Tag: Cam Hart

Social media reacts to Chargers’ win over the Browns

Here is how social media reacted to the Chargers’ win, with most praising Jesse Minter for engineering another strong defensive performance.

The Chargers defeated the Browns on Sunday.

The Bolts are now 5-3.

Here’s how social media reacted to the Week 9 win:

Everything to know from Chargers’ win over Browns

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ 27-10 win over the Browns.

The Chargers beat the Browns on Sunday afternoon, improving to 5-3.

Here’s our recap of the Week 9 win.

It was over when…

The Chargers went up 20-3 right before the half. The offense was rolling, and the defense was stymying Jameis Winston and company. The defensive dominance carried over into the second half.

Notable number

According to NextGen Stats, Justin Herbert has reached 100+ passing yards on passes over ten air yards in three straight games since their Week 5 bye. He totaled just 145 yards on such attempts in Weeks 1-4.

3 stars of the game

  1. QB Justin Herbert: Herbert put together yet another strong performance, completing 18-of-27 passes for 282 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
  2. WR Quentin Johnston: Johnston led the team in receiving with 118 yards on four catches, including a 66-yard TD.
  3. Defense: 6 sacks, 3 interceptions

Quick hits

  • The Chargers defense pitched a near-shutout. Jesse Minter’s unit allowed a field goal before a garbage-time touchdown in the final minute. The Browns managed only 57 yards in the first half. They sacked Jameis Winston six times and picked him off three times.
  • The Chargers had the best scoring defense coming into the game, and they only improved as they gave up just 10 points.
  • Fifth-round pick Tarheeb Still played a vital role in the defense’s solid day. Still had an interception and two passes defended.
  • The interior pass rush hasn’t been effective this season, but they finally got a spark from Morgan Fox, who had two sacks.
  • The run defense was stout, limiting Nick Chubb to just 2.9 yards per carry.
  • Herbert posted his third straight total of over 275 passing yards and second consecutive contest of multiple passing touchdowns. He also didn’t throw an interception, marking his sixth straight game without a pick.
  • J.K. Dobbins had two rushing touchdowns, including a scamper for 34, but he was largely ineffective outside of that carry as he struggled to find running room.
  • The Chargers’ second-half offensive struggles popped up again. They only managed one first down on their first five drives.

What’s next?

The Chargers are back home to face the Titans next Sunday, Nov. 10, at 1:05 pm PT.

Statistical Breakdown: How the Chargers and Browns stack up before Week 9 game

Here’s how the Chargers and Browns stack up statistically ahead of Sunday’s matchup.

The Chargers and Browns are set to square off this upcoming Sunday.

Here’s how Los Angeles and Cleveland stack up statistically ahead of the Week 9 matchup:

Offense

Category Chargers Browns
Points per game 18.9 ppg (24th) 17.3 ppg (27th)
Passing offense 194.0 ypg (24th) 179.8 ypg (29th)
Rushing offense 117.1 ypg (20th) 92.5 ypg (27th)
Total offense 311.1 ypg (23rd) 272.3 ypg (31st)
3rd down conversions 40.40% (9th) 27.68% (32nd)
Red zone scoring 43.75% (30th) 61.54% (9th)
Sacks allowed 18 (14th) 37 (32nd)
Turnovers 4 (3rd) 9 (18th)

Defense

Category Chargers Browns
Points allowed 13.0 ppg (1st) 23.3 ppg (18th)
Passing defense 193.4 ypg (9th) 200.6 ypg (12th)
Rushing defense 112.0 ypg (11th) 125.9 ypg (17th)
Total defense 305.4 ypg (8th) 326.5 ypg (14th)
3rd down conversions 32.22% (5th) 31.07% (3rd)
Red zone defense 41.67% (4th) 58.33% (18th)
Sacks 18 (18th) 21 (9th)
Takeaways 10 (14th) 5 (26th)

 

Where the Chargers rank statistically after Week 8

The Chargers defense continues to be one of the best in the NFL

The Chargers improved to 4-3 after beating the Saints in Week 8.

Los Angeles’ passing offense is starting to come alive, while the defense continues to be one of the best units in the league.

With Week 9 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 18.9 ppg 24th
Passing offense 194.0 ypg 24th
Rushing offense 117.1 ypg 20th
Total offense 311.1 ypg 23rd
3rd down conversions 40.40% 9th
Red zone scoring 43.75% 30th
Sacks allowed 18 14th
Turnovers 4 3rd

Defense

Category Stat Rank
Points allowed 13.0 ppg 1st
Passing defense 193.4 ypg 9th
Rushing defense 112.0 ypg 11th
Total defense 305.4 ypg 8th
3rd down conversions 32.22% 5th
Red zone defense 41.67% 4th
Sacks 18 18th
Takeaways 10 14th

 

Chargers rise in NFL power rankings after Week 8 win over Saints

Find out where the Chargers stand in the national eye after Week 8

The Chargers got back over .500 after defeating the Saints last Sunday.

