Quarterback Trey Lance and undrafted rookie running back Raheim Sanders ran for touchdowns as the Chargers defeated the New Orleans Saints, 27-13, in a preseason game at SoFi Stadium Sunday.
Lance ran 5 yards for a touchdown 1:38 before halftime, culminating a 14-play, 85-yard drive that consumed 6:24 and gave the Chargers a 9-0 lead. Sanders was stopped short of the end zone on a two-point conversion attempt.
Sanders ran 11 yards for a touchdown with 1:52 to play, one play after undrafted rookie quarterback DJ Uiagalelei completed a 49-yard pass to Dalevon Campbell on his only pass of the game.
Lance completed seven of 14 passes for 55 yards over the final three quarters and ran for a game-high 48 yards on seven carries.
Taylor Heinicke completed one of five passes for eight yards in the first quarter for the Chargers (2-0). Heinicke did not play in the Chargers’ 34-7 victory over the Detroit Lions in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game July 31 in Canton, Ohio.
Tyler Shough entered the game with 1:38 remaining in the first half and played through New Orleans’ first possession in the fourth quarter, completing 15 of 22 passes for 165 yards with one interception, including a 54-yard touchdown pass to Mason Tipton with 7:14 left in the third quarter.
Spencer Rattler completed seven of 11 passes for 53 yards in the first five possessions for the Saints (0-1).
Following a scoreless first quarter, the Chargers opened the scoring 1:30 into the second quarter on Cameron Dicker’s 44-yard field goal, four plays after outside linebacker Caleb Murphy sacked Rattler and forced a fumble, which defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe recovered at New Orleans’ 33-yard line.
Blake Grupe kicked a 31-yard field goal for the Saints with five seconds left in the half. Shough complete five of eight passes for 42 yards on the nine-play, 52-yard drive.
Cornerback Eric Rogers, an undrafted rookie free agent out of Rutgers, intercepted a pass by Shough and returned the ball 43 yards for a touchdown with 9:48 left in the third quarter. Late in the game, Rogers would intercept a second pass before getting injured covering a kickoff after the Sanders’ touchdown and having to leave the game.
Dicker kicked a 40-yard field goal with 4:50 remaining in the third quarter.
Jake Haener completed five of eight passes for 41 yards with one interception on the Saints’ final two possessions, which included a 50-yard field goal by Charlie Smyth.
New Orleans outgained the Chargers, 300-248, led 17-15 in first downs and 31:08-28:52 in time of possession in front of a crowd announced at 74,484.