Tag: Jesse Minter

Chargers dominate Patriots to clinch playoff berth: Instant analysis of Week 17 win

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ win over the Patriots in a game that saw Justin Herbert toss three touchdowns and make NFL history.

The Chargers are heading to the playoffs after their win over the Patriots on Saturday afternoon.

Here’s our recap of Los Angeles’ 40-7 win over New England.

It was over when…

Justin Herbert hit Ladd McConkey for a 40-yard touchdown to go up 27-7 in the third quarter.

Notable number

Justin Herbert broke Peyton Manning’s NFL record for most passing yards in a player’s first five seasons (20,618).

3 stars of the game

  1. QB Justin Herbert: 283 passing yards, 3 touchdowns
  2. RB J.K. Dobbins: 19 carries, 76 yards, TD
  3. WR Ladd McConkey: 8 catches, 94 yards, 2 TDs

Quick hits

  • The Chargers are in the playoffs for the third time in 11 seasons.
  • The Chargers’ offense spent most of the game on the field, dominating the time of possession battle, 40:34 to 19:26.
  • The offensive line kept Justin Herbert upright for the entire game, and he took advantage of the clean pockets. When kept clean, Herbert had an 80% adjusted completion percentage with 247 passing yards and three touchdowns.
  • Herbert’s top target was Ladd McConkey, who surpassed Keenan Allen for most receiving yards and receptions by a Chargers rookie. Quentin Johnston finished second in receiving with five catches for 48 yards. Joshua Palmer was next with four grabs for 41 yards.
  • The offense benefited from J.K. Dobbins’ return from injury. Dobbins averaged 4.0 yards per carry and found the end zone. He also set a new season high in rushing yards, shattering his previous best (800) in his rookie campaign.
  • Jesse Minter’s defense made life difficult for rookie Drake Maye. Maye was sacked four times and was held to 112 passing yards on 22 attempts.
  • New England went 2-of-10 on third down and failed to make it to the red zone.
  • Derius Davis had a punt return touchdown, but it was negated by a holding penalty.

What’s next?

The Chargers close out the regular season on the road against the Raiders next Sunday, Jan. 5. The kickoff time is to be determined.

Watch highlights from Chargers’ comeback win over Broncos

If you missed the Chargers’ win over the Broncos or just want to relive it, here are the highlights.

The Chargers completed a double-digit comeback on Thursday night, defeating the Broncos, 34-27.

Justin Herbert threw for nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns. Jesse Minter’s defense held Denver to six points in the second half after allowing three TDs in the first half.

If you missed the game or want to relive it, the entire highlight reel can be seen below.

Chargers secure second-half comeback over Broncos: Instant analysis of Week 16 win

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ loss to the Broncos in a game that saw Los Angeles complete a double-digit comeback.

The Chargers pieced together a double-digit comeback in the second half, taking down the Broncos in a 34-27 battle on Thursday night.

Here’s our recap of Los Angeles’ Week 16 win.

It was over when…

Justin Herbert pitched the ball to Hassan Haskins, who ran for a 34-yard touchdown with 2:27 remaining to go up by 10.

Notable number

The Chargers swept the Broncos for the first time since the 2010 season.

3 stars of the game

  1. QB Justin Herbert: 281 yards, 2 passing touchdowns
  2. RB Gus Edwards: 2 rushing TDs
  3. WR Ladd McConkey: 6 catches, 87 yards

