Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here are some key numbers that sum up the Chargers’ loss to the Seahawks in Week 7.
The Chargers fell to 4-3 after a 37-23 loss to the Seahawks.
Here are seven numbers that tell the story of the Bolts’ dropping the Week 7 matchup.
The Chargers are preparing to be without J.C. Jackson for a good chunk of time.
The start of cornerback J.C. Jackson’s tenure with the Chargers wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, and it’s possible that he won’t even get the chance to turn things around for the remainder of the season.
Jackson went to the ground with what appeared to be a non-contact leg injury while covering Marquise Goodwin late in the second quarter of the loss to the Seahawks. He was carted off the field in an air cast and did not return.
Following the game, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Jackson suffered a dislocated kneecap. Rapoport added that he would undergo an MRI on Monday, which should show the full extent of damage sustained.
Head coach Brandon Staley was asked about Jackson during the team’s post-game press conference and called the injury “significant.”
Entering Week 7, Jackson had been targeted 23 times while allowing 17 receptions for 331 yards and three touchdowns. He had yet to intercept a pass and was credited with just a single pass breakup.
In Jackson’s absence will be Michael Davis, who took over in Week 6 when Jackson was benched in the second half and when he went out with the injury on Sunday.
Once we know the diagnosis of the injury, we will post an update.
Highlighting all the important stuff from the Chargers’ Week 7 loss to the Seahawks.
The Chargers were dominated by the Seahawks on Sunday.
To recap the game, here is everything to know about Los Angeles’ 37-23 loss to Seattle.
Here’s who came through and who disappointed in the Chargers’ loss to the Seahawks.
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The Chargers dropped to 4-3 on Sunday following a 37-16 loss to the Seahawks.
Los Angeles mercifully hits their bye week next week, giving them a chance to heal and right the ship.
Here’s who has more work to do than the rest and who can feel good about their performance heading into the off week.
Stud: Asante Samuel Jr.
Apart from a touchdown to Marquise Goodwin, where Samuel slow-played the vertical route, the second-year corner was pretty much lockdown. ASJ got off to a hot start, driving on a Geno Smith pass to Tyler Lockett that resulted in a tip-drill interception for Kenneth Murray. With the game still in the balance, Samuel made a diving play to break up a Smith 3rd down pass and force Seattle into a 50-yard field goal. It looked as though Samuel had converted one of the crazier interceptions of the season, but the replay showed that he once again couldn’t quite bring it in. It’s been the narrative for most of the season: as soon as Samuel can finish those plays, he’ll be a premier corner.
Dud: Justin Herbert
Something is not right with Herbert. I don’t know if it’s the ribs injury, the playcalling, or something else, but Herbert is simply missing throws and making uncharacteristic decisions over the middle of the field. His interception when looking for DeAndre Carter was never open and he was lucky to not throw additional ones because of miscommunications or just plain misses on a few other throws. It’s hard to say things are all on Herbert because of the injuries at wide receiver and on the offensive line, but we’ve talked about this one or two other times this season. When you have a QB that’s in the upper echelon of talent like Herbert is, he needs to be able to elevate the team around him and grit out games like these. Last week, he was able to do that, just barely. This week, not so much.
Stud: Austin Johnson
Johnson has been one of the bright spots on defense this season as one of the more unheralded free agent signings of the offseason. A lot of attention was paid to the additions of JC Jackson, Khalil Mack, and Sebastian Joseph-Day, and rightfully so, but Johnson has been routinely ruining opposing runs up the middle this season. He continued that pace on Sunday, forcing Kenneth Walker into a few carries for loss or no gain. Walker primarily found success when he was able to get to the outside. Johnson also got home for his first sack of the season, a play that was a long time coming given his success as a pass rusher in recent weeks. While the run defense hasn’t looked as improved on paper as fans would’ve liked, we can take solace in knowing that Johnson is bringing the heat every week.
Dud: Wide receiver depth
Outside of Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, this team has no juice at wide receiver right now. Allen was held to 2 receptions for 11 yards as he worked back into the gameplan, but his presence was evident as Seattle allocated extra resources to defending him. Williams garnered nine targets today, tied for second with Gerald Everett behind Austin Ekeler. But beyond that, DeAndre Carter had three catches on seven targets. Jason Moore and Michael Bandy had one catch each. The Chargers need to do their homework during the bye week and find an NFL-caliber receiver to get on the field, especially with Williams going down with an ankle injury late in this game. Whether that’s Josh Palmer returning, one of the practice squad receivers stepping up, or signing a free agent directly to the active roster, the Chargers must make a move.
