Tag: Chargers

Watch: Chargers S gets clutch pick 5 days after he was cut by Dolphins

To add salt in the wound, the clutch pick helped an AFC contender get a little further in front of the Dolphins.

Marcus Maye played 11 games with the Miami Dolphins and started three, but didn’t record any interceptions. He didn’t take long to make an impact with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Just a few days after he was claimed by the Chargers off waivers, and five days after he was cut loose by the Dolphins, Maye came up with a clutch fourth quarter interception in the end zone against the Atlanta Falcons to preserve a 17-13 lead for Los Angeles.

Maye, 31, signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in June to be the primary backup behind starters Jevón Holland and Jordan Poyer. But with sixth-round rookie Patrick McMorris returning from injured reserve, the Dolphins waived the veteran Tuesday — presumably with the hope that he could be retained on the practice squad. Instead, he was scooped up by the Chargers.

Even worse for the Dolphins, his Week 13 interception contributed to the Chargers improving to 8-4 on the year. Los Angeles is one of four teams — along with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, or Denver Broncos — Miami can potentially track down if it hopes to keep its playoff hopes alive.

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Chargers highlight: Tarheeb Still’s second interception gives Los Angeles the lead

Tarheeb Still is on a tear.

Tarheeb Still is on a tear.

After intercepting Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins in the second quarter to give the Chargers some much-needed momentum, Still mostly watched Atlanta throw it to the other side of the field or run the ball.

That was a good strategy for the Falcons, who have continued to move the ball effectively against Jesse Minter’s defense. Atlanta put together another long drive late in the third quarter, driving with a 10-9 lead while converting a fourth down to take the ball over midfield.

The Chargers, meanwhile, had asked Ladd McConkey to be the entire offense. A normally dormant Falcons pass rush has sacked Justin Herbert four times, making things hard for LA all day.

Los Angeles needed a spark.

Still provided it when the Falcons went for a second fourth down of the drive, dropping back to pass on 4th-and-5 from the Chargers’ 40-yard line. Still and safety Marcus Maye confused Cousins on the coverage, giving the rookie a prime opportunity to jump a curl route and nearly walk into the end zone from 61 yards away.

The Chargers went for two after that. Justin Herbert fired a strike over the middle to Joshua Palmer, making it 17-10 Chargers with 1:39 left in the third quarter.

Chargers highlight: Tarheeb Still picks off Kirk Cousins

Tarheeb Still has had a great rookie season.

How good has Tarheeb Still been this season?

Many were surprised by the fifth-round pick, as the former Maryland product spent most of the pre-draft process as an anonymous name, but injuries and Still’s great play have landed him in the lineup more and more often this season.

With fellow rookie Cam Hart out with an ankle injury and Asante Samuel Jr. still on injured reserve with a shoulder issue, Still has once again been pressed into action on Sunday against the Falcons. The Chargers struggled to gain momentum in the first quarter, as a Hassan Haskins fumble set up a touchdown for the Falcons.

But on the first play of the second quarter, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins double-clutched a throw to avoid having his arm hit by a Chargers pass rusher. The action allowed Still to come off a deep route from Drake London and drive on a curl route underneath, jumping the route and intercepting Cousins to get the Chargers the ball back.

It’s Still’s second interception of the season, and it comes at a time when Los Angeles seemed to be searching for answers on defense.

The Chargers turned the ensuing drive into a 51-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker, cutting the lead to 7-6.

Staff predictions for Chargers vs. Falcons

Find out who the Chargers Wire staff is picking between Los Angeles and Atlanta in Week 13.

The Los Angeles Chargers kick off Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons.

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 look to bounce back after losing to the Ravens last Monday. Los Angeles enters this game on a short week, while the Falcons come into this one well-rested after their bye. Offensively for the Bolts, I expect Justin Herbert to shred a Falcons defense that has struggled against the pass. On the other side of the ball, I see Jesse Minter’s unit getting back on track after surrendering 57 points combined in the last two weeks. Kirk Cousins is not on the same level as Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson. Bijan Robinson is also no Derrick Henry. Chargers 27, Falcons 21

Alex K:

Atlanta’s defense doesn’t have the resources to compete with Justin Herbert and Ladd McConkey if both come out sharp, but the Falcons offense is getting healthier and has been effective moving the ball this season. Expect a fairly high-scoring affair that the Chargers can pull out with some key plays on special teams. Chargers 30, Falcons 23

5 Falcons players to watch in Week 13 vs. Chargers

The Falcons have several dynamic playmakers on both sides of the ball that could present problems for the Chargers in Week 13.

