Before halftime, the deep ball hindered the Silver and Black on both offense and defense. Right after the two-minute warning, Herbert connected with Quentin Johnston from 60 yards for a touchdown.
In response, Smith flushed right out of the pocket looking deep in the end zone to Thornton. The ball was underthrown in double coverage and Tony Jefferson came away with the interception. It was Smith's second missed deep throw to the rookie receiver.
"He took a couple shots. He threw a couple bombs down there," Pete Carroll said postgame. "One of them was on about the 2, and the other one in the end zone. … The reason that he got there, we had time to hold the football. We protected OK and we didn't get the ball thrown underneath. That's what I wish we would've done. Wish we would've not taken those shots."
The Chargers went into halftime with a 17-6 lead and got the ball to start the second half.
Three points were scored the entirety of the third quarter, with Los Angeles going on 12-play, 72-yard drive that was stalled at the goal line. Three run stuffs to prevent the Chargers' touchdown and hold them to a field goal made it 20-6 heading into the fourth quarter.
Las Vegas ripped off a long drive of their own, taking over 11 minutes off the clock. While able to convert on five third downs during the possession, it still ended in a 37-yard field goal made by Carlson.