Tag: Chargers

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.

Chargers claim veteran S waived by Dolphins

The Chargers jumped at the chance to add a veteran to their secondary.

The Los Angeles Chargers claimed safety Marcus Maye off waivers a day after he was let go by the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday.

Maye, 31, signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in June to backup the team’s starting duo of Jordan Poyer and Jevón Holland, and was thrust into starting duties in three games.

The Dolphins cut ties with Maye on Tuesday to make room on the 53-man roster for sixth-round rookie Patrick McMorris to be activated from the injured reserve. If Maye cleared waivers, he would’ve been a logical candidate to be retained by Miami as a member of the practice squad. Instead, he’ll join a Chargers secondary that starts Derwin James and Alohi Gilman on the back end.

In 11 games with the Dolphins, Maye recorded one pass defense, one tackle for loss, and 30 total tackles.

Aside from Poyer, Holland, and McMorris, the Dolphins also have special teamer Elijah Campbell at safety. The team has veteran defensive back Nik Needham and rookie Jordan Colbert on the practice squad.

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Where the Chargers rank statistically after Week 12

The Chargers allowed a season-high 30 points, so how did that impact them in the rankings?

The Chargers fell to 7-4 after losing to the Ravens in Week 12.

Los Angeles’ defense was dominated by Baltimore’s ground game, which accrued 212 yards, the most given up in Jim Harbaugh’s coaching career. After not allowing more than 20 points in the first nine weeks of the season, the Bolts gave up 27 and 30 points in the past two weeks.

With Week 13 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 22.1 ppg 18th
Passing offense 204.5 ypg 20th
Rushing offense 118.1 ypg 13th
Total offense 322.6 ypg 21st
3rd down conversions 38.51% 16th
Red zone scoring 57.14% 13th
Sacks allowed 30 21st
Turnovers 5 1st

Defense

Category Stat Rank
Points allowed 15.9 ppg 1st
Passing defense 203.9 ypg 13th
Rushing defense 119.7 ypg 15th
Total defense 323.6 ypg 13th
3rd down conversions 34.46% 8th
Red zone defense 45.83% 4th
Sacks 35 T-6th
Takeaways 13 14th

 

Chargers hold steady in NFL power rankings after Week 12 loss to the Ravens

Despite their loss on Monday night, the Chargers did not move that much in the power rankings.

The Chargers fell to 7-4 after losing to the Ravens on Monday night.

After Week 12, let’s see where Los Angeles stands in NFL power rankings:

USA Today: 13 (Previous: 11)

“Detractors who might want to label them the Hoosiers of the NFL are eating no crow. A defense that hadn’t given up more than 20 points all season – albeit against questionable competition – has surrendered 57 at home over the past two weeks. It was also scorched for 212 yards on the ground Monday, the most ever for a Jim Harbaugh-coached team. Factor in RB J.K. Dobbins’ knee injury and … woof.”

NFL: 9 (Previous: 9)

“After a great start, the Chargers really struggled to contain the run game of the Ravens, namely Derrick Henry. Henry helped get the Ravens out of an early funk, and the Bolts helped Henry get going by missing several tackles, although they’re hardly the first team to struggle with that against Baltimore. Still, this has to worry Jim Harbaugh. His defense now has been taken apart a bit over the past six quarters against the Bengals and Ravens. But the problems weren’t relegated to the defense. The offense has plenty to worry about, starting with RB J.K. Dobbins’ knee injury. The Chargers just couldn’t get the ground attack going after he left, and Justin Herbert’s receivers let him down. Incredibly, all five starting offensive linemen were also flagged. Trey Pipkins’ hold offset a 27-yard pass interference on third-and-6 in a 23-16 game. Instead, the Chargers ended up punting, and Justice Hill cribbed it a few minutes later. No time for the Bolts to cry over the four-game win streak ending; they go to Atlanta and Kansas City over the next two Sundays.”

ESPN: 9 (Previous: 9)

Offense ranking: 15
Defense ranking: 15
Special teams ranking: 14

“By scoring metrics, the Chargers have the league’s best defense, allowing just 15.9 points per game. But that has come with the NFL’s easiest schedule, according to ESPN analytics. The Chargers’ offense has soared since a 23-16 win over the Broncos in Week 6 when quarterback Justin Herbert was fully recovered from a high ankle sprain. The offense’s ranking will likely continue to increase as the season progresses; Los Angeles ranks third in average in-game win probability.”