Stud: Bryce Callahan
Callahan had another standout game today, including two different plays where he was oh-so-close to picking off Geno Smith. The first came in the first quarter, where Callahan tracked the ball and got one hand on it to knock the ball away. If he timed a jump just a touch better, it looked like he could’ve gotten his other hand to the ball to make the play for an interception. The second came later in the game when Callahan just barely couldn’t tap his toes in the end zone as Smith tried to throw the ball away in a goal-line situation. The veteran did pick up a pass interference penalty against Tyler Lockett, but overall, Lockett was held to 7 catches for just 45 yards and Noah Fant had just one catch for 7 yards.
Dud: Run game
Seattle came into this game giving up 165.8 yards per game, second to last in the league, ahead of only Denver. And yet, the Chargers’ offensive line was dominated at the point of attack nearly all game, leading to just 53 yards on 15 attempts. Los Angeles behind nearly all game, forcing them to open up the passing attack early, but a 3.5 yards per carry average is far from what you want. If you subtract Herbert’s 22 yards on scrambles, L.A. took 12 carries for just 31 yards. Something was bound to break the wrong way for this rushing attack after looking improved against a series of terrible run defenses, but it’s a harrowing thought that losing Joshua Kelley brings that phase of the offense down to that extent.
Stud: Punt team
Credit to special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken for getting this unit into tip-top shape. After Ja’Sir Taylor essentially won the Chargers the game on Monday night last week with a heads-up play on Denver’s punt returner, he and fellow rookie Deane Leonard continued their phenomenal showings as gunners on Sunday. JK Scott punted five times for an average of 45.6 yards, downing punts at the nine, seven, and two-yard lines. Taylor’s downing of the punt at the 2 was the catalyst for Los Angeles’ safety that kept them in the game for a few minutes longer. It seems backward based on the Bolts’ historical tendencies, but the special teams unit is shaping up as either the best or second-best unit on this team any given week.
Dud: Injury bug
I wrote in my keys to the game that the main goal of Sunday’s contest, win or loss, was to escape to the bye week as healthy as possible, given the plethora of injuries LA has already suffered. Instead, they likely lost J.C. Jackson for the season to a non-contact knee injury that required an air cast and a cart ride to the locker room. Drue Tranquill and Chris Rumph were injured on punts – Tranquill returned, but Rumph (knee/hip) did not seem to. Mike Williams suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter that left him unable to put any weight on his right leg. Tranquill and Rumph’s at least looked like injuries that may heal up in time for the Week 9 showdown with the Falcons. But losing Jackson and Williams for any extended time would be disastrous for a team who has already seen Keenan Allen, Rashawn Slater, and Joey Bosa miss multiple games. SoFi Stadium is unlikely to change the playing surface soon, and I’m not suggesting every injury can be chalked up to the turf field, but it’s part of a larger, league-wide discourse about how unsafe turf is for the health of the players.
The crown jewel of the Chargers’ free-agent class has gone down.
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The crown jewel of the Chargers’ free-agent class has gone down.
Late in the second quarter, JC Jackson found himself in one on one coverage against Seahawks receiver Marquise Goodwin. Geno Smith targeted Goodwin in the end zone and Jackson went to leap to make a play.
As he did, replays show that his knee buckled, leading to an awkward second jump that made it look like Jackson had been beaten downfield by the speedy Goodwin.
As the veteran hauled in the catch, giving the Seahawks a 24-14 lead, Jackson stayed down on the field.
Jackson would eventually be carted off with the injury, which as of the writing of this article, seems to be a non-contact knee injury, although official word from the team is not yet available.
With Jackson out, Michael Davis will re-enter the starting lineup after playing the entire second half last week.
Catch up with all the action from the first half between the Chargers and Seahawks.
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The Chargers trail the Seahawks at the half, 24-14.
Here are all of Los Angeles’ notable highlights from the first two quarters.
On the Seahawks’ first drive, quarterback Geno Smith looked for one of his star receivers, firing a bullet to Tyler Lockett. However, cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. made an excellent play on the ball, tipping it into the air for an easy interception by Kenneth Murray Jr.
KENNNNEETHHHHHHHHH!!!! @kennethmurray | 📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/bsO7x99Lo0
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 23, 2022
After trailing 17-0, the running back Austin Ekeler found the end zone from seven yards out to cut the deficit to ten.
comin' thruuuuu @AustinEkeler | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/1AqXjbmsOv
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 23, 2022
On the following drive, running back Dee Eskridge fumbled the pitch, which was recovered by Khalil Mack.
mr. steal yo ball @FiftyDeuce | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/KX85C9NDUa
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 23, 2022
The fumble recovery put Los Angeles in good field position, and it led to Justin Herbert connecting with Mike Williams for a 13-yard touchdown.
