Tag: Jim Harbaugh

Jim Harbaugh says free kick is his ‘favorite rule.’ He’s attempted it before in the NFL.

There’s history here with Jim Harbaugh and free kicks.

Jim Harbaugh made headlines everywhere for calling for a free kick after a punt fair catch on Thursday night in the Los Angeles Chargers’ win over the Denver Broncos. It was so cool that it worked, with Cameron Dicker nailing for three points before halftime, the first successful NFL free kick since 1976.

So how did he think of it? The head coach called it his “favorite rule in football” after the game and added that he’s been trying to “get one of those every game.”

MORE FREE KICK: Here’s the rule about how a free kick works

He mentioned that he tried one when he was coaching with the San Francisco 49ers and there’s video of that! Truly, I hope we get to see one of those in the playoffs if the Chargers make it.

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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 score 21 straight points, upend Broncos in key AFC West clash

Chargers’ second-half surge shortcircuits Broncos

The Los Angeles Chargers scored three touchdowns bridging the third and fourth quarters on Thursday and rallied to down the Denver Broncos, 34-27, at SoFi Stadium.

The Chargers’ victory left both teams at 9-6 but LA has the tiebreakers in the WIld-Card playoff picture in the AFC.

The Broncos used a different tactic in the last minute. They had two timeouts lest and trailed by 10. Rather than try for a touchdown, Sean Payton sent Wil Lutz out for a 55-yard field goal that he converted.

Trailing 34-27, Denver was set to try an onside kick. As Lutz was about to kick the football, Jim Harbaugh called a timeout.

After the reset, Chargers linebacker Nick Niemann collected the attempt and the Chargers held on for the victory.

Denver led 21-13 ar halftime. The Broncos’ lead looked like it would be 11 points but Harbaugh called for the rarely used free kick after a fair catch and Cameron Dicker connected from 57 yards to cut the deficit to eight.

 

 

How Week 15 loss affected Chargers place in NFL power rankings

After their loss on Sunday, the Chargers took a little bit of a slide.

The Chargers fell to 8-6 after losing to the Buccaneers last Sunday.

After Week 15, let’s see where Los Angeles stands in NFL power rankings:

USA Today: 16 (Previous: 12)

“After surrendering no more than 20 points in their first nine games, they’ve allowed at least 27 in three of the past five, including a forty-burger to the Bucs in Sunday’s loss.”

NFL: 13 (Previous: 9)

“Holding a 17-10 lead with just over five minutes left in the second quarter on Sunday, the Chargers fell on a Bucs fumble, and the game appeared to be tilting in their direction. From that point on, Tampa outscored L.A. 30-zip. The Bolts have had some unbelievably poor halves this season, but they absolutely crumbled after halftime in this one and were completely out of it midway through the fourth quarter. It was a hard fall for this team, which has now dropped three of the past four games and appears to be treading water — at best — even with a pretty darned good grasp on a playoff spot. A few weeks ago, the Chargers looked like the kind of first-round opponent no division winner wanted to face in the postseason. Now the defense has been humbled, and a flatlining Justin Herbert is dealing with a left ankle injury heading into a big game against Denver with seeding on the line.”

ESPN: 12 (Previous: 9)

Biggest improvement: Play-action offense

“Before the Chargers’ Week 5 bye, they used play-action just 25.4% of the time. And it wasn’t particularly effective, either, as quarterback Justin Herbert had a QBR of 40.1 on those plays. Some of this likely had to do with his high ankle sprain from Week 2. Still, since Week 6, they’ve run play-action 34.4% of the time and Herbert has a 61.1 QBR. He also averages 12.1 yards per completion and 7.7 yards per attempt on these plays in that span, which is higher than the first four weeks of the season.”

CBS Sports: 13 (Previous: 9)

“That was a horrible showing against the Bucs. They have lost two straight and now face a big Thursday game on the road against the Broncos.”

Sports Illustrated: 14 (Previous: 13)

“I have been accused of being a silver linings guy and that’s a disposition I’m happy to have been saddled with. So I’ll say this after the Chargers were totally boat-raced by the Buccaneers: this isn’t indicative of some developing issue, it’s merely the point in which Los Angeles’s current level of talent and health has met the realities of their situation. I think we can all agree that this team has looked and felt different than the cardiac Chargers of the past, but Jim Harbaugh was saddled with one of the worst rosters—QB removed—in the NFL and is counting on a lot of young talent.”

Bleacher Report: 13 (Previous: 10)

“Sometimes, statistics don’t tell the whole story about a team. Los Angeles came into Week 15 with the No. 1-ranked scoring defense, slowing down mediocre and below-average offenses, some of which were led by rookies. Whenever Los Angeles plays a high-scoring opponent, its defense looks more porous than stout. The Buccaneers dropped 40 points on the Chargers at SoFi Stadium, and it should leave you questioning whether this club can hang with playoff-caliber teams.”

Report: Giants hiring Joe Schoen cost them Jim Harbaugh as coach

In 2022, the New York Giants hired Joe Schoen as GM over Joe Hortiz, who reportedly was set to hire Jim Harbaugh as his head coach.