After Week 8, let’s see where Los Angeles stands in NFL power rankings:

USA Today: 18 (Previous: 19)

“They’re getting nice returns from their rookie class. Per Next Gen Stats, RT Joe Alt didn’t concede one pressure on 38 pass-blocking plays Sunday, tied for the best showing by a rook in the past three seasons. Meanwhile WR Ladd McConkey’s six-catch, 111-yard, two-TD game might have cemented him as QB Justin Herbert’s primary target for years to come. McConkey’s 100-yard day was the first by a Bolts rookie in 11 years.”

NFL: 15 (Previous: 17)

“The Chargers offense remains a work in progress. It broke an eight-quarter TD-less streak and the wide receivers finally broke out, with Ladd McConkey catching two second-half scoring passes. Oh, and it was their fifth turnover-free game this season. But there were too many pass-protection breakdowns to call it a good day offensively, even while scoring a season-high 26 points. Justin Herbert was sacked three times and hit four more, with every starting lineman other than rookie Joe Alt allowing multiple pressures. Herbert also escaped a few would-be sacks, turning one into a career-best 38-yard scramble, but he needs better protection. The eight points the Chargers’ defense allowed Sunday were their second-fewest on the season, and c’s unit has yet to give up more than 20, so this one fit the theme of previous victories. Right now, keeping Herbert healthy feels like the most overwhelming concern.”

ESPN: 17 (Previous: 18)

Best offseason addition: Running back J.K. Dobbins

“After the Chargers’ win over the Saints, coach Jim Harbaugh used his news conference to campaign for Dobbins as the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. “If I am the first to nominate him, then so be it,” Harbaugh said. After an Achilles tear ended Dobbins’ season in Week 1 last year, he has been one of the league’s best running backs. He is sixth in the NFL in rushing yards per game (76.4) and is tied for sixth in rushes of 10-plus yards (14).”

CBS Sports: 16 (Previous: 20)

“At 4-3, the defense has really come up big for this group. The good thing about the offense is Justin Herbert is starting to throw it around more.”

Sports Illustrated: 13 (Previous: 19)

“The Chargers’ post-Brandon Staley identity was certainly not one I would have predicted. Sans Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, the stars of this team are the drone-like Ladd McConkey and the absolutely horrifying 300-pound fullback, Scott Matlock. Staley knew this team had to be tougher but struggled to find the right fits for these pieces. The Chargers are not perfect but they’re starting to make some sense. This week’s Browns matchup, with the surging Broncos also facing a difficult test, is quietly fascinating.”

Bleacher Report: 15 (Previous: 20)

“The Chargers offense is a different animal when it can actually stretch the field with wide receivers. They were able to do that with a healthy McConkey on Sunday, and I expect to see continued offensive growth once Quentin Johnston (ankle) returns to the lineup. If head coach Jim Harbaugh can marry even an average offense to the league’s top-ranked scoring defense, Los Angeles should be relevant over the second half of the season.”

“However, I still believe L.A. is a year away from being a contender. The closest thing the Chargers have to a quality win has come against the Broncos—and the jury is still very much out on Denver. Still, the Chargers might not need to be great to slip into the postseason. They’ll have a chance to pad their record with upcoming games against the Browns, Titans and Bengals.”

Everything to know from Chargers’ win over Saints

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ 26-8 win over the Saints.

The Chargers beat the Saints on Sunday afternoon, improving to 4-3.

Here’s our recap of the Week 8 win.

It was over when…

Ladd McConkey scored his second touchdown to extend the Chargers’ lead to 18.

Notable number

According to NextGen Stats, Joe Alt did not allow pressure on any of his 38 pass-blocking snaps against the Saints, tied for the most snaps without pressure allowed by a rookie tackle over the last three seasons.

3 stars of the game

  1. QB Justin Herbert: Herbert had a strong performance against the Cardinals last Monday night and carried that over to this weekend. Herbert finished 20 of 32 passing for 279 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 49 yards on the ground on four rushes, including one for a big 38-yard gain.
  2. WR Ladd McConkey: McConkey has shown flashes this season, but it was only a matter of time until he had a breakout game. That came on Sunday when he caught six passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns, including one for 60 yards.
  3. LB Daiyan Henley: Henley led the team in tackles (11) and had a pass deflection.