Quick hits

  • Before their win, the Chargers had lost 13 straight games when trailing by double digits, the fifth-longest active streak in the NFL.
  • Credit offensive coordinator Greg Roman for devising a game plan that resulted in 34 points against the league’s best defense.
  • The Chargers totaled 380 yards, 263 passing and 117 rushing, averaging 6.2 yards per play. They went 3 of 4 in the red zone.
  • Justin Herbert connected with ten different pass-catchers.
  • According to Next Gen Stats, Herbert used play action on a career-high 47.2% of his dropbacks against Denver, finishing 12 of 15 for 155 yards with a play fake.
  • Ladd McConkey led all receivers with 87 yards. Joshua Palmer was second with 41 yards on three catches.
  • Before his 43-yard run, Gus Edwards was only averaging 1.9. yards per carry. Still, Edwards found the end zone twice, bringing his touchdown total to four on the season.
  • After giving up three touchdowns in the first half, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter made some adjustments by dialing up and executing more pressure to mitigate the thin defensive backfield.
  • In the second half, Los Angeles forced four punts, two of which were three-and-outs, on five of Denver’s possessions.
  • Ryan Ficken, knowing the free-kick law, paid off as Cameron Dicker’s 57-yard field goal was good right before the half, the first free-kick FG since 1976.
  • The Chargers now have a 97% chance to make the playoffs after the win.

What’s next?

The Chargers are back on the road to face the Patriots (3-11) on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 10:00 am PT.

Chargers overwhelmed by Buccaneers: Instant analysis of Week 15 loss

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ loss to the Buccaneers, who overwhelmed Los Angeles in every facet of this game.

The Chargers stood no chance against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay won, 40-17. Los Angeles is now 8-6.

Here’s our recap of L.A.’s Week 15 loss.

It was over when…

Baker Mayfield connected with Mike Evans for a 35-yard touchdown to go up 30-17. There was no answer to the Buccaneers’ offensive dominance.

Notable number

Justin Herbert’s streak without an interception ended at 357 attempts. Herbert failed to become the first player in NFL history without an interception in 12 consecutive games within a single season.

3 stars of the game

  1. WR Ladd McConkey: 5 catches, 58 yards, touchdown
  2. WR Quentin Johnston: 5 catches, 45 yards, TD
  3. S Elijah Molden: 9 tackles, tackle for loss

Quick hits

  • The Chargers were outgained by nearly 300 yards. They only had 207 compared to the Buccaneers’ 505.
  • Los Angeles was 0-of-6 on third-down opportunities, while the Buccaneers were 9-of-15.
  • The Chargers allowed the Buccaneers to rush for 223 yards. Los Angeles only had 32 rushing yards.
  • The Chargers’ cornerbacks struggled to cover Mike Evans all game. Evans had nine catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
  • The Chargers’ second-half offensive struggles continued, as they failed to score a single point. On the other hand, the Buccaneers scored on five consecutive possessions and put up 27 points in the second half.
  • Baker Mayfield was kept upright for most of the game, as he was only hit three times. The same can’t be said about Justin Herbert, who was under duress for most of the game. Herbert was hit 13 times and sacked three times.
  • The Chargers defense held the Buccaneers to one score on four trips to the red zone.
  • Los Angeles forced two turnovers, an interception and a forced fumble.

What’s next?

The Chargers face the Broncos (9-5) in a crucial divisional matchup on Thursday night, Dec. 19, at 5:15 pm PT.

Chargers pull out gritty win over Falcons: Instant analysis of Week 13 victory

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ gritty win over the Falcons behind a four-interception performance.

The Chargers defeated the Falcons on Sunday, improving to 8-4.

Here’s our recap of the Week 13 win.

It was over when…

Derwin James intercepted Kirk Cousins with 47 seconds remaining.

Notable number

Per AP Sports’ Joe Reedy, Ladd McConkey’s 105 yards are the most receiving yards by a Chargers rookie in the first half since 1991.

3 stars of the game

  1. WR Ladd McConkey: McConkey was the only productive player in the passing game. He finished the game with a season-high nine receptions for 117 yards.
  2. CB Tarheeb Still: The rookie out of Maryland was a ball magnet, finishing with two interceptions, including one he took back to the house for a touchdown.
  3. S Marcus Maye: This could’ve gone to Derwin James, who closed the game with a pick. But Maye, who was signed just this past week after being released by the Dolphins, had one in the end zone on the drive right before.

