Jesse Minter – Page 3 – Syndication Server

Everything to know from Chargers’ loss to Cardinals

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ 17-15 road loss to the Cardinals.

The Chargers lost to the Cardinals on Monday night, falling to 3-3.

Here’s our recap of the Week 7 loss.

It was over when…

Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland made a 32-yard field goal as time expired.

Notable number

Justin Herbert threw for 349 yards with a 97.1 passer rating tonight. No other quarterback in NFL history has thrown for that many yards with that high of a passer rating and yet had his team fail to score an offensive touchdown and lose the game, according to OptaSTATS.

3 stars of the game

QB Justin Herbert: Despite not having much of a supporting cast around him to throw to, Herbert was still sharp and kept the Chargers in this game. He finished the contest 27 of 39 passing for 349 yards. Herbert also averaged 8.9 yards per pass, which is incredible, given the lack of talent in the receiving room.
TE Will Dissly: Dissly was signed primarily as a blocking tight end. But on Monday night, he stepped up as Los Angeles’ top target in the passing game. Dissly caught eight catches for 81 yards.
K Cameron Dicker: All the Bolts’ points came from field goals. Dicker made all five field goals he attempted, connecting from 59, 50, 29, 47 and 40 yards out.

Quick hits

Herbert played his best game of the season, throwing for over 300 yards. However, the Chargers still came up short. He connected with nine different pass-catchers. Five of them had catches that went for over 20 yards. But the group still struggled to create consistent separation and dealt with dropped passes.
Coming into this game, many, including myself, thought the Chargers would have success running the ball against a Cardinals defense that ranked 29th against the run. Los Angeles failed to do so. J.K. Dobbins only had 40 yards on 14 carries (2.9 YPC). Arizona did a good job of winning at the line of scrimmage and filling holes.
The Chargers failed to find the end zone in their only trip to the red zone. They have had 14 straight drives without a touchdown. The lack of talent among the skill players has been a factor, but Greg Roman’s playcalling is also to blame.
The Cardinals had their way against the Chargers on the ground. James Connor ran 19 times for 101 yards. Los Angeles had a hard time bringing down Connor the entire game, including on the final drive when he scampered for a 33-yard gain to get Arizona in position for the game-winning field goal.
We emphasized how imperative it was for the Chargers to contain Kyler Murray. For the most part, Murray was kept in check until he wasn’t when he ran along the sideline for a 44-yard touchdown.
The Chargers had a few plays they wish had gone the other way. It started with Teair Tart’s interception, which the Cardinals punched out and recovered. Shortly after, Jalen Reagor caught a deep pass and had it popped out into the end zone for a touchback. Cam Hart forced a fumble on Connor early in the second quarter, but Trey McBride recovered it.
The Chargers committed five penalties, but the last two were the most detrimental. As it approached the two-minute warning, a third-down flag was thrown for illegal contact/holding, but it was picked up. That would’ve resulted in a fresh set of downs. Then, Hart was flagged for unnecessary roughness on a hit to Marvin Harrison Jr.

What’s next?

The Chargers are back home to face the Saints (2-5) on Sunday, Oct. 27, at 1:05 p.m. PT. The game will be televised on FOX.

Chargers’ playoff chances look promising after Week 6 win

The Chargers have a relatively easy schedule coming up.

The Chargers improved to 3-2 after defeating the Broncos last Sunday.

According to Playoff Status, the NFL post-season probabilities after Week 6 show that Los Angeles has a 66% chance of making the playoffs.

This factors in win/loss with a probability based upon relative strengths.

It’s still early in the season, but the Chargers have an opportunity to be in great shape after the next five games. The Cardinals, Saints, Browns, Titans, and Bengals—all teams below .500—are on tap.

Aside from having a relatively easy schedule coming up, the Bolts’ defense has continued to show it can make life difficult for any opposing offense. Meanwhile, the offense seems to be starting to click.

I predicted L.A. would make the playoffs at the beginning of the season, and the numbers are in favor of it, too.

Everything to know from Chargers’ win over Broncos

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ 23-16 win over the Broncos.

The Chargers snapped their two-game losing streak after defeating the Broncos on Sunday.

Here’s our recap of the Week 6 win.

It was over when…

The Chargers kept scoring points to go up 23-0. The Broncos attempted to make a comeback in the fourth quarter, scoring 16 unanswered points, but it was a little too late.

Notable number

This win marks the first time the Chargers have defeated the Broncos in Denver since 2018.