CBS Sports: 8 (Previous: 9)

“The top-ranked defense was exposed some in the loss to the Ravens. Now they have a tough road trip to face Atlanta, which is coming off a bye.”

Sports Illustrated: 9 (Previous: 9)

“With a relatively nonexistent pass rush and Lamar Jackson racking up almost all of his passing yards on extended plays, we have now seen just how far the Chargers have come and just how far they need to go. Wide receiver is still of desperate need, with Quentin Johnston reverting back to 2023 form on a couple of critical balls Monday.”

Bleacher Report: 9 (Previous: 10)

“The Chargers came into Monday looking for only their second win of the season against a playoff-caliber team—Denver being the only team they’ve beaten that is currently over .500. They appeared up to the challenge until J.K. Dobbins exited the game with a knee injury. L.A. made things somewhat interesting late, but they lost convincingly to the Ravens.

This is who the Chargers are in Year 1 under Jim Harbaugh. The future is bright, but Los Angeles is going to beat the teams it is supposed to and struggle against those we’re likely to see in late January. And if Dobbins is forced to miss extended time, L.A. might not even make it to the postseason.”

Chargers PFF grades: Best, worst performers in Week 12 loss to Ravens

Spotlighting Pro Football Focus’ highest and lowest-graded Chargers players from the loss to the Ravens.

In Week 12, the Chargers lost on the road to the Ravens, 30-23.

Along the way, there were some standout performers and others who did not contribute as much.

Here are the best and worst performers from Monday’s contest, according to Pro Football Focus’ player grades.

Top 5 Offense

OT Rashawn Slater — 85.6

QB Justin Herbert — 76.6

OT Joe Alt — 71.9

TE Will Dissly — 68.3

RB J.K. Dobbins — 68.1

Top 5 Defense

DT Poona Ford — 83.6

DT Teair Tart — 75.0

LB Nick Niemann — 71.1

S Derwin James — 70.9

EDGE Khalil Mack — 70.4

Bottom 5 Offense

WR Jalen Reagor — 56.0

RB Hassan Haskins — 54.6

FB Scott Matlock — 54.3

TE Tucker Fisk — 40.3

WR Quentin Johnston — 32.2

Bottom 5 Defense

CB Elijah Molden — 53.3

CB Ja’Sir Taylor — 51.9

DL Morgan Fox — 45.0

S Alohi Gilman — 43.6

DT Scott Matlock — 31.8

Chargers get run over by Derrick Henry and the Ravens: Instant analysis of Week 12 loss

Jim Harbaugh remains winless against his brother, John, as the Chargers lost to the Ravens on Monday night.

Jim Harbaugh remains winless against his brother, John, as the Chargers fell to the Ravens on Monday night.

Here’s our recap of Los Angeles’ 30-23 loss.

It was over when…

Justice Hill ran for a 51-yard touchdown, which extended the Ravens’ lead to 14 points.

Notable number

Chargers allowed 212 rushing yards. It was the first time a Jim Harbaugh-coached NFL team allowed over 200 rushing yards.

Stars of the game

  1. RB JK Dobbins: Before leaving the game with a knee injury, Dobbins had six carries for 40 yards (6.7 YPC).
  2. WR Ladd McConkey: McConkey continued to impress, catching all six of his targets for 83 yards.

Quick hits

  • The Chargers’ offense got off to a great start. They scored on their first possession. However, that would be the only time they found the end zone until their garbage-time touchdown in the final minute of the game.
  • J.K. Dobbins provided the offensive spark. Dobbins rushed for 40 yards on six carries. It looked like he was bound for a revenge game against his former team. That was until he left with a knee injury and did not return.
  • The Ravens’ defense, which ranked dead last against the pass entering today, made it difficult for Justin Herbert. Herbert finished 21 of 36 passing for 218 yards and zero touchdowns. He was sacked four times.
  • Herbert did not benefit from Quentin Johnston’s four dropped passes, including one on a crosser that would have resulted in a big gain on 3rd-and-6 when they were only trailing by seven points. Instead, the Chargers punted the ball away, and the Ravens scored, essentially putting the game away.
  • The Chargers’ second-half offense continues to be a problem. Without the garbage-time touchdown, they would have only managed three points in the second half.
  • Jesse Minter’s defense was humbled by the Ravens’ rushing attack. They had no answer for Derrick Henry, who rushed for 140 yards. Hill ran free for a 51-yard touchdown. Denzel Perryman’s absence was felt in this game.
  • The Chargers had a good game plan against Lamar Jackson on the ground, as he was limited to 15 yards on eight carries.
  • Not having Cam Hart on the field was a big blow to the defense in coverage. Hart was injured in Saturday’s practice, which is why he was ruled out of the game.
  • The Chargers failed to stop any of the Ravens’ three fourth-down attempts, including one from Baltimore’s own 16-yard line.
  • After not giving up more than 20 points in their first nine games, the Chargers have given up 27 points and now 30.