As the New York Giants headed into the 2023 season, they thought they had nailed the general manager and head coaching positions with the hiring of Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll to five-year contracts.

The Giants were coming off a 9-7-1 2022 regular season finish and a trip to the playoffs that included a win on the road. Schoen appeared to be fully in charge and Daboll was the darling of the football world being named the NFL’s Coach of the Year.

But a lot has gone down since then. The Giants’ juggernaut has dropped out of the sky and are in a death spiral. They are 8-23 since the start of the 2023 season and going nowhere fast.

They do not have a franchise quarterback of the future on their roster and many are questioning the competence of the entire organization from ownership on down.

Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, who has been covering the team for over 30 years, believes that if the Giants make changes this offseason, it may not be a clean sweep. They may decide to keep both Schoen and Daboll or they may keep one and let the other go.

Veteran sports author and columnist, Ian O’Connor, looked back at the move to hire Schoen and Daboll and the other options the Giants had available to them with back then.

“The Giants loved Adam Peters as a GM candidate but loved Joe Schoen just a bit more,” O’Connor posted on X. “They thought John Harbaugh’s guy in Baltimore, Joe Hortiz, was a bit nervous in his interview, but he was going to hire Jim Harbaugh as Giants head coach. What could have been?”

Peters was with San Francisco at the time as general manager John Lynch’s assistant. He was hired this past offseason by Washington to be their GM. The Commanders are 9-5 this season and headed towards the playoffs.

Hortiz was the Ravens’ Director of Player Personnel and is now the general manager of the Los Angeles Chargers and did indeed hire Jim Harbaugh as his head coach. The Chargers are 8-6 this season and currently are in the seventh playoff spot in the AFC.

While these other teams are flourishing, the Giants are floundering. Yes, what could have been…?

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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.

Jim Harbaugh making Judge Judy honorary Chargers captain versus Buccaneers

Jim Harbaugh is a big fna of Judge Judy, who knew?

Jim Harbaugh wants his Chargers to lay down the law on Sunday at SoFi against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

To that extent, he’s bringing in a judge as an honorary captain for the Week 15 clash.

According to ESPN’s Lindsay Thiry, the head coach is a big fan of Judge Judy and will celebrate her against Tampa Bay.

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce praises the Chargers Week 14 performance: ‘A lot of heart’

Kansas City #Chiefs TE Travis Kelce praises the Los Angeles #Chargers Week 14 performance: ‘A lot of heart’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 14 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers will be best remembered for the thrilling game-winning field goal. All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce appreciated his opponent’s play more and saw potential future success for their starting quarterback.

On the latest episode of the New Heights podcast, Travis and Jason praised what they recognized from the Chargers on Sunday night.

“I think the Chargers a (f******) hell of a (good) football team,” Kelce said. (Jim) Harbaugh’s got those guys playing their tail off, with a lot of heart.”

Los Angeles is in its first season with new head coach Jim Harbaugh, who has earned a reputation for turning teams around at different levels to become winners. The good vibes extended to their quarterback, who has been one of the more efficient players in the league this season.

“You can’t tell me Justin Herbert isn’t one of the (f******) quarterbacks in the National Football League,” said Kelce, speaking highly of Herbert’s gutsy performance last Sunday night. The Chargers quarterback finished the game 21 of 30, passing for 213 yards and a touchdown.

Kansas City swept the season series this year over Los Angeles, but each game was close and could have gone either way.

“They got that thing figured out right now,” said Kelce. “They’re playing really, really good football right now, and they played us pretty tough both times we got them.”

Statistical Breakdown: How the Chargers and Buccaneers stack up before Week 15 game

Here’s how the Chargers and Buccaneers stack up statistically on offense and defense ahead of Sunday’s matchup.

The Chargers and Buccaneers are set to square off this Sunday.

Here’s how Los Angeles and Tampa Bay stack up statistically on both sides of the ball ahead of the Week 15 matchup:

Offense

Category Chargers Buccaneers
Points per game 21.3 ppg (20th) 27.9 ppg (5th)
Passing offense 198.1 ypg (25th) 241.0 ypg (6th)
Rushing offense 111.5 ypg (19th) 138.3 ypg (7th)
Total offense 309.5 ypg (24th) 379.3 ypg (3rd)
3rd down conversions 38.37% (15th) 47.17% (2nd)
Red zone scoring 54.55% (19th) 68.63% (4th)
Sacks allowed 38 (23rd) 32 (16th)
Turnovers 6 (1st) 18 (20th)

Defense

Category Chargers Buccaneers
Points allowed 15.9 ppg (1st) 23.8 ppg (22nd)
Passing defense 206.1 ypg (8th) 253.4 ypg (30th)
Rushing defense 117.6 ypg (14th) 115.2 ypg (11th)
Total defense 323.7 ypg (11th) 368.5 ypg (28th)
3rd down conversions 35.03% (7th) 41.92% (23rd)
Red zone defense 41.94% (1st) 51.02% (10th)
Sacks 39 (5th) 35 (11th)
Takeaways 17 (10th) 16 (14th)