Quick hits

  • The Chargers’ offense was underwhelming. They failed to find the end zone the entire game, even on their two trips to the red zone.
  • Their only offensive points came from Cameron Dicker’s three made field goals.
  • The Chargers were 3-of-14 on third down. They had 187 yards of total offense.
  • The second-half offensive struggles continued. They only picked up two first downs on four drives.
  • The Falcons entered this game with one of the worst pressure rates, only having ten sacks. Atlanta flipped the switch, as they lived in the Chargers’ backfield. Justin Herbert was sacked five times.
  • Gus Edwards and Kimani Vidal combined for ten rushes, finishing with 5.3 and 5.0 yards per carry, respectively.
  • Aside from McConkey, the pass-catching group was lackluster. Quentin Johnston was the next productive receiver, with only 14 yards on two catches. Six pass catchers had just one catch.
  • The defense was why the Chargers came out of this game victorious. Jesse Minter’s unit combined for four interceptions, headlined by Still, who had two, one he returned for a score.
  • The run defense held its own, limiting a good backfield of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier to 3.5 yards per carry.

What’s next?

The Chargers are on the road again to face the Chiefs next Sunday night, Dec. 8, at 5:20 pm PT.

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.

Everything to know from Chargers’ win over Bengals

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ thrilling win over the Bengals.

What. A. Game.

The Chargers outlasted the Bengals on Sunday night, improving to 7-3.

Here’s our recap of the Week 11 win.

It was over when…

J.K. Dobbins rushed for a 29-yard touchdown with 18 seconds remaining.

Notable number

According to ESPN’s Benjamin Solak, Justin Herbert now has 15 game-winning drives in his career. Only Patrick Mahomes and Kirk Cousins have more since 2020 when Herbert entered the league.

3 stars of the game

  1. QB Justin Herbert: Herbert was lights out in the first half. While he wasn’t nearly as sharp in the second half, Herbert made two big throws on the final drive to guide the team to victory.
  2. WR Ladd McConkey: McConkey finished with 123 yards on six catches, including two big receptions on the final possession to put the Chargers in Bengals territory.
  3. RB J.K. Dobbins: Dobbins had 11 carries for 56 yards and two rushing touchdowns, including the game-winner.

Quick hits

  • Herbert delivered dime after dime in the first half, completing 10 of 14 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns. But that same level of play didn’t carry over into the second half.
  • The Chargers could not move the ball and went three and out on half of their offensive possessions, all while the Bengals crept back to tie the game off of 21 unanswered points, led by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins.
  • The Bengals had two opportunities in the fourth quarter to take the lead, but Evan McPherson missed his go-ahead field goal attempts from 48 and 51 yards.
  • In previous years, Los Angeles would have blown that type of game (it gave me flashbacks to the playoff loss to the Jaguars). But the defense made a big stop at the end, Herbert rallied the offense with two big throws to McConkey, and Dobbins delivered the knockout punch.
  • Herbert finished the game 17-of-36 passing for 297 yards, two touchdowns, and five carries for 65 yards. While he didn’t benefit from some dropped passes, there were a few instances of him missing receivers in the second half. Herbert also lost a fumble early in the fourth quarter.
  • For the first time this season, the Chargers’ defense gave up more than 20 points. They allowed the Bengals to convert on all three of their fourth-down attempts. Cincinnati totaled 452 yards.

What’s next?

The Chargers host the Ravens next Monday night, Nov. 25, at 5:15 pm PT.

Chargers acknowledge Jesse Minter might not be in Los Angeles for long

Jesse Minter has transformed the Chargers’ defense into being one of the best units in the NFL in 2024.

The Chargers have undergone a complete identity change in 2024. It starts with head coach Jim Harbaugh, who has always been known to have physical football teams.

Los Angeles has prioritized winning in the trenches, which was evident when they selected Joe Alt fifth overall over an elite wide receiver talent. Beyond Harbaugh, though, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has also played a large role in the team’s identity change.

