Entering the game, Herbert tied for 34th among quarterbacks in percentage of pass attempts to players that started in the backfield, at 9.
1 percent. By game’s end, Herbert had increased the clip to 13. 4 percent, tied for 24th in the NFL.... So, upon review: Herbert forced passes on both of his interceptions and was faced with porous pass protection on third downs. His second-half solution: Take the easy stuff. A healthy run game also helped.... Herbert’s first two completions of the second half included a tight end screen to Gadsden for 5 yards and a swing pass to running back Keaton Mitchell for 2 yards. ... Then it was back to the short stuff, as Herbert found Mitchell out of the backfield for 3 yards, and then Gadsden wide open on a well-designed out route from a bunch set. That set up the aforementioned fourth-and-4 on which Herbert somehow squeezed the ball to Gadsden in a tight window while he was in the process of being sacked. The shovel pass to Vidal, who compiled some impressive yards after catch, capped things for six.