The Falcons made some big splash moves last offseason, and for the most part, it has paid off. Atlanta leads the lowly NFC South by two games with a 6-5 record.

The Falcons host the Chargers for a huge Week 13 matchup this weekend. Both teams are in the thick of the playoff races in each conference, with Los Angeles likely destined for a Wild Card spot.

Here are five Falcons players that the Chargers must keep an eye on for:

RB Bijan Robinson

Defensive coordinators don’t get the best sleep when they realize they face Bijan Robinson on Sunday. The Texas product is already one of the most dynamic players in the league in just his second NFL season. He has averaged 103.8 scrimmage yards per game this season and seven total touchdowns. He’s also a dynamic threat out of the backfield, as he’s caught 45 passes, fourth-most amongst running backs.

TE Kyle Pitts

Now that Atlanta finally has a competent quarterback, Pitts has been better in 2024. Through 11 games, he has 35 catches for 494 yards and three touchdowns. He’s had just one catch in two of his last three contests, so the Falcons may make it a point of emphasis to get him involved early. Pitts presents a matchup issue due to his unique speed/size combination, and the Chargers will likely use Derwin James to try and slow him down.

OG Chris Lindstrom

Lindstrom has evolved into one of, if not the best, guard in the league. He dominates the line of scrimmage for the Falcons offense, which opens up big lanes for Robinson in the run game. The Chargers defensive line has been stellar recently, so this is another key matchup to watch in Week 13.

LB Nate Landman

Landman has appeared in just seven games, all starts, for the Falcons this season. He’s made quite an impact, though, with three forced fumbles and 52 total tackles in those starts. The undrafted linebacker has made 21 starts over the last two years and has become a legitimate contributor for Atlanta. The Chargers must protect the ball, particularly around Landman.

S Jessie Bates

The Falcons signed Bates to a four-year, $64 million contract in 2023, and he’s been worth every penny. The seventh-veteran has become arguably the best safety in all of football. In 2024, Bates has 70 tackles, two interceptions, six pass deflections, and a career-high four forced fumbles. He’s well on his way to earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, and the Chargers must make sure Bates does not take over the game on Sunday.

3 bold predictions for Chargers in Week 13 vs. Falcons

The Chargers lost their first game in over a month in Week 12, but they’ll look to improve to 3-0 against the NFC South this weekend.

The Chargers’ four-game winning streak ended in Week 12 when they lost to the Ravens. Now, they have to travel to Atlanta to face the NFC South leaders, the Falcons.

The Bolts stand at 7-4 with a current spot in the postseason on the AFC side. Another win on Sunday, and they will continue to better their chances at reaching the playoffs in Jim Harbaugh’s first season as head coach in L.A.

Justin Herbert throws for 275+ passing yards

Since recovering from his injury early in the season, Herbert has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He’s reached 275+ passing yards in four of his last six games, and there’s no reason to think he can’t do it again on Sunday. The Falcons give up the seventh-most passing yards (229.9) per game. With J.K. Dobbins out, expect the Chargers to rely more on Herbert in Week 13.

Chargers don’t allow a sack

The Chargers have one of the best offensive tackle duos in all of football, which has helped keep Herbert more upright in 2024. The Falcons have just ten sacks in 11 games this season, which is by far the worst pass rush in the league. In fact, the second-worst pass rush (Panthers) has seven more sacks than the Falcons. As long as the interior part of the Chargers offensive line holds its own, this doesn’t feel as bold of a prediction as some may think.

Chargers win by 7+

There is never an easy road game in the NFL, particularly against a talented unit like the Falcons. That said, this Chargers team has been trending upward for over a month now. Coming off their first loss in quite some time, expect Harbaugh’s unit to come out and send a message to the Falcons. Los Angeles has won by an average of 20.5 points in their two matchups against NFC South sides this season.

