Tag: chargers raiders

Chargers film room: Poona Ford anchors strong Week 1 defense

Poona Ford was one of the bright spots for the Chargers defense that held the Raiders to 71 yards rushing in a Week 1 victory.

The Chargers looked like a completely different run defense in the first game of the Jim Harbaugh era, holding the Raiders to just 71 yards on the ground as a team.

Instrumental in that effort was defensive tackle Poona Ford, who signed a one-year contract with Los Angeles in the offseason after playing a depth role for the Bills in 2023. Penciled in as a starter nearly by default because of the Chargers’ struggles on the defensive interior, Ford broke through with one of the best games by any defensive tackle in the NFL in Week 1 to aid Los Angeles’ defensive effort.

Let’s turn to the film to see how Ford made his impact.

Ford started strong on the opening drive of the season, pushing Raiders center Andre James into the backfield and forcing running back Zamir White to funnel his carry back inside on 3rd and 1. White’s cut brings him back into the path of Joey Bosa pursuing on the back side of the play. Bosa makes the play, forcing a Raiders punt.

On the next Raiders drive, Las Vegas lines up to go for a 4th and 1 from their own 41, bringing tight end Michael Mayer into the backfield in a pistol look. Ford beats James instantly off the snap and runs through Mayer, causing a pileup in the backfield that absorbs White and stuffs the Raiders. The field position set up the Chargers for the opening field goal of the game.

Ford initially gets driven off the ball by Raiders guard Cody Whitehair on this toss play in the second quarter as James pulls to support the block, but Ford gets past the double team and helps close the hole alongside cornerback Kristian Fulton to limit White to a gain of 2 on first down. Fulton slips a block from Mayer to help Ford make the tackle.

Coming out of the two-minute warning, the Raiders try to set up a screen to running back Alexander Mattison, but Ford reads the play after getting through the A gap without much resistance from James or Whitehair. Instead of chasing after Gardner Minshew, Ford runs with Mattison and tips the ball. As Mattison tries to corral it, Ford continues to play through his hands, eventually knocking the ball away and forcing the Raiders into a third down.

On a 3rd and 7 in the third quarter with the Chargers leading 9-7, Jesse Minter dials up a sim pressure with Junior Colson, Daiyan Henley, and Derwin James all walked up to the line of scrimmage. All three of them come on the blitz while Ford briefly engages with Andre James before dropping into a zone over the middle. The design prevents the Raiders from sliding the protection to either side. Henley jumps to get in the throwing lane of Minshew and Colson breaks into the pocket for a pressure, forcing a throwaway. Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson missed a 49-yard field goal on the next play, leading to a Chargers touchdown drive.

Zooming out to the field view for this 3rd and 10 from the Chargers 23, the seventh play of a pivotal Raiders drive early in the fourth quarter. Las Vegas runs a screen to wide receiver DJ Turner on the outside and has three blockers, including two offensive linemen, for three Chargers defenders in front of Turner. As he approaches the first down marker, however, Turner is chased down by Ford, stopping him short of the sticks and forcing the Raiders into a field goal attempt to make the game 16-10 rather than setting up a red zone first down to cut the lead to two.

Ford caps off his performance – and the game – with this tip drill interception just after the two-minute warning. Khalil Mack drives right tackle Thayer Munford Jr. back as Minshew tries to swing the ball to Mattison. Mack gets his hands up and bats the ball into the air right as Ford disengages from his blocker. Unlike most defensive tackles who let the ball fall into their chests, Ford extends outside his frame slightly to make the catch and gets to the ground to secure the victory.

Ford continuing his strong play will be instrumental in the Chargers fielding a top defense this season, as his Week 1 tape was some of the best Los Angeles has gotten from a defensive tackle in the last couple of seasons. Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack both looked impressive as well, setting up a potentially dominant Chargers front if all three can sustain their levels of production.

Chargers rookie OT Joe Alt aces first test

Joe Alt was a wall against the Raiders.

