Chargers 26, Panthers 3
Q. You guys are 2-0. The team hasn't started this way for a long time. Does it feel like there's something special here going on? Is this the best team you've ever played on?
JUSTIN HERBERT: I think it's definitely a great opportunity for us to keep playing. You know, we always take it one week at a time, and I think that's one of the great things that Coach Harbaugh has taught us. You can't be 2-0 without being 1-0, and you can't be 1-0 without winning the first one. That's the way it's been.
I think guys are really enjoying playing and going out and have a lot of fun. You see it in the defense. They fly around and create turnovers and make plays like that. They're enjoying playing fast. I think we can play some great football.
Q. What impressed you the most with how you guys ran the ball today?
JUSTIN HERBERT: Yeah, it was all game. To be able to run the ball like that, it sure keeps the chains moving. I don't know the exact stats, but I think I saw 20 first downs in the fourth quarter. So to be able to keep the ball moving like that and keep the defense off the field and give them some time to rest, I think that's how you win football games.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
JUSTIN HERBERT: Yeah, it's a lot different. It's definitely super helpful, just going out there and knowing that you can hand the ball off to J.K. and Gus, and they're going to fight for every yard.
It's a great offensive line that battles play in and play out. We believe in those guys big-time. So when we take our shots, take what the defense gives us, especially in the passing game, I think it's only going to help us.
Q. Do you feel like just a little bit less on your shoulders in terms of being a passer when you have a back field like that?
JUSTIN HERBERT: I think it's an interesting question. I think my job as a quarterback is just to be a point guard, to get them the ball, to get us in the right looks.
There are definitely some plays that I would love to have back today, but to be able to run the ball like that and give our ball to the playmakers and let them go make the plays, as long as I'm doing that, I'm doing my job.
Q. What was it like working with Quentin today on the touchdown, especially that first one?
JUSTIN HERBERT: It was awesome to see. We believe in him so much, and we've seen that from him in camp and OTAs. He's gone up and made plays. It was only a matter of time before we saw it on the big stage.
I'm happy for him. Really excited for him. I know it's only the beginning for him.
Q. What did you see specifically from them defensively on that touchdown?
JUSTIN HERBERT: I think it was just a press man look. It's one of those things that you're alert and saying, Hey, we're going to give this guy a shot. It's going to be a 50/50 ball, but we believe the odds are tilted in our favor. I was safe to go back just a couple of step drops and put the ball up and let him go get it.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
JUSTIN HERBERT: No, it's built into the play. It's just a pure progression where you are reading, hey, this guy, this guy, this guy. You're moving on, but you are staying on him, especially knowing it's man-to-man press coverage.
Q. The strength of the run game, obviously it makes you a better passer because the defenses (indiscernible). They have to protect against the run. Is that fair to say?
JUSTIN HERBERT: That's one of the great things that Coach Roman is trying to teach us. Having a balanced run, balanced pass, play action game, having everything in our arsenal. So we can go out and defenses have to play it straight up.
I think we've done a great job of running the first couple of games. There's a lot of room for improvement for us as an offense, and so we're looking forward to watching this film and getting better. Coach Roman has done a good job of putting us in a position to succeed.
Q. I want to ask you about Dobbins and his journey and just coming back from that injury and the way he has looked the first few games. Secondly, were you nervous when he did that somersault in the end zone?
JUSTIN HERBERT: No, you know, he is a special player. We knew that he was going to go to go up and something special was going to happen. He's awesome. He's a great teammate, great leader. He's a guy that speaks in the locker room. Everyone respects him.
He works hard. He does everything the right way on and off the field, and we're not surprised by his success. We knew how special he was.
Q. We saw you limping a little bit after that fumble. Looked like your lower leg. What happened there physically?
JUSTIN HERBERT: I must have just got rolled up. Big pile, got rolled up. Walked off. Was a little sore. Taped it up. Went in and got an X-ray. We'll know more the next couple of days, but was able to finish the game and keep moving around on it, so I'm looking forward to it.
Q. Jim Harbaugh says you are one of the people that were in favor of staying back here, the idea of team bonding and just hanging out. Could this be something in an important setting as you guys build together and bond and spend the week together?
JUSTIN HERBERT: I think it definitely could be. It depends how you look at it. I'm of the mindset it's a great opportunity for us to be together, focus on our game, and in the off time spend time with each other, get to know each other. I think any time you spend a week with your guys, especially like it is in camp, I think it's an opportunity for us to grow and to get better. We'll watch the film on this one and keep pushing. I'm looking forward to it.
Q. You spent a lot of time with air number of these offensive linemen, Slater, Trey, Zion. What do you think their mindset is right now being in this offense and being able to play the way that you guys are playing?
JUSTIN HERBERT: To play downhill. To believe in those guys and know that they're smart, they're athletic, and they're physical, and they're tough.
Those guys, you know, they haven't gotten the credit they deserve. They should get all of it. They're so tough. Such a great group of guys, communicate, work with one another, and as long as we're running behind them, I think we're going to run pretty well.
Q. Justin, the charge of the defense today, one for 12 on third down. Bryce Young had 84 yards passing. What is it like from your vantage point watching this defense really for two weeks straight now?
JUSTIN HERBERT: Complete confidence. We know the defense is going out there and they're giving their best shot. We're going to get the ball back here pretty soon. Whether it's turnovers, stops, they find a way to come up with some big plays. They're really well-coached. They've got some really good athletes on that side of the ball. We know we've seen it in OTAs and in camp. We're not surprised by it at all.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports