as a defense.”

Still’s second and third career interceptions set the tone for a second half in which the Chargers defense bent but did not break. He said he couldn’t remember the last time he returned an interception for a touchdown, but was sure it didn’t happen while he was a standout at Maryland.

“Swag, confidence, he gave me energy,” James said of Still.

It was difficult to imagine what Cousins was thinking on a fourth-and-5 play from the Chargers’ 40-yard line, with the Falcons leading 10-9 after the first of two field goals by Younghoe Koo. Cousins delivered a strike to Still, who had nothing but green artificial turf in front of him for the Chargers’ lone TD.

Wide receiver Joshua Palmer hauled in a two-point conversion pass from Justin Herbert to make it 17-10 with 1:39 remaining in the third quarter. Harbaugh would later say it was as important as any play the Chargers offense made during a game in which they had only 187 total net yards.

“When our best was needed, we got our best,” Harbaugh said.

Cameron Dicker kicked field goals of 45, 51 and 34 yards in the first half, the last of which gave the Chargers a 9-7 lead with 58 seconds left before halftime. Dicker’s 51-yarder, with 11:08 left in the second quarter, was his eighth successful kick in nine attempts from 50 yards or longer this season.

Rookie Ladd McConkey proved to be Herbert’s favorite target in the first half, the only receiver to get open consistently. Herbert targeted McConkey nine times and connected with him eight times for 105 yards. Herbert completed 11 of 15 passes for 115 yards in the first half, driving the Chargers for three field goals.

McConkey broke Keenan Allen’s rookie record for receiving yards in the first half of a game. Allen had 104 yards receiving in a game against Kansas City in Week 12 of the 2013 season. It was McConkey’s third game this season with 100 more receiving yards in a game.

Herbert finished 16 of 23 for 147 yards, the second consecutive game he failed to throw a touchdown pass. He was sacked five times. McConkey caught nine passes for 117 yards, but was sidelined by game’s end because of a knee injury. He has battled hip and shoulder injuries this season, as well.

“It felt good to get the win,” said McConkey, a second-round draft pick from Georgia who played his first NFL game in his home state. “It didn’t matter how many catches or whatever, if we didn’t get the win it still would have been a long flight home. That was the biggest thing.”