Category: Latest NFL news

Chiefs will be looking to clinch playoff berth week 13 vs Raiders

There are several scenarios in which the Chiefs could clinch a playoff berth with a week 13 win vs the Raiders at Arrowhead.

Can the Raiders play spoilers this week? They shocked the world on Christmas Day last year, going to Arrowhead and beating the Chiefs. Now they go back to Arrowhead on (wait for it) BLACK Friday. And the Chiefs will have a playoff berth on their minds for the game.

A win alone over the Raiders won’t get the Chiefs in, but there are several scenarios that could punch their ticket, all involving either an AFC West team or the Miami Dolphins.

These are those scenarios:

KC win + MIA loss or tie
KC win + DEN loss
KC win + LAC loss + DEN tie
KC tie + MIA loss

The Dolphins look like the most likely of the three other teams to go down. They face the 8-3 Packers at Lambeau on Thanksgiving Day, so we might already know if the Chiefs will need any actual help by Thursday night.

Should the Dolphins win, and the Chiefs win, then it will be up to the Chargers who head to Atlanta to play the 6-5 Falcons on Sunday. And finally, it then falls to the Broncos who have the easiest go of it at home against the 3-8 Browns on Monday Night.

So, with the odds being that one of these teams will lose, it will be up to the Raiders as to whether the Chiefs are celebrating another playoff berth

Where the Chargers rank statistically after Week 12

The Chargers allowed a season-high 30 points, so how did that impact them in the rankings?

The Chargers fell to 7-4 after losing to the Ravens in Week 12.

Los Angeles’ defense was dominated by Baltimore’s ground game, which accrued 212 yards, the most given up in Jim Harbaugh’s coaching career. After not allowing more than 20 points in the first nine weeks of the season, the Bolts gave up 27 and 30 points in the past two weeks.

With Week 13 coming up, how do the Bolts compare to the rest of the NFL? Here is where Los Angeles ranks:

Offense

Category Stat Rank
Points per game 22.1 ppg 18th
Passing offense 204.5 ypg 20th
Rushing offense 118.1 ypg 13th
Total offense 322.6 ypg 21st
3rd down conversions 38.51% 16th
Red zone scoring 57.14% 13th
Sacks allowed 30 21st
Turnovers 5 1st

Defense

Category Stat Rank
Points allowed 15.9 ppg 1st
Passing defense 203.9 ypg 13th
Rushing defense 119.7 ypg 15th
Total defense 323.6 ypg 13th
3rd down conversions 34.46% 8th
Red zone defense 45.83% 4th
Sacks 35 T-6th
Takeaways 13 14th

 

Chargers hold steady in NFL power rankings after Week 12 loss to the Ravens

Despite their loss on Monday night, the Chargers did not move that much in the power rankings.

The Chargers fell to 7-4 after losing to the Ravens on Monday night.

After Week 12, let’s see where Los Angeles stands in NFL power rankings:

USA Today: 13 (Previous: 11)

“Detractors who might want to label them the Hoosiers of the NFL are eating no crow. A defense that hadn’t given up more than 20 points all season – albeit against questionable competition – has surrendered 57 at home over the past two weeks. It was also scorched for 212 yards on the ground Monday, the most ever for a Jim Harbaugh-coached team. Factor in RB J.K. Dobbins’ knee injury and … woof.”

NFL: 9 (Previous: 9)

“After a great start, the Chargers really struggled to contain the run game of the Ravens, namely Derrick Henry. Henry helped get the Ravens out of an early funk, and the Bolts helped Henry get going by missing several tackles, although they’re hardly the first team to struggle with that against Baltimore. Still, this has to worry Jim Harbaugh. His defense now has been taken apart a bit over the past six quarters against the Bengals and Ravens. But the problems weren’t relegated to the defense. The offense has plenty to worry about, starting with RB J.K. Dobbins’ knee injury. The Chargers just couldn’t get the ground attack going after he left, and Justin Herbert’s receivers let him down. Incredibly, all five starting offensive linemen were also flagged. Trey Pipkins’ hold offset a 27-yard pass interference on third-and-6 in a 23-16 game. Instead, the Chargers ended up punting, and Justice Hill cribbed it a few minutes later. No time for the Bolts to cry over the four-game win streak ending; they go to Atlanta and Kansas City over the next two Sundays.”

ESPN: 9 (Previous: 9)

Offense ranking: 15
Defense ranking: 15
Special teams ranking: 14

“By scoring metrics, the Chargers have the league’s best defense, allowing just 15.9 points per game. But that has come with the NFL’s easiest schedule, according to ESPN analytics. The Chargers’ offense has soared since a 23-16 win over the Broncos in Week 6 when quarterback Justin Herbert was fully recovered from a high ankle sprain. The offense’s ranking will likely continue to increase as the season progresses; Los Angeles ranks third in average in-game win probability.”