Rookie Kimani Vidal expected to receive more playing time vs. Falcons: ‘Everybody feels great about him’

Kimani Vidal is expected to see his workload increase with J.K. Dobbins sidelined.

The Chargers will be without running back J.K. Dobbins this Sunday against the Falcons. Dobbins was ruled out with a knee injury he sustained in the Week 12 loss to the Ravens.

Los Angeles will lean on Gus Edwards and rookie Kimani Vidal without its top back. Greg Roman indicated that the sixth-round pick of this year’s draft will have an expanded role this weekend.

“He’s been in there before,” Roman said about Vidal. “Might get a little bit bigger workload, we’ll see. We have full confidence in him and where he’s at. It’s past the midway point of the season, so there are no rookies anymore. Everybody feels great about him.”

Vidal has been active for four games this season. In his regular season debut against the Broncos in Week 6, when Edwards was sidelined, he caught a 38-yard touchdown. On the ground, Vidal has only amassed 44 yards on 18 carries (2.4 YPC).

The former Troy product exemplified a back with a skill set that could translate at the pro level, and the numbers backed it up. In his final collegiate season, Vidal posted 1,661 yards and 14 touchdowns on 295 carries, with 94 forced missed tackles and 19 carries of 15+ yards.

The Chargers hope he and Edwards can step in and provide positive production against a Falcons defense that ranks 19th against the run.

Chargers final injury report: Los Angeles rules out 4 starters ahead of Week 13

The Chargers will be without three defensive starters.

The Chargers had their final practice on Friday in preparation for the Week 13 game against the Falcons.

Los Angeles will have a backfield with its top running back, J.K. Dobbins, who is out with a knee injury he sustained in the Week 12 game against the Ravens.

L.A. will be without two starters from the secondary: Safety Alohi Gilman and cornerback Cam Hart.

Gilman is dealing with a hamstring injury. Hart is sidelined with an ankle injury.

Linebacker Denzel Perryman was also ruled out for the second consecutive week. Perryman is nursing a groin injury.

Linebacker Daiyan Henley is questionable with a calf injury. Henley was added to the injury report on Friday.

Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Falcons?

Find out who experts are picking between the Chargers and Falcons.

The Los Angeles Chargers are 1-point road favorites over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 13 of the 2024 regular season. The over/under is 47.5 points, per BetMGM Sportsbook.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 47 points.

My score prediction for the game is a 27-21 win for the Chargers, with a total of 48 points. So, if I were putting money based on my prediction, I’d bet the over.

As for game picks, analysts give a slight nod to Los Angeles.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Falcons
Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Falcons
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chargers
Matt Bowen (ESPN) Chargers
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Chargers
Bill Bender (Sporting News) Chargers
NFL.com Staff Chargers (4-1)
Bleacher Report Falcons

Sunday’s game will begin at 10:00 a.m. PT and be televised on CBS.

Key things to know about Chargers’ Week 13 opponent: Falcons

Here are some important things to know about the Falcons ahead of the Week 13 matchup with the Chargers.

The Chargers are on the road to face the Falcons on Sunday, Dec. 1, at 10:00 a.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 13 bout, here are a few key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

How things are going…

The Falcons are 6-5 on the season. They’re in first place in the NFC South.

Prolific passing offense

The Falcons made an offseason move to acquire quarterback Kirk Cousins, which has seemed to pay dividends. Atlanta ranks No. 5 in passing offense, averaging 243.6 yards per game. They’re eighth in yards per play (7.8). Cousins’ top targets, Darnell Mooney and Drake London, have over 700 receiving yards.

Beware of Bijan

Running back Bijan Robinson is another skill player the Chargers need to account for at all times. Robinson is good on the ground and can catch the ball. He has over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns.

Not so good on the other side of the ball

The Falcons have struggled on defense this season. They’re allowing 24.9 points per game, which ranks 25th. Atlanta is 19th against the run and 26th against the pass. The Falcons have ten sacks through 11 games, the fewest in the league.

Look out for…

Robinson. The Chargers struggled to stop the run last week against the Ravens, and they will have a tall task against Robinson, who has proven to be electric on the ground.