Quick hits

  • Herbert engineered a multitude of big plays through the air. On 10+ yard throws, he finished 7 of 11 for 195 yards and two touchdowns, highlighted by McConkey’s 60-yard scoring grab.
  • The Chargers had no problems finding the end zone after failing to score a touchdown since the second quarter of the Week 6 game against the Broncos.
  • Second-half scoring has been a problem this season. The Chargers hadn’t scored a touchdown in the third or fourth quarter since Week 1, but they ended that drought by scoring two in the second half. They were 2-of-3 in the red zone.
  • The offense had its fair share of struggles, however. The Chargers struggled to run the ball against a Saints defense that was bottom of the barrel in that department. They went 3-for-12 on third down. The pass protection was uneven.
  • The Chargers held the Saints to 2-for-14 on third down and prevented them from reaching double digits in scoring. But they still allowed 366 total yards, 117 of which came on the ground. Alvin Kamara had a few explosive plays, a product of Los Angeles’ handful of missed tackles in open space.
  • The Chargers did a much better job of generating pressure. They finished with five sacks and seven quarterback hits.
  • Special teams was sloppy early on. Josh Harris and JK Scott failed to connect on a punt snap, which resulted in a safety. Cameron Dicker also missed an extra point.

What’s next?

The Chargers are back on the road to face the Browns next Sunday, Nov. 3, at 11:00 am PT.

Social media reacts to Chargers’ win over the Saints

Here is how the general population reacted to the Chargers’ win over the Saints, with many heaping praise on Ladd McConkey’s big performance.

The Chargers defeated the Saints on Sunday.

The Bolts are now 4-3.

Here’s how social media reacted to the Week 8 game:

Statistical Breakdown: How the Chargers and Saints stack up before Week 8 game

Here’s how the Chargers and Saints stack up statistically ahead of Sunday’s matchup.

The Chargers and Saints are set to square off this upcoming Sunday.

Here’s how Los Angeles and New Orleans stack up statistically ahead of the Week 8 matchup:

Offense

Category Chargers Saints
Points per game 17.7 ppg (26th) 25.3 ppg (11th)
Passing offense 183.7 ypg (24th) 196.6 ypg (21st)
Rushing offense 116.3 ypg (18th) 116.3 ypg (19th)
Total offense 300.0 ypg (25th) 312.9 ypg (21st)
3rd down conversions 42.53% (7th) 43.68% (6th)
Red zone scoring 38.46% (30th) 69.57% (5th)
Sacks allowed 15 (12th) 16 (14th)
Turnovers 4 (4th) 11 (27th)

Defense

Category Chargers Saints
Points allowed 13.8 ppg (1st) 25.7 ppg (26th)
Passing defense 184.2 ypg (9th) 248.1 ypg (28th)
Rushing defense 111.2 ypg (9th) 146.7 ypg (29th)
Total defense 295.3 ypg (7th) 394.9 ypg (32nd)
3rd down conversions 36.49% (16th) 39.76% (21st)
Red zone defense 45.45% (7th) 41.67% (3rd)
Sacks 13 (25th) 15 (19th)
Takeaways 10 (13th) 13 (4th)

 

Jim Harbaugh not happy with officiating late in Chargers’ Week 7 loss to Cardinals

In his press conference after the game on Monday, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was upset on how the game was officiated.

The Chargers’ loss to the Cardinals on Monday was crushing. It dropped the AFC West squad to 3-3, and these kinds of games are crucial to the playoff picture later in the season.

Late in the Week 7 contest, a few questionable officiating calls contributed to the outcome. After the loss, head coach Jim Harbaugh was clearly upset with how the game was officiated.

“I saw what I saw, but I have no comment about it,” Harbaugh said about Cam Hart’s unnecessary roughness penalty.

The penalty helped Arizona march down the field for a game-winning field goal as time expired. That wasn’t the only controversial call late in the game, either.

On Los Angeles’ final drive, wide receiver Simi Fehoko was held up on a ball that landed in the endzone. After initially throwing a flag, the referees deemed the throw uncatchable and, therefore, picked up the flag.

“They [the refs] were doing the uncatchable sign. We had a double move on, he got grabbed. I’ll let them explain how they officiated that play,” Harbaugh said.

The picked-up flag forced the Chargers to settle for their fifth field goal of the game. A touchdown would have forced the Cardinals to go down the field and score a touchdown as well.

Despite the poor officiating, the Chargers acknowledged their lack of details throughout the contest. It was a game that slipped through their hands for many reasons, but the officiating was frustrating throughout.

Where the Chargers rank statistically after Week 7

Here is how the Chargers compare statistically to the rest of the NFL after Week 7

The Chargers fell to 3-3 after losing to the Cardinals on Monday night.

Justin Herbert had his most efficient game through the air, but the running game failed to complement him. They failed to find the end zone. Their inability to hold on to the football was also costly, as they fumbled twice.

With Week 8 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 17.7 ppg 26th
Passing offense 183.7 ypg 24th
Rushing offense 116.3 ypg 18th
Total offense 300.0 ypg 25th
3rd down conversions 42.53% 7th
Red zone scoring 38.46% 30th
Sacks allowed 15 12th
Turnovers 4 4th

Defense

Category Stat Rank
Points allowed 13.8 ppg 1st
Passing defense 184.2 ypg 9th
Rushing defense 111.2 ypg 9th
Total defense 295.3 ypg 7th
3rd down conversions 36.49% 16th
Red zone defense 45.45% 7th
Sacks 13 25th
Takeaways 10 13th