Tag: Jim Harbaugh

Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Buccaneers?

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

The Los Angeles Chargers are 3-point home favorites over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15 of the 2024 regular season. The over/under is 45.5 points, per BetMGM Sportsbook.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 45 points.

My score prediction for the game is a 27-17 win for the Chargers, with a total of 44 points. So, if I were putting money based on my prediction, I’d bet the under.

As for game picks, analysts believe Los Angeles will get back on track after losing to the Chiefs last Monday night.

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

Sunday’s game will begin at 1:25 p.m. PT and be televised on FOX.

Key things to know about Chargers’ Week 15 opponent: Buccaneers

Here are some important things to know about the Buccaneers ahead of the Week 15 matchup with the Chargers.

The Chargers are back home to face the Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 15, at 1:25 p.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 15 bout, here are a few key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

How things are going…

The Buccaneers are 7-6 and sit atop the NFC South. Tampa Bay is riding a three-game winning streak.

Coen has the offense cooking

Offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s unit is one of the hottest in football. The Buccaneers rank in the top 10 in multiple categories. They are currently fifth in scoring (27.9 points per game), sixth in passing (241.0 yards per game), and eighth in rushing (138.3 YPG).

Baker making it happen

Quarterback Baker Mayfield has completely turned his career around with the Buccaneers after bouncing around with a few teams since being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. Mayfield has thrown the third-most touchdowns (28) and fourth-most passing yards (3,329). However, Mayfield has struggled to take care of the football, as his 13 interceptions are the second-most behind Falcons’ Kirk Cousins.

The Rookie of the Year candidate no one is talking about

Running back Bucky Irving has been having an outstanding first season since being selected in the fourth round out of Oregon. Irving has been integral in their offensive success and is on pace to the franchise’s first 1,000-yard rushing season since Doug Martin (2015). Irving has 735 yards, six touchdowns, and 5.4 yards per carry.

Uneven defense

The Chargers should have plenty of success airing it out. The Buccaneers rank 30th against the pass, allowing an average of 253.4 yards per game. On the other hand, Tampa Bay has been solid against the run, ranking 11th in the league.

Look out for…

Wide receiver Mike Evans. Mayfield will be looking to go to his top target early and often. Evans is a big-time playmaker, averaging 13.7 yards per catch, with seven touchdowns on the season.

How Week 14 loss affected Chargers place in NFL power rankings

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

The Chargers fell to 8-5 after losing to the Chiefs last Sunday.

After Week 14, let’s see where Los Angeles stands in NFL power rankings:

USA Today: 12 (Previous: 12)

“Pretty good effort Sunday night at Arrowhead, especially with RB J.K. Dobbins and WR Ladd McConkey, the Bolts’ leaders in yards from scrimmage, both unavailable. Their six turnovers are the league’s fewest, yet it still feels like a conservative, mistake-mitigating approach is one that isn’t going to pay many dividends in the playoffs.”

NFL: 9 (Previous: 9)

“With no Ladd McConkey against the Chiefs, the Chargers’ offensive struggles reached near-doldrum levels early on, coming off a win where they never reached the end zone offensively. Sunday night’s loss stings, for sure, and it gives the Bolts an idea of what more they need to do to beat quality teams. That’s now three straight one-score losses to Kansas City. Even still, Justin Herbert kept dealing and kept making big throws, and the play-action and run games both started working again. I think the offense will be OK once McConkey returns to the lineup, and as long as the Chargers don’t flounder down the stretch, they will be in the playoffs and will make for an especially thorny first-round opponent.”

ESPN: 9 (Previous: 9)

Most shocking ranking: 19th in rushing

“Throughout the offseason, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman boasted about the dominant rushing offense they would build in L.A., but it hasn’t panned out that way. Averaging 111.5 yards per game, the rushing offense is slightly improved from where the Chargers finished last season (25th), but it has largely been a disappointment and by far the worst of Harbaugh’s NFL career. During Harbaugh and Roman’s four seasons in San Francisco, they had the second-best rushing offense in the NFL; the lowest the 49ers ranked was eighth in Harbaugh’s first season.”

CBS Sports: 9 (Previous: 8)

“That was a tough loss to the Chiefs on the road, but they rallied back and the defense played well, which has been their calling card all year. At 8-5, they would be the sixth seed right now.”

Sports Illustrated: 13 (Previous: 9)

“Quentin Johnston has had issues with his hands since college, but the explosive get off from the line of scrimmage on Sunday night against Kansas City and the ability to hold on to the ball during a massive collision was impressive. If Johnston can develop on this kind of timeline we could have a beast on our hands in Year 3.”

Bleacher Report: 10 (Previous: 9)

“Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers are more physical. They play tough defense. It’s a squad built to win. Yet they still can’t overcome the bully in the AFC West, with two regular-season losses to the Kansas City Chiefs. While Los Angeles remains in line to capture a wildcard postseason berth, it’s clear the Chargers aren’t quite ready to handle the league’s elite. A playoff run is possible, though it doesn’t feel likely since four of the Chargers’ five losses came against potential postseason opponents.”

Where the Chargers rank statistically after Week 14

The Chargers held the Chiefs to less than 300 yards of total offense, so how did that impact them in the rankings?

The Chargers fell to 8-5 after losing to the Chiefs on Sunday night.