The defense has looked much better in 2024 under Minter, who is in his first year in the NFL. Harbaugh acknowledged Minter may not be with the team for long.

“We’re probably gonna have to just enjoy Jesse Minter while we have him because I have a feeling he’s gonna be a head coach next year. We’re gonna be competing against him,” Harbaugh said on The Pat McAfee Show.

If things continue as they are, Minter will undoubtedly be a prime coaching candidate this upcoming offseason. A few obvious spots around the league will have an opening, and the young DC will likely get a few interviews, at minimum.

In 2024, the Chargers are the league’s lowest-scoring defense. In fact, they have allowed 28 fewer points than the next-best defense, the Steelers. Minter’s unit ranks in the top 10 in both run defense (9th) and pass defense (9th).

“He’s just intuitive. He knows offensive football almost as well as defensive football. He knows how an offense is going to try to attack. There’s some playcallers that just have ‘it’ too, he has it,” Harbaugh said of Minter.

Suddenly, the Chargers seem to have one of the best coaching staffs in the league. That’s not something we could have said in past seasons, and it has completely transformed this team.

This stat shows how good Jesse Minter’s defense has been

Jesse Minter has the Chargers’ defense playing at an elite level.

Jesse Minter has the Chargers’ defense playing at an elite level.

Since the start of the season, no team has scored over 20 points on the Bolts. This is the fourth time since 1990 that a defense has limited its opponents to that mark, per NFL Media’s Peter Schrager.

Los Angeles ranks No. 1 in scoring defense, allowing just 13.1 points per game.

Minter’s coaching has the defensive unit firing on all cylinders.

In the trenches, they’ve been stout against the run and the pass rush is finally starting to come alive. The linebackers are rallying to the football. The coverage has been tight, and the scheme has confused opposing quarterbacks.

Minter is just in the first season as the team’s defensive coordinator, but it might be his only stint in this role.

“We’ve gotta enjoy Jesse Minter while we have him because I think he’s gonna be a Head Coach next year,” Jim Harbaugh said in his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.

Everything to know from Chargers’ win over Titans

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ 27-17 win over the Titans.

The Chargers beat the Titans on Sunday afternoon, improving to 6-3.

Here’s our recap of the Week 10 win.

It was over when…

The Chargers scored their third touchdown in the fourth quarter to go up by 17 points.

Notable number

Of the Chargers’ six wins, five have come by double digits.

3 stars of the game

  1. QB Justin Herbert: Herbert only passed for 164 yards but still looked sharp in that department, finishing 14 of 18, with two going for over 30 yards and no turnovers. He also did an excellent job of using his legs when needed to pick up yards.
  2. RB Gus Edwards: Edwards returned to the field and was efficient on the ground after missing the last five games with an injury. He had 55 yards on ten carries.
  3. Defense: 7 sacks

Quick hits

  • Herbert failed to surpass 200 passing yards for the first time since Week 4. But he was still effective by navigating the pocket well, avoiding sacks, making crisp throws to his receivers, and continuing to take care of the football.
  • Herbert was also impressive as a runner, juking multiple Titans defenders, including former Chargers Kenneth Murray and Sebastian Joseph-Day.
  • The ground game came alive after taking a backseat the past few weeks, and Edwards provided the jolt as he averaged 5.5 yards per carry on ten attempts. J.K. Dobbins had 15 yards on 50 rushes.
  • Jesse Minter’s unit lived in the backfield and compiled seven sacks. Credit goes to Joey Bosa, Tuli Tuipulotu, and Bud Dupree for stepping up with Khalil Mack on the sideline for nearly the entire game.
  • Daiyan Henley led the way with 14 tackles.
  • Speaking of tackles, the Chargers struggled with missed tackles, which has been a slight issue on the defensive side of the ball this season. The Titans averaged 6.3 yards per carry.
  • Derius Davis provided the special teams spark with a 56-yard kickoff return.

What’s next?

The Chargers host the Bengals next Sunday night, Nov. 11, at 5:20 pm PT.