MIKE WILL MADE IT. @darealmike_dub | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/BG3UzaAiRA
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 23, 2022
Here is how the Chargers beat the Seahawks on Sunday.
The Chargers host the Seahawks with a chance to tie their all-time series at 26 victories apiece.
Los Angeles is hurting, however, missing wide receiver Joshua Palmer, tight end Donald Parham Jr., running back Joshua Kelley, and kicker Dustin Hopkins on top of preexisting injuries.
Here’s how L.A. can overcome those obstacles to advance to 5-2.
Figure it out on the fly
With all those injuries piling up, it’s time for the Chargers to use game action as an evaluation period. Listen, with Justin Herbert under center, Los Angeles should win this game. But with Palmer out and Keenan Allen questionable again this week with his hamstring injury, the wide receiver depth is a huge question mark. Mike Williams is healthy, but if Allen doesn’t play, DeAndre Carter will be the second wide receiver. Jason Moore is also on the active roster, and Michael Bandy was signed to the active roster. Same thing at running back, where we’ll see rookie Isaiah Spiller for the first time without Kelley. Injuries are bound to happen to every team; the truly great ones have their depth step up. Let’s see it on Sunday.
Get the real J.C. Jackson
How does Jackson respond to being benched on Monday after another putrid half of football? The splash free agent signing said this week that his plan was to do extra film study and spend even more time at the team facility to prove he deserves this staff’s decision to reinsert him into the starting lineup. I think Seattle is a potential get-right game for Jackson, who excels as a press man corner against physical receivers. The Seahawks happen to have that exact player in D.K. Metcalf. As Brandon Staley said postgame last week, there are some situations where you can’t press, and Jackson will have to be better in those. But for the most part, the Chargers should be able to leave Jackson on an island with Metcalf. If he performs, it could be exactly what he needs to get the season turned around. If he falters or suffers another mental error in zone coverage with Tyler Lockett nearby, the woes may only worsen.
Trick the rookies on third down
On offense, Seattle has two rookies starting at offensive tackle, contributing to their 20.7% sack rate on third downs. The Seahawks seem to struggle to pick up blitzes, an area we know Staley’s defense is proficient in. If the Chargers continue to disguise their pressure looks the way they did on Monday, it could be another standout game for Drue Tranquill and/or Derwin James, let alone the tantalizing prospect of Khalil Mack going against a rookie no matter what side he’s playing on.
Defensively, both outside corners for Seattle are also rookies with a tough matchup against the lightning-fast progressions of Justin Herbert. As we talked about with the injuries at wide receiver, the Chargers will need someone to step up, but who’s to say they can’t against a rookie? Maybe this is just a heavy dose of Mike Williams and Gerald Everett, but someone like Carter or Bandy could also shine. That’s especially true if Joe Lombardi dials up some creative looks in third-down situations – Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant have combined for three pass interference calls this season.
Help out Trey Pipkins
Watching Monday’s matchup with Denver, it was obvious Pipkins is far from 100%, but Los Angeles simply doesn’t have the depth to replace him with Jamaree Salyer already filling in on the left side and Storm Norton, well, being Storm Norton. Seattle has former Charger Uchenna Nwosu humming through six games, as the USC product has racked up three sacks so far, and overall looks like he’s continuing to build on his 2021 success. They also have rookie Boye Mafe, whose snap count has continued to climb weekly. Mafe is an athletic freak who could give Pipkins a bit of trouble if they match up. L.A. can’t send extra help Pipkins’ way every play and this fanbase might tear their collective hair out if the offense doesn’t do something other than throw the ball short on every down. But sometimes, getting the ball out quickly is necessary, and I think it will continue to be on Sunday.
Keep the foot on the gas
There’s been quite a bit of discourse about Brandon Staley, the fourth down decision-maker this season, even more so than there was as Staley lit the conventional wisdom on fire in 2021. But hear me out here, the 2022 narratives have been completely backward. Yes, Staley has made a few uber-aggressive calls in very visible situations – namely, the fourth and two against Cleveland late in the game. That’s contributed to national voices claiming that Staley’s aggressiveness is putting L.A. in danger of losing games.
In reality, Staley has only gone for it when he should have just over 40% of the time, a mark that is 12th in the league. In toss-up situations, Staley has kept the offense on the field five percent of the time, down from nearly 18.5% a year ago. There are several reasons for this, I’m sure. The running game got off to a slow start, Herbert’s injury has led to fewer bootlegs, the offense has used every short-yardage play in the book, etc. But without Dustin Hopkins this week, I want to see Staley, the 2021 fourth-down decision-maker. Keep the offense on the field, be aggressive, and emphatically win a game instead of barely hanging on.