Joe Alt couldn’t have asked for a more challenging test in his NFL regular season debut, as he was tasked with going up against Maxx Crosby. But the rookie offensive tackle aced it.

According to Next Gen Stats, Alt allowed zero quarterback pressures in 11 pass-block snaps against Crosby. If that stat wasn’t already eyebrow-raising, Crosby had not been held to zero pressures against an offensive lineman since Week 9 of the 2022 season.

On the day, Alt allowed three pressures across his 28 total pass-block snaps.

Alt was a wall in pass protection with active feet, athletic posture, strong anchor and nice balance throughout each repetition.

Coaches and players heaped high praise on Alt after the game.

“Joe Alt, he played really good,” Jim Harbaugh said. “Super happy for Joe.”

Justin Herbert added: “He’s a true ball player out there.”

Alt’s performance was even more impressive because he has only been playing right tackle for five months. The former Notre Dame product was a left tackle in college but was drafted to play opposite Rashawn Slater.

“Super proud of him. I’ve always known from the very beginning he was going to be dominant,” Slater said about Alt. “I have no doubt he dominated today. I haven’t even looked at the film, but I just know he did. Sky is the limit.”

Chargers PFF grades: Best, worst performers in Week 1 win over Raiders

Spotlighting Pro Football Focus’ highest and lowest-graded Chargers players from the win over the Raiders.

In Week 1, the Chargers defeated the Raiders, 22-10.

En route to victory, there were some standout performers and others who did not contribute as much.

That said, here are the best and worst performers from Sunday’s contest, according to Pro Football Focus’ player grades.

Top 5 Offense

OT Rashawn Slater — 74.8

RB J.K. Dobbins — 74.3

WR Ladd McConkey — 72.9

WR Quentin Johnston — 65.4

OT Joe Alt — 60.8

Top 5 Defense

EDGE Joey Bosa — 91.4

DT Poona Ford — 89.2

EDGE Khalil Mack — 87.2

S Elijah Molden — 82.9

CB Ja’Sir Taylor — 72.1

Bottom 5 Offense

TE/FB Scott Matlock — 27.4

TE Will Dissly — 39.8

WR Joshua Palmer — 46.7

OL Bradley Bozeman — 48.7

OL Zion Johnson — 52.4

Bottom 5 Defense

EDGE Bud Dupree — 29.7

LB Junior Colson — 44.8

DL Morgan Fox — 50.4

DL Scott Matlock — 53.5

DL Otito Ogbonnia — 56.6

Everything to know from Chargers’ win over Raiders in season opener

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ 22-10 win over the Raiders.

The Chargers kicked off the Jim Harbaugh era in the win column, defeating the Raiders by the score of 22-10.

Here’s our recap of the Bolts’ victory in the season opener.

It was over when…

Ladd McConkey found the end zone to put the Chargers up two scores with less than four minutes remaining in the game.

Highlight of the game

The Chargers’ first touchdown of the season

https://twitter.com/chargers/status/1832905940326322325?s=46

Notable number

Jim Harbaugh improved to 5-0 as a head coach in season openers.

3 stars of the game

  1. RB J.K. Dobbins: After battling injuries throughout his NFL career, Dobbins dispelled those concerns with a monstrous performance in his first game as a Charger. He finished the game with 135 yards and a touchdown on ten carries, with long runs of 46 and 61 yards.
  2. EDGE Joey Bosa: Bosa’s past two seasons were shortened by injuries. But as we know, he is a force to be reckoned with when he’s on the field. And that he was, as Bosa made a few high-effort plays, including a forced fumble and a sack.
  3. EDGE Khalil Mack: Mack had a career year in 2023, and the veteran picked up where he left off. He amassed two sacks, a fumble recovery and a pass deflection that led to an interception by Poona Ford that sealed the game.