3 stars of the game

QB Justin Herbert: Herbert benefited from the bye week, as he didn’t show signs of his ankle hindering him. He threw for a season-high 237 yards and a touchdown.
RB J.K. Dobbins: Dobbins was efficient on the ground, finishing with 96 yards and a score on 25 carries.
RB Kimani Vidal: Vidal’s first NFL touch, a 38-yard wheel route reception, went for six points. He didn’t do much as a rusher, but Vidal flashed in the passing game.

Quick hits

The Chargers finally allowed Herbert to let it loose, which benefited the offense. He finished with over 30 passing attempts and 200 yards, the first time he surpassed those marks this season. Herbert was sharp in third-down situations, delivering nice passes and keeping the chains moving.
Herbert distributed the wealth as nine different pass-catchers had a reception. Ladd McConkey had the most targets (8) and turned them into four catches for 43 yards. McConkey left the field on at least three occasions, including one to be checked for a concussion, but returned each time and finished the game.
Having Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt on the field made a huge difference. The pass protection was solid for most of the game and they created running lanes for Dobbins.
Even though the Chargers won, they must keep their foot on the gas for all four quarters on the offensive side of the ball. Their only points in the second half came on a field goal. Los Angeles hasn’t scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter since Week 1.
The Chargers won the time of possession battle, 37:23 to 22:37.
The defense dominated except for the fourth quarter when the Broncos scored 16 points. Asante Samuel Jr. is on injured reserve and Kristian Fulton came into this game already dealing with an injury. Once Fulton left in the second half, Denver had its way passing the football against a Chargers defense with two rookie cornerbacks on the outside.
The Chargers would’ve had more than two sacks, but there were a couple of instances of them not being able to bring down Box Nix, including one by Derwin James on fourth down that ultimately resulted in a touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton on the next play.
JK Scott had a good game. Scott didn’t come on the field until the second half, but of his four punts, three of them were within the Broncos’ 20-yard line and two within the 5-yard line.

What’s next?

The Chargers are on the road again to face the Cardinals (2-4) on Monday, Oct. 21, at 6:00 p.m. PT. The game will be televised on ESPN+.

Chargers defender named ‘hidden gem’

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox named every team’s hidden gem at the quarter mark of the season.

The Chargers have a few players who have made their presence felt up to this point of the season.

All the while, some have played well, yet they’ve still gone under the radar.

One is edge defender Bud Dupree, who Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recognized as Los Angeles’ biggest hidden gem.

While Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa remain the stars of L.A.’s pass rush when healthy—Bosa missed Week 4 with a hip injury—Dupree has flashed as a rotational sack artist. He recorded a pair of quarterback takedowns in Week 4, has logged three quarterback pressures and has made two tackles for loss. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Dupree get more opportunities moving forward after playing just 56 percent of the defensive snaps over the first month.

Dupree had a big game right before the bye week, as he notched two sacks against the Chiefs. The veteran has taken advantage of his extensive playing time while Joey Bosa has been sidelined with a hip injury.

Through four games, Dupree has eight quarterback pressures, five run stops and four hurries.

If Bosa continues to be hindered by his injury, it will only lead to more playing time for the 31-year-old Dupree.

4 crazy stats for Chargers after 4 weeks of regular season

The Chargers have been superb on the defensive side of the ball, while the passing offense has been poor.

The Chargers enter the bye week with a 2-2 record.

There have been a lot of good things on both sides of the ball, but one thing has hindered them up to this point in the season.

Here are four notable numbers after four weeks of the regular season:

136.5

When Greg Roman was hired as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator, everyone knew that Justin Herbert and the passing game would likely take a backseat while the running game would become more of a priority. However, we weren’t expecting that department to be as inefficient as it is. The Bolts are averaging 136.5 passing yards per game, which ranks 31st in the NFL. He’s had four consecutive games with fewer than 200 passing yards. It doesn’t help that Herbert has been dealing with his high ankle sprain and the team was without Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt in Week 4, but it’s concerning that they haven’t been playing to their best player’s strengths.

7

Even though there isn’t a lot to write home about the Chargers’ passing offense, Ladd McConkey’s rookie season has been very encouraging. According to CBS Sports’ Jacob Gibbs, McConkey is seventh among 102 qualified players in targets per route run. He is averaging more PPR points per route (0.53) than Marvin Harrison Jr. (0.52). A.J. Brown averaged 0.54 through his first four games as a rookie. McConkey had his most productive performance in the season in Week 4, finishing with five catches on seven targets for 67 yards and a touchdown. Don’t be surprised if he continues to grow as Herbert’s primary target moving forward. He has proven himself to be a slick separator with reliable hands.