Prevent more injuries
This is mostly about Corey Linsley, who will return this week after missing the Monday night game due to food poisoning. With Linsley in the lineup, the Chargers’ Expected Points Added (EPA) per play is among the best in the league; without him, it’s by far the worst. Linsley was in and out earlier this season with knee tendinitis, the exact type of injury I think the Chargers should be cautious with this week. It would be fine to keep Keenan Allen on a pitch count if he suits up, for example. Sebastian Joseph-Day’s ankle injury doesn’t necessarily need to be tested on every down, given the way Austin Johnson, Morgan Fox, and yes, even Jerry Tillery have played. Getting on top early against a Seahawks team that L.A. should handily beat would be a nice sight, too, perhaps giving Staley a few liberties to rest a few of the ailing starters.
Here are five important things to watch during the Chargers’ matchup with the Seahawks.
The Chargers are looking to take care of business against the Seahawks and pick up their four-straight win.
Here are five storylines to watch for Sunday’s matchup.
After being benched in the second half of the victory over the Broncos in favor of Michael Davis, J.C. Jackson will resume his starting duties. Through six games, Jackson has allowed 17 catches on 23 targets for 331 yards (19.5 yards per reception) and a passer rating of 155.3 when targeted.
Jackson has struggled to adapt to the nuances of Brandon Staley’s scheme, where he’s played more zone coverage than ever after solely playing and thriving as a press-man corner while he was with the Patriots.
“We’re going to make sure that we stay patient with him because he has all of the tools that we’re looking for,” Staley said on Jackson. “I have to do a better job of coaching him, getting him in a comfort zone.”
Jackson won’t have an easy task as he will draw the dynamic duo of Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. Lockett has 34 catches for 423 yards, while Metcalf has 30 catches for 406 yards. Both players are in the top seven in receiving yards in the NFC.
Uchenna Nwosu returns to Los Angeles, where he played his college ball at USC and the first four seasons of his professional career with the Chargers. The Seahawks picked up Nwosu after his best season, with a career-high 40 tackles, 30 pressures, eight tackles for loss, and five sacks.
The 27-year-old Nwosu has carried his dominant play to Seattle, where he holds team-highs in sacks (three) and quarterback hits (eight) to go along with 19 pressures, 24 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and three passes defended.
The Chargers placed Joshua Kelley, who suffered a sprained MCL, on the injured reserve. The loss of Kelley is big, as he had come on as the No. 2 running back by averaging 4.5 yards per carry this season.
In place of Kelley will be Spiller, the team’s fourth-round pick, who joins Austin Ekeler and Sony Michel as the active backs. This is Spiller’s first game as he works his way back from an ankle injury.
Before getting hurt, Spiller showed flashes in training camp, not just as a runner but as a pass-catcher. With Michel averaging just 2.8 YPC, this will be a good opportunity for the former Texas A&M product to slowly take touches from him.
The Chargers will be without Joshua Palmer, who is out with a concussion. So now we wait and see if Keenan Allen will be active. Allen has slowly worked his way back after sustaining a hamstring injury that kept him out of the past five games. He is a game-time decision.
Currently, there are four active wide receivers: Mike Williams, DeAndre Carter, Jason Moore and Michael Bandy. Bandy was signed to the active roster on Saturday. He has been money in limited action, catching three passes on four targets for 53 yards (17.7 yards per reception).
Even after stifling Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray in Week 6, the Seahawks are 26th in pass-defense DVOA and 30th in defensive EPA per dropback. Therefore, Justin Herbert and company could still have success, even if Allen is held out of the action.
The Seahawks’ offense will predominantly be predicated around Geno Smith, who leads the NFL with a 73.4% completion rate and ranks fourth in QBR (68.3). However, their rookie running back, Kenneth Walker, must also be accounted for.
Walker has rushed 44 times for 243 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. But what’s stood out most about Walker is the ability to make defenders miss. Walker has forced 22 missed tackles, which is tied for the most among NFC running backs.
Most of Walker’s damage has come on the outside, which is where the Chargers have allowed big carries this season; see Jaguars’ James Robinson, Texans’ Dameon Pierce, and Browns’ Nick Chubb.
Therefore, firm edges need to be set, second and third-level defenders need to rally to the football, and most importantly, Walker must be wrapped up at all times, considering open-field tackling has been an issue for the Bolts this season. They are bottom-10 in the league with 31 missed tackles.
