Chargers Steal Wild Win Over Cardinals on Daring 2-point Conversion

If Week 12 of the NFL regular season had a theme, it was two-point conversions. The Los Angeles Chargers topped the Arizona Cardinals Sunday on a stunning two-point conversion attempt to take a one-point lead with 18 seconds left in regulation, eventually winning 25-24. It was perhaps only the second-most exhilarating two-point conversion of the day following the Jacksonville Jaguars' instantly iconic rally over the Baltimore Ravens in the early afternoon. 

The Chargers resued a mediocre, timid day on offense with the one ecstatic moment of daring. Quarterback Justin Herbert relentlessly peppered his underneath targets for a plodding 4.82 net yards per passing attempt on 51 dropbacks. His obsession with checkdowns to running back Austin Ekeler was particularly exhausting; Ekeler nabbed 11 of his 15(!) targets for a middling 60 receiving yards. But the Chargers endured, dinking and dunking their way down the field all afternoon before securing the improbable win.

As for the Cardinals, this one will likely sting. They wasted the exciting returns of quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver Marquise Brown, who had both missed multiple games with injuries. They even ran the ball better than they have all year, totalling 181 yards on 34 carries. For one of the first times all season, the Cardinals entered a game appearing at full strength, and all it bought them was their eighth loss of the season. They're likely now out of the playoff hunt.

Looking ahead to Week 13, the Chargers will try to build on their success when they face the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Cardinals will try to regroup during their bye week.