6.1

Ahead of the season, J.K. Dobbins said he was ready to remove the “injury-prone” label and return to his old ways. Dobbins has stuck to his word, as he’s been one of the most productive running backs thus far. He is averaging 6.1 yards per carry, the most among backs with at least 30 rushes.

12.5

Jesse Minter’s defense is playing at a high level. They have only allowed 12.5 points per game, which ranks No. 1 in the league. Minter’s pressure packages have had a positive impact. Up front, they have been stout against the run, only allowing 94 yards per game (5th). The players in the middle and on the back end have done a great job of rallying to the football and making plays in the open field.

Everything to know from Chargers’ loss to Chiefs

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ 17-10 loss to the Chiefs.

The Chargers fell to .500 after losing to the Chiefs, 17-10.

Here’s our recap of the Week 4 loss.

It was over when…

Samaje Perine found the end zone with six minutes left in the fourth quarter to grasp the lead. The Chargers had the opportunity to tie the game but were unable to.

3 stars of the game

WR Ladd McConkey: McConkey and Justin Herbert’s chemistry continues to blossom. The rookie was targeted seven times and turned them into five catches and a touchdown.
EDGE Bud Dupree: The veteran edge rusher stepped up big while Joey Bosa was sidelined with a hip injury this game. Dupree finished with two sacks.
CB Kristian Fulton: Fulton has had himself a good season, and that continued on Sunday. He had an interception and a pass deflection, showing off solid coverage skills.

Quick hits

Against the Chiefs, the best defense is offense and 10 points isn’t going to cut it. The Chargers got those points off Kansas City’s two giveaways and were unable to have any success from that point on.
The Chargers were without Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. Trey Pipkins started at right tackle. Jamaree Salyer started at left tackle. Practice squad lineman Sam Mustipher started at right guard.
The offensive line was decimated by penalties and they struggled to get movement up front to aid the running game. It put the Chargers in unfavorable downs and distances. Herbert was also pressured consistently. Chris Jones had two sacks, getting the best of Mustipher on both of them. He came up limping after taking a few hits throughout the game.
Los Angeles only managed to produce 224 total yards. They averaged 2.4 yards per carry. They were 4-of-13 on third downs.
Jesse Minter’s defense did a good job of putting pressure on Patrick Mahomes and keeping nearly everything in front. However, there were a couple of costly loose plays, including Xavier Worthy’s 54-yard touchdown in the second quarter and Noah Gray’s 29-yard reception in the fourth quarter that ultimately led to the game-sealing touchdown.

What’s next?

The Chargers have their bye week, which they will use to get their key players back to full strength. Their next game is on the road against the Broncos on Oct. 13 at 1:05 p.m. PT.

Everything to know from Chargers’ loss to Steelers

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ 20-10 loss to the Steelers.

The Chargers suffered their first loss of the season, falling short to the Steelers, 20-10.

Here’s our recap of the Week 3 loss.

It was over when…

Justin Fields connected with Calvin Austin for a 55-yard touchdown to extend their lead to 10.

3 stars of the game

WR Quentin Johnston: Johnston picked up his third touchdown of the season.
QB Justin Herbert: Before Herbert got hurt and left the game with his ankle injury, he was playing well.
S Derwin James: James was flying around the field. He made some jarring hits and had a sack.

Quick hits

It’s difficult to overcome injuries to key players, and the Chargers couldn’t do that after losing Herbert and Rashawn Slater. Once Slater left the game with a pectoral injury, the pass protection was nonexistent as T.J. Watt and company had their way. Taylor Heinicke was sacked three times, which came on the final two possessions.
Joe Alt struggled against Watt before he went out of the game with an ankle injury.
The Chargers had no success running the football against the stout Steelers front. J.K. Dobbins averaged just 2.9 yards per carry on 15 rushes.
Johnston picked up where he left off last weekend, finding the end zone for the second consecutive week. He surpassed the number of touchdowns he had in his rookie season.
After allowing only 112 yards in the first half and picking off Justin Fields halfway through the third quarter, the defense crumbled afterward. They were gassed by how long they had been on the field. The backbreaker was Fields’ 55-yard touchdown pass to Austin in the fourth quarter.

What’s next?

The Chargers are back home to take on the Chiefs (2-0) next Sunday, Sept. 29, at 1:25 p.m. PT.

Watch highlights from Chargers’ win over Panthers

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

The Chargers nearly pitched a shutout on Sunday, defeating the Panthers, 26-3.