Highlighting four reasons why the Los Angeles Chargers should beat the Seattle Seahawks.
The Chargers moved to 4-2 on Monday night with a 19-16 overtime win against the Broncos.
While it may have been ugly, a win is a win, and Los Angeles now has positive momentum, especially in the division, where their victory brought them into a tie for first place with the Chiefs.
On Sunday, that momentum will be tested when the Seahawks come to SoFi Stadium.
Here are four reasons to be optimistic that L.A. hits the bye as a 5-2 football team.
Porous pass defense
Seattle is giving up 245 passing yards per game, 22nd in the league. That number is also helped tremendously by last week’s performance against what looks to be a fundamentally broken Cardinals offense, who the Seahawks held to 171 yards through the air. Rookies Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant are the starters at cornerback for Seattle, who are running a variant of the Vic Fangio defense. That scheme requires a lot of DB talent and a lot of knowledge. Woolen and Bryant have played well this season in stretches, but an elite quarterback like Justin Herbert should be able to exploit their stumbles. If Seattle employs more nickel and dime packages on Sunday, as they did against Arizona, Herbert will be fast enough through his progressions to find an open man against Seattle’s third or fourth corner.
Third down woes
Seattle is also starting two rookies at offensive tackle: top-ten pick Charles Cross and third-rounder Abraham Lucas. Like their teammates at corner, Cross and Lucas have shown flashes, helping Seattle’s offensive line to a sack rate of just 2.2% on 1st down and 1.4% on second down. Both marks are well below the league averages of 5.0% and 5.1%, respectively. However, on third downs, the Seahawks have collapsed. Their sack rate allowed skyrockets to 20.7%, more than twice the league average of 9.8%. Whether that’s because it’s a line full of rookies learning to communicate about blitzes or not is unclear, but we do know Brandon Staley is no stranger to dialing up exotic pressures on third down. Given how well it worked on Monday, I’d expect more of the same from Drue Tranquill and Derwin James on Sunday, with likely the same results.
Special teams trajectories
Pete Carroll said on Monday that Seattle’s special teams are “bugging the heck out of all of us” after another week of miscues against Arizona. Perhaps the most costly was punter Michael Dickson losing control of the ball in the end zone, leading to a fumble recovered for a touchdown by the Cardinals. Seattle has had one mistake of this nature seemingly every game, a contributing factor in their special teams being ranked 23rd by DVOA. Compare that to the Chargers, whose special teams are the number one reason they won the game on Monday. When’s the last time fans of this team could say that? The Chargers are 15th in special teams DVOA, buoyed by the steady presence of Dustin Hopkins (when he’s played) and rookie gunners Ja’Sir Taylor and Deane Leonard, who combined to finish the muffed punt play that put LA in field goal range in overtime against Denver. Hopkins will miss this week, but backup kicker Taylor Bertolet was perfect on six kicks in Week 5 when he filled in for the veteran. All this to say: Los Angeles is getting their special teams unit in sync, while Seattle is still searching for answers.
Failure to capitalize
Seattle has forced ten turnovers in their six games and turned their opponent over on downs four times. That’s a pretty good clip! The Seahawks are tied for 5th in takeaways per game. But when the defense gives their offense the ball back, Seattle has struggled to turn it into points. Of those fourteen occurrences, Seattle has scored on the following drive just three times, four if you count Tariq Woolen’s pick 6. After receiving the ball due to a big play by their defense, Seattle has turned it right back over four times, punted five times, and gone to halftime once if they’re unable to score. LA only turns the ball over 0.8 times per game, the second-best mark in the league. If Seattle can’t capitalize on their likely only shot at a turnover on Sunday, there’s reason to believe the Chargers will be able to right the ship.
The Chargers are 5.5-point favorites over the Seahawks.
The Los Angeles Chargers (4-2) meet the Seattle Seahawks (3-3) in Week 7 of the 2022 regular season.
Here are the betting odds for the matchup, per Tipico Sportsbook:
| Spread | Moneyline | Total Points | |
| Los Angeles Chargers | -5.5 | -230 | O 50.5 -105 |
| Seattle Seahawks | +5.5 | +190 | U 50.5 -115 |
The Chargers are coming off a 19-16 victory over the Broncos this past Monday, making it three straight wins.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks beat the Cardinals, holding them to just 315 yards of total offense and nine points.
The last time Los Angeles and Seattle met was in 2018. L.A. won, 25-17.
Sunday’s contest will begin at 1:25 p.m. PT and be broadcasted on FOX.
