we could. Whenever you do that, something good is going to happen."
The trio of Johnston, Palmer and McConkey accounted for 245 of Herbert's 282 yards through the air in the Week 9 win.
As the Bolts receivers continue to gel together more and more, the energy in the room is high.
"Honestly, it's everybody's energy," Johnston said. "Everybody is feeding off each other and bouncing off each other. Whether it's Ladd making a big play or Josh … we all just feed off each other.
"We come to the sideline and it's like, 'Alright, I'm going to make the big play next time,'" Johnston added. "It's that contagious energy and I feel like we have to keep it going."
The Chargers offense keeps progressing week by week, something that's expected in the first year in a new system.
Even with the results improving, and the unit wants even more now past the halfway point of the season.
"It's just showing more on the field and who we are week to week," Johnston said. "We're showing spurts … but we just have to come together and put a full, complete game together."