Quick hits

  • The offense experienced growing pains in the first half of the game. They failed to surpass 100 yards of total offense, averaging just 3.6 yards per play. Five penalties were committed. J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards combined for 12 rushing yards on eight carries. The offensive line wasn’t gelling. Wide receivers weren’t getting open.
  • In the second half, things changed as the unit started to find a rhythm. The offensive line improved in pass protection and run blocking, eventually leading to their success on the ground. The Chargers finished with 158 rushing yards in the final two quarters.
  • The lack of talent in the wide receiver room was evident as players struggled to separate. McConkey led the group with five catches for 39 yards and his first NFL touchdown. Quentin Johnston showed some juice after the catch but had a dropped pass. Joshua Palmer only had two receptions for 15 yards. Palmer was eventually ejected after getting into a scuffle with Marcus Epps.
  • The offense only converted on third down four times on 15 attempts.
  • Justin Herbert finished the game 17-of-26 passing for 144 yards and a touchdown. Herbert was sacked just once.
  • Jesse Minter’s defense was tremendous. His group forced three turnovers and had four sacks. They also limited the Raiders to 3.2 yards per carry. The interior defensive line owned the line of scrimmage, the pass rush consistently got to Gardner Minshew, and defenders rallied to the football and made plays in the open field.
  • Cameron Dicker made all three field-goal attempts, with a long of 53 yards.
  • JK Scott did not have his best day. On seven punts, Scott only got one inside the Raiders’ 20-yard line and two went for touchbacks.

What’s next?

The Chargers are on the road to take on the Panthers (0-1) next Sunday, Sept. 15, at 10:00 a.m. PT.

Staff predictions for Chargers vs. Raiders in Week 1

Find out who the Chargers Wire staff is picking between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

The Los Angeles Chargers kick off Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1:05 p.m. PT.

Who is going to come out victorious?

Here is a look at the predictions from each of our writers at Chargers Wire:

Gavino:

The Chargers begin the new era under Jim Harbaugh against their division rival, the Raiders. After months of hearing about the 63-21 loss from last season, Los Angeles comes out motivated to silence that crowd. I think we see a well-rounded performance from the offense, with Justin Herbert throwing for two touchdowns and the rushing attack of Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins to combine for over 100 yards. Defensively, Jesse Minter’s group will rattle Gardner Minshew.

Chargers 24, Raiders 14

Alex K:

Los Angeles should be able to contain a Las Vegas offense led by Gardner Minshew thanks to a strong pass rush, but the Raiders may find some chunk plays to Davante Adams with Asante Samuel Jr. a late add to the injury report. Offensively, a revamped run game under Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman should keep the Chargers on schedule while Justin Herbert spreads the ball around.

Chargers 23, Raiders 13

Spencer:

The first game of the Jim Harbaugh era will set the tone for the rest of the season. In the last matchup between these two teams, the Raiders put up 63 points in a blowout. While the Chargers have the far superior quarterback, the Raiders have better playmakers around the field. We’ll see how healthy Justin Herbert is, along with the new-look wide receiver room. Due to those uncertain circumstances, the Raiders will sneak away with a Week 1 victory.

Raiders 21, Chargers 20

Behind Enemy Lines: Previewing Week 1 with Raiders Wire

Answers to a few burning questions about the Raiders ahead of their matchup with the Chargers.

The Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders are about to duke it out in a divisional showdown on Sunday afternoon.

Before the matchup, Raiders Wire managing editor Levi Damien spoke with us about Los Angeles’ opponent.

What did Tom Telesco do to improve the roster this offseason?

Biggest move was to sign Chrisitan Wilkins. Upgrading the interior defensive line was a top priority. Gardner Minshew isn’t going to blow the doors off anything, but he is an upgrade over Aidan O’Connell, albeit a slight one. Not the franchise QB they needed, but it’s something.

What can we expect from Gardner Minshew, the journeyman?

He will matriculate the ball down the field and should do well utilizing the two tight end sets the Raiders plan to deploy a good portion of the time. He will also create some plays with his legs. That’s something you just don’t get from Aidan O’Connell. Mostly Minshew is the type of quarterback who may not win a lot of games for you, but he also won’t lose them for you. And with the defense being the strength of this team, that could be all the Raiders want from him.

