Tag: 2023

The Chargers managed to get back to .500 with some slight dramatic flare in their victory over the Raiders. After going up 24-7 in the first half, the Bolts were held scoreless in the second half as Las Vegas nearly came back. But LA’s defense held firm on the final few defensive possessions to seal the deal.

For now, the team will look to head into the BYE week healthy. But let’s talk about some of the critical difference-makers in this game.

Stud: EDGE Khalil Mack

Nine pressures, six sacks, seven run stops, and two forced fumbles were the final numbers for Chargers’ pass rusher Khalil Mack on a historic day. It felt like Mack was due for a game like this, given how his season had started. From the jump in this one, the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year made his presence felt.

It’s also worth mentioning how much this performance was sorely needed from Mack. Joey Bosa was out, while Tuli Tuipulotu didn’t apply the same level of pass rush pressure that he did in the Bolts’ last two games. If Mack didn’t have the game he did, the final outcome might’ve been different, with a worse team pass rush.

Some of the sacks were a product of Aidan O’Connell holding the ball a touch too long or the Raiders’ offensive line miscommunicating, but that shouldn’t take away from the assertiveness Mack played with. Hopefully, this performance can give the Chargers some momentum as they head into the break. They’ll need a significant pass rush against Dallas’ offensive line in two weeks.

Dud: Pass blocking

Maxx Crosby and the Raiders’ pass rush also got theirs on Sunday. The Chargers had allowed 31 pressures in their first three games against Miami, Tennessee and Minnesota combined. Against Las Vegas, they allowed 25 pressures.

Rashawn Slater allowed an offensive line high four pressures and Crosby managed to flummox both he and Trey Pipkins. Crosby was as much of a wrecking ball for the Raiders as Mack was for the Chargers. He opened up many opportunities for the pressures and sacks of his other teammates.

The Chargers’ non-OL pass blockers were particularly brutal. Joshua Kelley and Isaiah Spiller allowed six pass-rush pressures while only playing a  combined nine pass-blocking snaps.

Justin Herbert was running for his life most of the game. Being flushed out of the pocket by Raiders’ pressure forced him into a poor interception targeting Joshua Palmer while Keenan Allen was open.

Stud: CB Asante Samuel Jr.

Like the entire Chargers’ secondary, Asante Samuel Jr. struggled in the first two weeks of the season. But ever since he’s moved back to outside corner, his level has picked up immensely.

Samuel obviously came up with a critical interception in this game as Aidan O’Connell targeted Davante Adams on the goal line. The Chargers corner has been targeted 18 times in the last two weeks and allowed sub-90 passer ratings in each of those games.

The level of difficulty for Samuel in having these performances should not be overlooked either. At 0-2, the Chargers faced dysfunction in the secondary while staring down matchups with Justin Jefferson and Davante Adams before the BYE. Samuel’s efficiency on the switch back outside is a key reason the Chargers’ defensive crisis in the back half has subsided.

Dud: The 4th down play call (again)

Despite it being a controversial call in the media, I was okay with Brandon Staley going for it on 4th down to try to close out the Vikings last week. At the same time, I was not a fan of taking the ball out of Justin Herbert’s hands and giving it to Joshua Kelley. In my view, they should’ve QB sneaked.

The Chargers faced a similar situation this week: punt and play defense or try to end the game and live with red zone defense if necessary. Again, analytical models favored going for it, and the game, for all intents and purposes, ends with a conversion.

However, unlike last week, Herbert was not healthy. He fractured a finger on his non-throwing hand and was in the game with a splint. Aside from the unsuccessful QB sneak the Chargers would end up running, Herbert did not run another play under center after his injury.

Perhaps it could be considered hypocritical to say, “Don’t QB sneak it!” after last week. But I wasn’t in love with the decision without Corey Linsley and minding opportunistic Raiders defenders chomping at the bit to go after Herbert’s injured hand. Keeping it on the ground with the running backs, punting, or dialing up a shotgun play would’ve been better options considering the circumstances. After all, Herbert did uncork a big bomb to Joshua Palmer to end the game on a later drive.

Stud: LB Kenneth Murray

Ever since Kenneth Murray was forced into the green dot role after Eric Kendricks’ hamstring injury, he’s been playing solid football. He seems more decisive in taking tackling angles and as a pass rusher. Against Minnesota, in particular, he came up with some big run stops.

Staley knows how the Chargers’ starting linebacker has been playing as well. Despite Kendricks returning to the lineup, he kept Murray as the defense’s primary signal caller in Week 4.

Murray’s PFF defensive grade of 74.4 against the Raiders was his highest in a game since the Chargers played the Colts last season.

Dud: The passing game chemistry

The loss of Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler felt noticeable for the Chargers in this one. While Herbert was getting chased around all day, he never had Ekeler in the flat as a safety valve.

After the BYE, the Chargers should have their star running back return on Monday Night Football vs. Dallas. However, the longer-term issue of Williams’ absence will remain. Outside of Keenan Allen, it doesn’t feel like Justin Herbert has that consistent chemistry with his receiver room yet. Quentin Johnston has been wide open on several plays in the last two weeks, as Herbert has been quick to look off of that read.

Outside of the last throw of the game, Palmer also wasn’t a consistent fixture in the afternoon’s proceedings. What felt off about the offense was the key pieces that were missing and the lack of execution in their replacement.