CBS Sports: 8 (Previous: 9)

“The top-ranked defense was exposed some in the loss to the Ravens. Now they have a tough road trip to face Atlanta, which is coming off a bye.”

Sports Illustrated: 9 (Previous: 9)

“With a relatively nonexistent pass rush and Lamar Jackson racking up almost all of his passing yards on extended plays, we have now seen just how far the Chargers have come and just how far they need to go. Wide receiver is still of desperate need, with Quentin Johnston reverting back to 2023 form on a couple of critical balls Monday.”

Bleacher Report: 9 (Previous: 10)

“The Chargers came into Monday looking for only their second win of the season against a playoff-caliber team—Denver being the only team they’ve beaten that is currently over .500. They appeared up to the challenge until J.K. Dobbins exited the game with a knee injury. L.A. made things somewhat interesting late, but they lost convincingly to the Ravens.

This is who the Chargers are in Year 1 under Jim Harbaugh. The future is bright, but Los Angeles is going to beat the teams it is supposed to and struggle against those we’re likely to see in late January. And if Dobbins is forced to miss extended time, L.A. might not even make it to the postseason.”

Chargers PFF grades: Best, worst performers in Week 12 loss to Ravens

Spotlighting Pro Football Focus’ highest and lowest-graded Chargers players from the loss to the Ravens.

In Week 12, the Chargers lost on the road to the Ravens, 30-23.

Along the way, there were some standout performers and others who did not contribute as much.

Here are the best and worst performers from Monday’s contest, according to Pro Football Focus’ player grades.

Top 5 Offense

OT Rashawn Slater — 85.6

QB Justin Herbert — 76.6

OT Joe Alt — 71.9

TE Will Dissly — 68.3

RB J.K. Dobbins — 68.1

Top 5 Defense

DT Poona Ford — 83.6

DT Teair Tart — 75.0

LB Nick Niemann — 71.1

S Derwin James — 70.9

EDGE Khalil Mack — 70.4

Bottom 5 Offense

WR Jalen Reagor — 56.0

RB Hassan Haskins — 54.6

FB Scott Matlock — 54.3

TE Tucker Fisk — 40.3

WR Quentin Johnston — 32.2

Bottom 5 Defense

CB Elijah Molden — 53.3

CB Ja’Sir Taylor — 51.9

DL Morgan Fox — 45.0

S Alohi Gilman — 43.6

DT Scott Matlock — 31.8

Chargers get run over by Derrick Henry and the Ravens: Instant analysis of Week 12 loss

Jim Harbaugh remains winless against his brother, John, as the Chargers lost to the Ravens on Monday night.

Jim Harbaugh remains winless against his brother, John, as the Chargers fell to the Ravens on Monday night.

Here’s our recap of Los Angeles’ 30-23 loss.

It was over when…

Justice Hill ran for a 51-yard touchdown, which extended the Ravens’ lead to 14 points.

Notable number

Chargers allowed 212 rushing yards. It was the first time a Jim Harbaugh-coached NFL team allowed over 200 rushing yards.

Stars of the game

  1. RB JK Dobbins: Before leaving the game with a knee injury, Dobbins had six carries for 40 yards (6.7 YPC).
  2. WR Ladd McConkey: McConkey continued to impress, catching all six of his targets for 83 yards.

Quick hits

  • The Chargers’ offense got off to a great start. They scored on their first possession. However, that would be the only time they found the end zone until their garbage-time touchdown in the final minute of the game.
  • J.K. Dobbins provided the offensive spark. Dobbins rushed for 40 yards on six carries. It looked like he was bound for a revenge game against his former team. That was until he left with a knee injury and did not return.
  • The Ravens’ defense, which ranked dead last against the pass entering today, made it difficult for Justin Herbert. Herbert finished 21 of 36 passing for 218 yards and zero touchdowns. He was sacked four times.
  • Herbert did not benefit from Quentin Johnston’s four dropped passes, including one on a crosser that would have resulted in a big gain on 3rd-and-6 when they were only trailing by seven points. Instead, the Chargers punted the ball away, and the Ravens scored, essentially putting the game away.
  • The Chargers’ second-half offense continues to be a problem. Without the garbage-time touchdown, they would have only managed three points in the second half.
  • Jesse Minter’s defense was humbled by the Ravens’ rushing attack. They had no answer for Derrick Henry, who rushed for 140 yards. Hill ran free for a 51-yard touchdown. Denzel Perryman’s absence was felt in this game.
  • The Chargers had a good game plan against Lamar Jackson on the ground, as he was limited to 15 yards on eight carries.
  • Not having Cam Hart on the field was a big blow to the defense in coverage. Hart was injured in Saturday’s practice, which is why he was ruled out of the game.
  • The Chargers failed to stop any of the Ravens’ three fourth-down attempts, including one from Baltimore’s own 16-yard line.
  • After not giving up more than 20 points in their first nine games, the Chargers have given up 27 points and now 30.