What area/position of the Raiders could determine the outcome of this game?

If the Raiders win, it would be on the strength of their pass rush. Both getting to Justin Herbert for sacks and helping set up their opportunistic secondary to get turnovers out of it. And that task just became considerably more difficult with the loss of Malcolm Koonce to a knee injury. The Raiders will be asking backups Tyree Wilson and Janarius Robinson to step up and fill the void at EDGE opposite Maxx Crosby. If they lose, it will most likely be because they can’t sustain and finish enough drives on offense.

Who is an under-the-radar Raider that Chargers fans should know about?

Tre Tucker has really come up as a receiver. He had Lasik eye surgery in the offseason and it has made a new player out of him. The difference is striking. From a player who didn’t track passes well, and didn’t look like a natural hands catcher, to making several incredible catches in preseason I had never seen him make as a rookie last season. For some perspective, he was drafted for his 4.2 speed. Now he’s got hands to go with it. Watch out for him.

What’s your prediction for the game?

I have the Chargers winning this one. The honeymoon period is in full swing with Harbaugh and his team, especially his young QB. Herbert is elite and Harbaugh won’t squander it. They will play like believers while Harbaugh will break out some things the Raiders won’t see coming.

3 key matchups to watch as Chargers face Raiders in Week 1

Breaking down key matchups to watch for in the Chargers’ opener against the Raiders.

The Chargers’ 2024 regular season kicks off with a home matchup against the Raiders this Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PT.

Here are three matchups to keep an eye on in Week 1:

Chargers OT Joe Alt vs. Raiders EDGE Maxx Crosby

Alt, the No. 5 overall pick, gets his first “Welcome to the NFL” moment facing one of the league’s premiere edge rushers. Crosby racked up a career-high 14.5 sacks in the 2023 season. Meanwhile, Alt only allowed four sacks during his college career (38 games).

Alt had weeks of reps against Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack during training camp, which should have helped him prepare for his test against Crosby this weekend.

“There can’t be a bigger test right out of the gate,” Jim Harbaugh said on Alt facing Crosby. “Joe’s prepared for it. I can’t wait to watch him compete, starting out against a premiere edge player in this game — in the history of the game, really.”

Chargers CB Asante Samuel Jr. vs. Raiders WR Davante Adams

In last year’s meeting, Samuel fared well against Adams, allowing five catches on eight targets for just 35 yards. Against the Raiders in 2023, Samuel had three passes defended and an interception.

Samuel must maintain that high level of play against Adams, who has historically been a terror to the Chargers. In five games against Los Angeles, Adams has totaled 41 catches for 535 yards and four touchdowns.

Chargers RBs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins vs. Raiders front seven

Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman are going to run the football, and they will rely on their offseason additions, Edwards and Dobbins, for their success. Edwards is coming off an 11-touchdown campaign, and Dobbins is just looking to stay healthy. When he’s on the field, Dobbins is a threat to opposing defenses. Additionally, the Chargers offensive line looks the best it has in years.

The Raiders are equipped to slow down Los Angeles’ ground game, and it starts up front. Along with being a prolific pass rusher, Crosby is a great run defender. Las Vegas bolstered the defensive line with the free agency signing of Christian Wilkins, who should aid in that department. Furthermore, Robert Spillane was one of the best run-defending linebackers last season.

Other matchups to watch

Chargers EDGEs Joey Bosa & Khalil Mack vs. Raiders OTs Kolton Miller & Thayer Munford

Chargers interior offensive line vs. Raiders DT Christian Wilkins

Chargers WRs Joshua Palmer & Ladd McConkey vs. Raiders CBs Jack Jones & Nate Hobbs

Key things to know about Chargers’ Week 1 opponent: Raiders

Here are some important things to know about the Raiders ahead of the Week 1 matchup with the Chargers.

