Chargers News: Asante Samuel Jr. Breaks Down Game-Deciding Interception

Big-time players make big-time plays.

Last Sunday, your Los Angeles Chargers narrowly escaped Week 4 with a 24-17 win over their division rival, Las Vegas Raiders, and their record now sits at 2-2 on the year.

 But no play was bigger in the game than this interception late in the fourth quarter by safety Asante Samuel Jr., which effectively sealed the victory for Los Angeles.

Asante. Samuel. Junior.

📺: @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/ugd6BZZfwl

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 1, 2023

It was an all-instinct play from Samuel Jr., who left his original coverage man to make the play. It could have been a gamble but ended up being an incredible play made by a great young player.

“We’re not technically supposed to pass it off,” Samuel said. “But at the end of the day, we was trying to defend the goal line.”

Per Asante Samuel Jr. via The Athletic

The interception stopped the Raiders from potentially tying the game up, and the Bolts then proceeded to put the game away on offense.

It was the first pick for Samuel Jr. of the new season and couldn’t have come at a better time. The Bolts couldn’t afford to drop this game, and if the Raiders had tied it up, who knows what would have happened.

Even with the win, the Bolts still feel a bit shaky through the first four games. They had to make a clutch defensive play in the week prior against the Minnesota Vikings as well, otherwise, they could have been sitting at 0-4.

Head coach Brandon Staley was once again saved by his defense after another questionable decision within their own side of the field. He did the same thing against Minnesota, and he has lucked out both times.

But, the defense did make the players when it mattered most, and it is starting to become a theme for this team. However, they don’t want this to happen each week, and would rather put games away earlier on.

“That’s one we’re going to learn from,” Staley said.

Per Brandon Staley via The Athletic

Now the Chargers enter the bye week with a chance to move on from these poor performances and put them in the rearview mirror. They will need to be much better going forward, and they get two tough tests right out of the gate against the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys after their bye week.

Don't forget to join our community at LA Sports Report, where we celebrate all things Chargers!