J.K. Dobbins ran wild. Quentin Johnston had a breakout performance. The defense continued their dominance.

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

Game Balls: 5 standouts from Chargers’ Week 2 win over Panthers

Find out who the five standout performers were in Week 2.

The Chargers improved to 2-0 on Sunday with a 26-3 victory over the Panthers. It was more of the same in Week 2 for Jim Harbaugh’s squad in which they dominated the game in the trenches.

A few players picked up right where they left off from Week 1, while a few others put in a bounce-back performance.

Check out who the standouts were from this week.

WR Quentin Johnston

The second-year wideout is the biggest winner of the week. In perhaps the best game of his short career, he finished the day with five catches, 51 yards, and two touchdowns, all of which led the game. His first touchdown, a 29-yarder, was an impressive one in traffic. It’s nice to see Johnston step up in a big way and hopefully will be a sign of more things to come.

DC Jesse Minter

Do the Chargers finally have a defense? Okay, it’s still too early, but the early signs are promising. The defense, led by Minter, has given up just 13 points through two games. The performances have come against two of the league’s worst offenses, so we should remain cautiously optimistic for now. Still, Minter did a phenomenal job once again in Week 2 by completely blanketing the Panthers offense.

RB J.K. Dobbins

I listed him as a standout last week, and he deserves a shout once again in Week 2. Dobbins finished the contest with 17 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown. His speed and burst look to be back, which was evidenced once again on his 43-yard touchdown. The explosive plays are reasons to believe this success can be maintained, as he now has 266 yards through two weeks. Moreover, Dobbins continues to separate himself as the best back on the team over Gus Edwards.

LB Denzel Perryman

Amidst the defense’s outbreak in the first two weeks, Perryman has led the charge in the middle of the defense. He finished the game with seven total tackles in addition to a huge sack in the first quarter that took the Panthers out of field goal range. His physicality has led the charge in the first two weeks, and the Chargers will need it again from him in Week 3 against the Steelers.

DB Elijah Molden

What a story this guy has become. Molden hasn’t even been with the team for a month and was given a game ball after the game by Harbaugh. He finished the game with seven total tackles in addition to the defense’s lone interception on the day. The takeaway killed any of the Panthers’ potential momentum heading into halftime, and it seems the 2021 third-rounder has earned more playing time moving forward.

Everything to know from Chargers’ win over Panthers

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ 26-3 win over the Panthers.

The Chargers improved to 2-0 after defeating the Panthers, 26-3.

Here’s our recap of the Bolts’ victory in Week 2.

It was over when…

The Chargers scored a touchdown on their opening drive. They held the lead from that point on.

Highlight of the game

Quentin Johnston’s first of two touchdowns. Johnston did an excellent job working back to the football with Jaycee Horn in coverage.

https://twitter.com/chargers/status/1835367117459243489?s=46

Notable number

The Chargers start the season 2-0 for the first time since 2012.

3 stars of the game

RB J.K. Dobbins: Dobbins rushed for over 100 yards and posted a touchdown for the second consecutive week.
WR Quentin Johnston: The Chargers didn’t prioritize the pass, but Johnston still took advantage of his opportunities. He had five catches for 51 yards and a pair of scores on six targets.
CB Elijah Molden: Molden started at safety while Alohi Gilman was sidelined with an injury. He picked off Bryce Young in the second quarter and had seven tackles.

Quick hits

Bully ball is alive and well in Los Angeles. The Chargers finished the game with 219 yards rushing, which was engineered by Dobbins, who was the most efficient runner again. Gus Edwards had one more carry than Dobbins (18), but he only managed 3.3 yards per carry.
Justin Herbert finished the game 14 of 20 passing for 130 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Herbert’s 130 yards passing were his fewest ever in a victory. He did use his legs, running for a 13-yard pickup. It’s clear that the Jim Harbaugh/Greg Roman offense has had an impact on Herbert’s passing output.
Even though the passing offense was nearly nonexistent, Johnston still had himself a great game. He had a 29-yard touchdown and found himself wide open in the end zone for his second score of the day.
Los Angeles was 9-of-14 on third down and had 21 first downs.
The Chargers continued to dominate defensively. The Panthers only totaled 159 yards of offense (84 yards passing), converted just once out of 12 attempts on third down. Los Angeles had two sacks and a takeaway.

What’s next?

The Chargers are on the road again to take on the Steelers (1-0) next Sunday, Sept. 22, at 10:00 a.m. PT.