What’s next?

The Chargers travel to face the Falcons this upcoming Sunday, Dec. 1, at 10:00 am PT.

Raiders reportedly interested in free agent former 1st round QB, but feeling not mutual

The Raiders are reportedly interested in signing former Giants first round pick QB Daniel Jones, but Jones isn’t interested in them.

Sunday the Raiders went from a team without a great QB situation to a team desperate for a quarterback. As it happens, right around the same time, the Giants were waiving their former sixth overall pick quarterback Daniel Jones.

So, naturally the question was if the Raiders might try to sign him should he clear waivers.

“Any free agent or anybody to be claimed, that’s third floor,” said Antonio Pierce on Monday regarding the potential interest in Jones. “So, [Tom] Telesco and that group is the head of it, and obviously, we’ll see what happens by the end of the day.”

Well, the third floor is said to be interested in Jones, according to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, Jones isn’t reciprocating that interest. He apparently would rather be a backup with a playoff team and the Raiders ain’t that.

It wouldn’t do much for the Raiders’ hopes at present, but if Jones could find new life in Las Vegas, he could have potentially helped them in future. Sounds like that’s off the table and the Raiders will have to work with what they have which is Desmond Ridder and Aidan O’Connell who they hope will return this week off injured reserve.

Chargers inactives: See who’s in and who’s out for Week 12 vs. Ravens

Find out if Khalil Mack will play on Monday night.

The Chargers are about 90 minutes away from kicking off Week 12 against the Ravens.

Here is a look at their inactive players today:

QB Easton Stick (emergency 3rd QB)

LB Denzel Perryman

WR DJ Chark

CB Cam Hart

RB Kimani Vidal

OL Brenden Jaimes

OL Jordan McFadden

Ladd McConkey, Khalil Mack and Bud Dupree are active tonight.

Raiders PFF grades: 5 highest rated Week 12 vs. Broncos

The Raiders keep losing, and their streak has hit seven games. Which players had a good day despite the defeat in Las Vegas on Sunday?

The Raiders’ prolonged slide continued on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium when they lost their seventh consecutive game, this time to their AFC West rival, the Broncos.

Coach Antonio Pierce saw his team fight hard until the end, and even though it wasn’t enough for a win, some players had good days despite the defeat. Defensive end Maxx Crosby received the best grade on the team from Pro Football Focus this week, earning an “A” with his 90.1 score.

Crosby didn’t record a quarterback sack but had three tackles for loss, including two in a row late in the game. They set up a third-and-15 play the Broncos couldn’t convert, forcing a field goal attempt.

Curiously, the rest of the players on PFF’s list are offensive linemen, led by guard Jordan Meredith. The Raiders offensive line has struggled to create open lanes for running backs this season and Las Vegas had just 69 rushing yards.

But Raiders running backs had just 13 carries total compared to 53 pass attempts for Las Vegas. That’s a huge disparity, and the lack of balance makes it tougher to block overall. Despite five QB sacks surrendered vs. Denver, this group had perhaps its best game of the year.

Missing from this list is rookie tight end Brock Bowers. The Broncos slowed him significantly after he had a huge game the week before against the Dolphins. Look for him to rebound on Friday against the Chiefs, regardless of who plays quarterback for Las Vegas.

Jim, John’s parents will not be in attendance for ‘HarBowl’ on Monday night

When Jim and John Harbaugh go toe-to-toe on Monday, their parents, Jack and Jackie, will not be watching from the stands.

When Jim and John Harbaugh go toe-to-toe on Monday, their parents, Jack and Jackie, will not be watching their sons from the stands at SoFi Stadium.

Instead, they’ll be in Florida to spend time with their daughter, Joani, their son-in-law, former Georgia men’s basketball coach Tom Crean, and their two grandchildren.

That’s also where they plan to celebrate Thanksgiving the following Thursday.

“We are choosing to go down there and celebrate Thanksgiving with them and be able to watch the game with them,” Jack said, per the Ravens official website. “And we’ll have a lot of fun and enjoyment doing that.”

Monday also holds significance because it marks Jack and Jackie’s 63rd wedding anniversary.

“Just go right back to Jackie. She was the head coach of them and still is,” Jack said. “They’ve had me around, but she’s been around them 14, 15, 16 hours a day when they were growing up.

“Back in 1957 in that biology class, I looked down into row number one in that class and four years later we were married. That was the decision that changed my life. … We’re just so blessed that Jackie’s with us and she’s still the head coach of the Harbaugh family.”