What’s next?

The Chargers travel to face the Falcons this upcoming Sunday, Dec. 1, at 10:00 am PT.

Chargers inactives: See who’s in and who’s out for Week 12 vs. Ravens

Find out if Khalil Mack will play on Monday night.

The Chargers are about 90 minutes away from kicking off Week 12 against the Ravens.

Here is a look at their inactive players today:

QB Easton Stick (emergency 3rd QB)

LB Denzel Perryman

WR DJ Chark

CB Cam Hart

RB Kimani Vidal

OL Brenden Jaimes

OL Jordan McFadden

Ladd McConkey, Khalil Mack and Bud Dupree are active tonight.

Jim, John’s parents will not be in attendance for ‘HarBowl’ on Monday night

When Jim and John Harbaugh go toe-to-toe on Monday, their parents, Jack and Jackie, will not be watching from the stands.

When Jim and John Harbaugh go toe-to-toe on Monday, their parents, Jack and Jackie, will not be watching their sons from the stands at SoFi Stadium.

Instead, they’ll be in Florida to spend time with their daughter, Joani, their son-in-law, former Georgia men’s basketball coach Tom Crean, and their two grandchildren.

That’s also where they plan to celebrate Thanksgiving the following Thursday.

“We are choosing to go down there and celebrate Thanksgiving with them and be able to watch the game with them,” Jack said, per the Ravens official website. “And we’ll have a lot of fun and enjoyment doing that.”

Monday also holds significance because it marks Jack and Jackie’s 63rd wedding anniversary.

“Just go right back to Jackie. She was the head coach of them and still is,” Jack said. “They’ve had me around, but she’s been around them 14, 15, 16 hours a day when they were growing up.

“Back in 1957 in that biology class, I looked down into row number one in that class and four years later we were married. That was the decision that changed my life. … We’re just so blessed that Jackie’s with us and she’s still the head coach of the Harbaugh family.”

The brothers have faced off twice before the primetime matchup, including in Super Bowl XLVII when John’s Ravens defeated Jim’s 49ers in a close battle, with the final score being 34-31.

Staff predictions for Chargers vs. Ravens in Week 12

Find out who the Chargers Wire staff is picking between Los Angeles and Baltimore in Week 12.

The Los Angeles Chargers kick off Week 12 against the Baltimore Ravens in the second “HarBowl.”

Who is going to come out victorious?

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

Gavino:

Jim meets his brother, John, for the third time, looking to beat him for once and get revenge for Super Bowl 47. Justin Herbert has a favorable matchup against the league’s worst passing defense. But it will come down to whether the Chargers can limit Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry from lighting up the scoreboard like they’re used to. Baltimore scores a few touchdowns, but Herbert’s dominance continues en route to Los Angeles’ fifth consecutive victory. Chargers 27, Ravens 24

Alex K:

Baltimore has struggled on the road this season, but they’re still the league’s top offense. With Denzel Perryman (groin) out and Cam Hart (concussion) questionable, the Ravens may be able to move the ball against a strong Chargers defense. But Justin Herbert has been on a tear outside a rocky second half last week, and Baltimore is one of the league’s worst pass defenses. Chargers 31, Ravens 30

Chargers’ Week 16 matchup vs. Broncos flexed to ‘Thursday Night Football’

The Chargers will have three primetime games throughout the remainder of the regular season.

The Chargers’ Week 16 matchup with the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium has been flexed to “Thursday Night Football” on Prime Video, the NFL announced Friday.

Los Angeles’ matchup with Denver at SoFi Stadium was previously set for 1:05 p.m. PT on FOX.

The Bengals were slated to host the Browns in the previously scheduled “Thursday Night Football” game.

The divisional bout is the first game to be flexed to “Thursday Night Football.” Under the new rules, effective as of 2023, up to two “Thursday Night Football” games between Weeks 13-17 can be flexed.

The Chargers will now have three primetime games left in the regular season, with the other two being against the Ravens on Nov. 25 and the Chiefs on Dec. 8.