Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen Denny Simmons / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Watch: Chargers WR Keenan Allen throws 49-yard TD

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 9/24/23

A surprise play from the Los Angeles Chargers flipped momentum against the Minnesota Vikings.

With 5:53 left in the third quarter, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw a pass behind the line of scrimmage to wide receiver Keenan Allen, who proceeded to unleash a deep ball to fellow wideout Mike Williams for a 49-yard TD, giving Los Angeles a 21-10 lead.

HERB TO KEENAN TO MIKE DUB

| @nflonfox pic.twitter.com/4WSgAh1pgx
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) September 24, 2023

"That play was another great example of how offensive coordinator Kellen Moore set up his play calls," The Athletic's Daniel Popper wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Hitting Keenan Allen over and over on those swing screens. Then calls the WR pass on a similar design with Allen catching the swing before finding Williams."

The Chargers will need more clever play calling from Moore as the team tries to avoid the dreaded 0-3 start. Since 1990, only four of 158 NFL teams to start 0-3 have made the playoffs, per NFLResearch.

Los Angeles, still seeking its first Super Bowl title, had high expectations this season. So if it fails to make the postseason, head coach Brandon Staley will probably lose his job. During a Wednesday episode of the "Up and Adams Show," Former Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski said "Staley will get fired" if they lose this week.

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