The brothers have faced off twice before the primetime matchup, including in Super Bowl XLVII when John’s Ravens defeated Jim’s 49ers in a close battle, with the final score being 34-31.

Raiders winners and losers in 29-19 defeat vs. Broncos

The Raiders took a lead into halftime but couldn’t hold off the Broncos. Which players and coaches stood out, for better or for worse?

The Raiders took a 13-9 lead into halftime but couldn’t hold off the Broncos (7-5) after the break, losing 29-19 at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.

It was the Broncos’ first road win against the Raiders since 2015. Conversely, Las Vegas lost its seventh straight this season and fell to 2-9.

An interception from quarterback Gardner Minshew early in the third quarter started the Raiders’ downward slide. After the Raiders clawed back into the game and faced a 26-19 deficit, a fumble from QB Desmond Ridder—who was in for an injured Minshew—put the Broncos in Raiders territory and sealed the Raiders’ loss.

Here are the winners and losers after another disappointing week in Las Vegas.

Winner: RB Dylan Laube

The Raiders were down 3-0 early but received a shot of adrenaline thanks to rookie running back Dylan Laube. His 59-yard kickoff return gave Las Vegas great field position, and the drive ultimately resulted in a touchdown.

Laube was active due to injuries to running backs Zamir White and Alexander Mattison. He took advantage and helped everyone forget about his first carry in the NFL a few weeks ago, which resulted in a fumble.

Winner: RB Ameer Abdullah

Running back Ameer Abdullah caught a touchdown pass for the second week in a row. He was being covered by a linebacker when Minshew alertly threw it right into Abdullah’s arms for six points.

Abdullah’s touchdown finished what Laube started with his return and gave the Raiders a 7-3 lead.

Another reserve running back, first-year pro Sincere McCormick, is an honorable mention for the winner list. He got his first action in the NFL and actually led the Raiders in rushing with five carries for 33 yards. New offensive coordinator Scott Turner missed an opportunity to give McCormick the ball more; he looked fantastic running between the tackles and should get more carries next week.

Winner: P AJ Cole and LB Divine Deablo

The Raiders extended their lead to 10-6 in the second quarter, but not before a gutsy call on special teams paid off. Punter AJ Cole threw linebacker Divine Deablo, who was wide open for a 34-yard gain.

Kicker Daniel Carlson converted a field goal to end the drive. He hit all four of his field goal tries, including a 53-yarder.

Winner: DE Tyree Wilson

Defensive end Tyree Wilson made an impact in this game, notching a QB sack, two tackles for loss, and a QB hit. It was Wilson’s third sack of the season, all coming within the last four contests, including one last week.

This Raiders season has gone terribly, but if Wilson can start living up to his first-round draft status, that will be a big win for Las Vegas.

Winner: WR Jakobi Meyers

Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers continues to step up for the Raiders as their No. 1 wideout. He caught 10 of 15 targets for 121 yards, highlighted by tough fourth-quarter catches and a forced pass interference penalty.

Loser: QB Gardner Minshew

In a flashback to the Raiders’ first loss to the Broncos this season, Minshew turned the ball over just as it seemed Las Vegas was starting to take control.

It wasn’t as drastic last time when the Raiders seemed primed to go ahead 17-3 before a Minshew interception in the red zone, but it was close. Ahead 13-9 with the football after the Raiders defense stopped the Broncos’ first possession of the third quarter, Minshew sailed one over the head of Meyers.

 

Adding injury to insult, Minshew reportedly broke his collarbone later in the game and is out for the season.

Loser: CB Decamerion Richardson

The Raiders were without two starting cornerbacks in this game, leaving rookie Decamerion Richardson to pick up the slack. He struggled early and often, as the Broncos seemingly targeted the Raiders’ depth in the secondary.

The Raiders trailed just 19-16 when Richardson was beaten by Broncos wide receiver Cortland Sutton for a touchdown.

 

Chalk it up as a learning experience for Richardson, as he had a couple of good moments as well.

Loser: CB Jack Jones

Veteran Jack Jones also had his share of good moments, including a tackle for loss, a pass defensed, and seven total tackles. But he too fell victim to Sutton earlier in the game, when the Broncos took the lead for good in the third quarter after Minshew’s interception.

 

Jones clearly missed his normal running makes in the secondary, cornerbacks Nate Hobbs and Jakorian Bennett, who were both inactive due to injury.

Loser: TE Brock Bowers

One week after his best performance of the season, rookie tight end Brock Bowers was brought back down to earth by the Broncos defense. Bowers caught just four of his 10 targets for 38 yards.

The Raiders fought until the end but as injuries pile up, roster shortcomings will make life difficult for coach Pierce until the season mercifully ends. They’ll try to push the Chiefs to the limit next week, as the Raiders will travel to Kansas City to face their longtime rival the day after Thanksgiving in a nationally televised game.