The Chargers will open up the 2024 regular season at SoFi Stadium against the Raiders on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1:05 p.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 1 bout, here are five key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

Got the promotion

After the 2023 season, the Raiders removed the interim tag from Antonio Pierce’s title and promoted him to full-time head coach. Pierce served as Las Vegas’ linebackers coach before taking on the interim role after former head coach Josh McDaniels was fired. He led them to a 5-4 record.

The man under center

The Raiders had a quarterback battle during the summer between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, and Minshew prevailed. This offseason, Minshew signed a two-year, $25 million contract, marking the fourth team he’s played on. Over five seasons with the Jaguars, Eagles and Colts, Minshew has started 37 games, posting a 15-22 record. He has faced the Chargers twice in his career and is 0-2 against them.

Big fish landed

Former Chargers general manager and current Raiders GM Tom Telesco’s biggest offseason move was acquiring Christian Wilkins. Wilkins, the top defensive tackle on the market, signed to a four-year, $110 million contract. Wilkins is coming off a season in which he amassed career highs in sacks (nine), quarterback pressures (61), and quarterback hits (23). Along with being a prolific interior pass rusher, he’s just as impactful against the run.

Other offseason additions

Telesco’s other moves in the offseason came mainly on the offensive side of the ball, with running back Alexander Mattison, guard Cody Whitehair and rookie tight end Brock Bowers. Center Andre James re-signed to a two-year deal. They will all be key pieces for Luke Getsy, who will enter his first season as Raiders offensive coordinator. Getsy previously served in the same role for the Bears.

Look out for…

Edge rusher Maxx Crosby. Crosby has asserted himself as one of the top defensive players in the league. He finished last season with a career-high 14.5 sacks. Rookie offensive tackle Joe Alt should get a heavy dose of Crosby this game, so it will be interesting to see how he fares.

2023 Power Rankings Roundup, Week 16: Where Chargers stand after loss to Raiders

Here is what the national media thinks of the Chargers after their loss to the Raiders.

The Chargers are coming off a loss to the Raiders.

Here is what the national media thinks of the Bolts ahead of Week 16:

USA Today: 31 (Previous: 29)

“And Brandon Staley wondered why he kept getting asked if he would relinquish defensive play-calling duties. At least he managed to surrender a team-record 63 points on his way out the door.”

Touchdown Wire: 25 (Previous: 21)

“Watching the Chargers without Justin Hebert is cruel and unusual punishment. At least we’ll see him with a new, hopefully competent, head coach the next time we see him take the field.”

NFL: 27 (Previous: 26)

“It doesn’t feel like the Chargers wanted to make an in-season firing, but last week’s thrashing by the Raiders necessitated a move on head coach Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco. It just wasn’t working, pretty much from the playoff meltdown last January on, but there were signs before that, too. The entire season is a loss now, with several key players now facing offseason rehab, including QB Justin Herbert. Having Herbert in tow for the prime years of his career will add to the appeal of the job, and the roster isn’t in awful shape, even with some major contract decisions looming. The Bolts are also cruising toward a top-10 pick in April, and if this season has shown us anything, it’s that Patrick Mahomes might not be immortal. Even still, those are wound-licking consolations right now that the Chargers hope might, mercifully, pay off one day.”

CBS Sports: 29 (Previous: 29)

“They had no choice but to fire head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco. It’s hard to believe this was a playoff team last year.”

ESPN: 28 (Previous: 25)

We’re No. 1 … in attempts on third-and-short.

“The Chargers are tied for the league’s best in attempts on third-and-short (63), which is defined as third-down plays with less than or equal to 3 yards to the first-down marker or end zone. But the Chargers are also 29th in third-and-short conversion percentage (49.2%). This stat is likely reflective of the Chargers’ ineffective run game, which they have tried to spark all season but still ranks 27th in rushing yards per game (95.7). The Chargers’ ineffective rushing attack makes them somewhat one-dimensional in these scenarios, relying on short passes that the defense can predict. Against the Broncos, for example the Chargers were 0-for-12 on third down. This stat, like many for the Chargers this season, is reflective of missed opportunities.”

