Bears vs. Chargers Sunday Night Football live updates: Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler connect for score

The Week 8 “Sunday Night Football” matchup pits two teams currently on opposite ends of the momentum pendulum. 

The Los Angeles Chargers (2-4) are coming off two consecutive losses, while quarterback Justin Herbert continues to nurse a broken finger on his non-throwing hand. The Chicago Bears (2-5) have won two of their past three games, including last week’s surprising 30-12 rout of the Las Vegas Raiders with rookie Tyson Bagent making his NFL debut. Justin Fields, the Bears’ regular starting QB, remains out with a dislocated thumb. 

USA TODAY Sports will bring you the latest updates, scores, highlights, wild plays, analysis and more throughout the night. Follow along. 

Bears turn football over to start second quarter

It went from bad to worse for the Bears.

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On Chicago’s third possession, quarterback Tyson Bagent’s pass intended for wide receiver DJ Moore was picked off by Chargers cornerback Ja'Sir Taylor.

The Bears have two punts and one interception on their first three drives.

The interception was the first of Taylor’s career. — Tyler Dragon

Bears enter second quarter in a hole

Tyson Bagent’s first pass went for 41 yards to wide receiver Darnell Mooney, but Chicago’s offense hasn’t moved the ball well since its initial play of the game.

The Bears ended the first quarter with just two first downs and 62 total yards. Chicago’s defense has given up 147 yards and two touchdowns to begin the game. — Tyler Dragon

Chargers 14, Bears 0: Bolts off to fast start

The Chargers’ first two drives resulted in touchdowns.

After the Chargers defense forced a three-and-out, Justin Herbert led the offense on a nine-play, 55-yard touchdown drive. Herbert capped off the drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Simi Fehoko on a shallow cross.

The touchdown gave the Chargers a 14-0 lead.

Herbert’s started the game a perfect 11 of 11 passing for 120 yards and two touchdowns. — Tyler Dragon

Chargers 7, Bears 0: Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler connect for score

The Chargers are off to a good start.

Los Angeles strolled down the field on a 10-play, 92-yard touchdown drive on their first possession. The Chargers scored on a Justin Herbert screen pass to running back Austin Ekeler. Ekeler caught the football with plenty of room and ran down the sideline for a 39-yard touchdown.

Herbert went 6-for-6 on the Chargers’ opening drive. — Tyler Dragon

What time is Bears at Chargers?

The Bears at Chargers kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET. The game will air on NBC and Peacock. The game is also available to stream for free on FuboTV. 

Bears vs. Chargers inactive players: Gerald Everett is out

Tyson Bagent will make his second straight start with Justin Fields still out with thumb injury on his throwing hand. Last week, Bagent — an undrafted rookie quarterback from Division II Shepherd University — led the Bears to their first home win since Week 3 of last season.

The Chargers, meanwhile, will be without starting tight end Gerald Everett, who is nursing a hip injury.

Bears' inactive players

• QB Justin Fields
• DB Terell Smith
• DL Dominique Robinson
• DB Jaquan Brisker
• OL Nate Davis

Chargers' inactive players:

• TE Gerald Everett
• S Jaylinn Hawkins
• RB Elijah Dotson
• OL Zack Bailey
• WR Alex Erickson
• DL Christopher Hinton

Bears at Chargers: Predictions and picks 

Here are the USA TODAY Sports’ staff picks for this game:  

• Lorenzo Reyes: Chargers 
• Tyler Dragon: Chargers 
• Victoria Hernandez: Bears 
• Jordan Mendoza: Chargers 
• Jarrett Bell: Chargers 
• Safid Deen: Chargers 
• Nate Davis: Chargers 
• Chris Bumbaca: Chargers 
• Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Chargers 

Bears at Chargers odds 

Highlighting Sunday Night Football odds, the Chicago Bears are among the best bets for NFL Week 8 as heavy underdogs against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers are favored by 8.5 points at home, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2023. 

According to the top NFL betting apps, no player on either roster is among those with the best NFL MVP betting odds in 2023, but Chargers QB Justin Herbert (+5000) is an interesting longshot. Neither team can claim the best early Super Bowl betting odds. 

Not interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered with Thursday Night Football odds, Monday Night Football odds and more. 

 If you’re new to sports betting, don’t worry. We have tips for beginners on how to place a bet online. And USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with the online sportsbooks and sports betting sites. — Richard Morin 

All odds provided by BetMGM.

Who is Bears QB Tyler Bagent? 

Tyson Bagent is an undrafted rookie from Division II Shepherd University. Bagent relieved Bears starter Justin Fields, who suffered a dislocated right thumb during Chicago’s 19-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings during Week 6.

Bagent helped the Bears earn a 30-12 victory against the Las Vegas Raiders during Week 7. It was Chicago’s second win in three games after a 14-game regular-season losing streak. 

Bagent was 21-of-29 passing for 162 yards and one touchdown. He added 24 yards rushing on three attempts. 

Chargers QB Justin Herbert dealing with fractured middle finger 

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has been playing with a fractured middle finger on his left non-throwing hand. 

The Chargers star QB injured his finger while he was being blocked by Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby after he threw an interception during the third quarter of the Chargers’ 24-17 win during Week 4. Herbert was able to return to the game with a splint on his finger. 

Herbert hasn’t missed any time and isn’t expected to do so due to the injury. — Tyler DragoN

One trade idea for eight Super Bowl contenders at deadline 

Football players typically approach their craft exactly that way given the nature of the game essentially demands as much. And NFL teams strive to make a similar pledge given collective success very much requires the entire roster – and more – to contribute in a way not necessarily needed in other team sports. But one way to truly emphasize being all in for a Super Bowl push is making that additional move at the trade deadline, a last-minute tweak that just might put you over the top while also signaling intention to the locker room. 

Nate Davis came up with one trade these eight Super Bowl contenders should strongly consider ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline to execute a transaction. 

Ranking NFL teams' throwback and alternate uniforms

The Dolphins, Seahawks and Titans (as the Houston Oilers) each wore throwback uniforms in Week 8. Where do those throwback looks rate among all of the league's alternate gear? Nate Davis does a deep dive on NFL couture and ranks the alternate uniforms from best to worst.

➤ PHOTOS: Alternate and throwback uniforms of 2023 season

When did the Chargers move to LA?

For 56 seasons, the Chargers had called San Diego home. However, in January 2017, the team announced it would move to Los Angeles.

Initially, the Chargers played at the home stadium of Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy. In 2020, both the Chargers and Los Angeles Rams moved into new SoFi Stadium, which the teams share.

The Chargers, as part of the original American Football League, played their inaugural season in 1960 in Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which was also home to the Rams at the time. The team moved to San Diego for the 1961 AFL season.

The Chargers won the 1963 AFL championship and advanced to Super Bowl XXIX, the franchise's lone Super Bowl appearance. — Jim Reineking

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Who is the highest-paid NFL player? 

The NFL's top 15 players in average annual salary are all quarterbacks, according to OverTheCap.com. As Joe Burrow proved in his new deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, teams place a huge priority on having a top-flight QB under center. Burrow's five-year, $275 million contract extension made him the league's highest paid player at a staggering average annual value of $55 million. San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league after signing a five-year, $170 million extension. 

Here’s the complete list of the league’s highest-paid players. 

Who are the highest paid NFL players at each position? 

We have a complete list at every position: 

• Quarterbacks 
• Running back 
• Receivers 
• Tight ends 
• Offensive tackles 
• Offensive guards 
• Centers 
• Edge rushers 
• Interior defensive linemen 
• Linebackers 
• Cornerbacks 
• Safeties 
• Kickers 
• Punters 

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