Yahoo Sports: 28 (Previous: 27)

“Everyone knew by halftime last Thursday that Brandon Staley was getting fired. That no-show by the Chargers was an embarrassment to the entire franchise. What’s next? You’d probably prefer an experienced coach who can win right away with a talented roster. And yes, Bill Belichick’s name is probably going to come up with this opening a few times.”

The Athletic: 28 (Previous: 27)

Surprise: That it took this long

The Chargers finally fired Brandon Staley, who fell to 24-24 in three seasons with Thursday night’s embarrassing loss. It was the fifth loss in the last six games for Los Angeles, which entered the season with playoff hopes and now is the second-worst team in the AFC, ahead of only the Patriots. Staley was hired because he was supposed to be an up-and-coming defensive guru, but the Chargers are 27th in points (24.6) and yards per play (5.6) allowed.

The infamous moments that led to Brandon Staley’s departure

There are three distinct moments that will forever define Brandon Staley’s career with the Chargers. 

The Chargers fired Brandon Staley on Friday.

While there are various reasons why Staley was let go, there are three distinct moments that will forever define his career with Los Angeles. 

The controversial timeout. The first notorious occasion of the Staley era was the Week 18 game versus the Raiders in 2021. The matchup was not only against division rivals Las Vegas, but it also had beguiling playoff implications. The Bolts and Raiders both had the opportunity to go to the playoffs–if the game ended in a tie. 

In true Justin Herbert fashion, the talented quarterback led Los Angeles on the game-tying drive by throwing a touchdown on the last play of regulation. Overtime led to a Raiders’ field goal and the Chargers responded with a field goal of their own. The game was tied with 38 seconds left and it looked as though each team would get their fairytale ending. Although the Raiders had the ball, it appeared as though they were setting up to let the clock expire when Staley bizarrely chose to call a timeout. 

His decision to call the timeout led everyone to believe that it was the reason Las Vegas went for the first down which set them up for a field goal. This was further confirmed postgame when NBC’s Michelle Tafoya asked Raiders quarterback Derek Carr if the timeout made a difference and he replied, “It definitely did, obviously.” 

The defensive guru loses at his own game. The second notorious moment in Staley’s career was in the 2022 playoffs. Staley has always been a defensive-minded coach and as the saying goes ‘defense wins championships’ so it seemed that he was exactly what the Chargers needed. 

Nevertheless, Staley’s poor decision-making on defense was showcased on primetime when the Bolts faced the Jaguars in the AFC wild-card matchup. It was smooth sailing after Los Angeles scored 27 points and held Jacksonville to none, or so it seemed. Staley’s defensive unit intercepted Trevor Lawrence four times in the first half but what should’ve been total domination quickly turned into total chaos. 

The defensive woes that had hurt the Bolts all season showed its’ ugly face and Lawrence was able to throw four touchdown passes. 

After blowing a 27-0 lead to Jacksonville in the Bolts’ first playoff appearance in four years, it seemed as if Staley wasn’t the right man for the job. People already began to wonder whether he’d be the Chargers head coach after the loss to the Jaguars in 2022. 

The last straw. The Raiders once again played a main role in Staley’s infamous moments as they faced the Chargers on Thursday Night Football. It was arguably the Bolts’ most embarrassing performance in franchise history as they allowed Las Vegas to destroy them 63-21. It was a historic night for the Raiders but it was a horrific night for Staley. 

Just a few weeks prior he had snapped at a reporter in his postgame press conference after losing to the Packers.

“You can stop asking that question,” Staley told the reporter. “I am going to be calling the defenses. So we’re clear. So you don’t have to ask that again.”

Maybe it wasn’t his poor decision making or questionable play calling, but rather, his pride and inability to change that led to Staley’s bitter end. 

Staley had three seasons to make the necessary changes yet he never relented. He continued to dig himself into a hole and he eventually jumped in with the historic 63-21 loss to the Raiders.