Los Angeles’ defense held its own, limiting Kansas City to less than 300 yards of total offense and containing Patrick Mahomes for most of the game. Offensively, the Bolts couldn’t get anything going in the first half but had a surge in the second half.

With Week 15 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 21.3 ppg 20th
Passing offense 198.1 ypg 25th
Rushing offense 111.5 ypg 19th
Total offense 309.5 ypg 24th
3rd down conversions 38.37% 15th
Red zone scoring 54.55% 19th
Sacks allowed 38 23rd
Turnovers 6 1st

Defense

Category Stat Rank
Points allowed 15.9 ppg 1st
Passing defense 206.1 ypg 8th
Rushing defense 117.6 ypg 14th
Total defense 323.7 ypg 11th
3rd down conversions 35.03% 7th
Red zone defense 41.94% 1st
Sacks 39 5th
Takeaways 17 10th

 

Chargers defense can’t make critical stops in loss to Chiefs: ‘Just gotta finish the game’

The defense was good for most of the game, but couldn’t come up with a stop when needed the most.

The Chargers defense was effective for nearly the entire game before failing to make a stop on the final drive in Sunday night’s 19-17 loss to the Chiefs.

“Just gotta finish the game,” Daiyan Henley said, per the team’s official website.

They had their chances, however.

It started with a kickoff penalty on Cameron Dicker, which allowed the Chiefs to start at their own 40.

On 3rd-and-10, Patrick Mahomes connected with Xavier Worthy for a 14-yard gain to move the chains.

A few plays later, on 3rd-and-7 at the Chargers 20, Mahomes evaded an attempted open-field tackle by Henley and hit a wide-open Travis Kelce for nine yards and the first down to let the clock bleed.

“We thought it was likely [they would throw],” Jim Harbaugh said. “We predicted a couple of those, the roll pass early. But just executed, it wasn’t a surprise or a shock.”

Matthew Wright’s 31-yard field goal hit off the left upright and in for the win as time expired.

It was the same story, just a different day with Mahomes getting the ball at the end of the game.

The Chargers held the Chiefs to less than 300 yards of total offense. Mahomes was kept contained for most of the game and sacked three times, but that doesn’t matter when you can’t close out Kansas City.

“We gotta be ready,” Derwin James said. “As a defense, we want to be on the field, we want that challenge and I feel like we didn’t make the plays in the third and fourth quarter to get off the field.

“I know looking at the tape, we’re going to be sick to our stomach,” James added.

Statistical Breakdown: How the Chargers and Chiefs stack up before Week 14 game

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

The Chargers and Chiefs are set to square off this upcoming Sunday night.

Here’s how Los Angeles and Kansas City stack up statistically on both sides of the ball ahead of the Week 14 matchup:

Offense

Category Chargers Chiefs
Points per game 21.7 ppg (18th) 24.1 ppg (11th)
Passing offense 198.4 ypg (24th) 229.8 ypg (12th)
Rushing offense 112.9 ypg (18th) 111.8 ypg (19th)
Total offense 311.3 ypg (24th) 341.6 ypg (15th)
3rd down conversions 37.74% (18th) 51.83% (1st)
Red zone scoring 53.33% (21st) 52.08% (24th)
Sacks allowed 35 (23rd) 32 (20th)
Turnovers 6 (1st) 14 (14th)

Defense

Category Chargers Chiefs
Points allowed 15.7 ppg (1st) 19.6 ppg (8th)
Passing defense 206.4 ypg (10th) 224.1 ypg (23rd)
Rushing defense 119.4 ypg (14th) 87.3 ypg (3rd)
Total defense 325.8 ypg (14th) 311.9 ypg (8th)
3rd down conversions 33.33% (2nd) 39.46% (18th)
Red zone defense 42.86% (2nd) 51.28% (10th)
Sacks 36 (6th) 24 (27th)
Takeaways 17 (10th) 10 (27th)

Derwin James heaps high praise on Ladd McConkey: ‘That’s the Rookie of the Year’

Ladd McConkey has been one of the best rookies this season, and Derwin James believes he should be recognized as it.

Ladd McConkey has been one of the best rookies this season, and Derwin James believes he should be recognized as it.

“That’s the Rookie of the Year,” James said about McConkey on a recent episode of FanDuel TV’s Up & Adams.

McConkey, the second-round pick, has established himself as Justin Herbert’s go-to target and a centerpiece in the offense. He paces the Chargers in catches (58), targets (81) and receiving yards (815).

McConkey has the second-most receiving yards among rookies, trailing his former college teammate and Raiders tight end Brock Bowers.

“Ladd’s a great pro,” James added. “Every day, he shows up to work. He’s got his priorities in line off the field. And I feel like every day, he wants to be great and give it all to the team. Love Ladd so much.”

McConkey recorded 105 receiving yards before halftime in the win over the Falcons, which set a record for the most receiving yards in the first half of a game by a Chargers rookie.

McConkey is on pace to shatter another franchise record, as he currently sits third on the single-season rookie list with 815 yards. Keenan Allen holds the Chargers single-season rookie receiving record at 1,046 yards.

McConkey is currently tied with Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving for the fifth-best odds for the award, trailing Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (-250), Broncos QB Box Nix (+200), Bowers (+1200) and Bears QB Caleb Williams (+6600).

Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Chiefs?

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

The Los Angeles Chargers are 4-point road underdogs to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14 of the 2024 regular season. The over/under is 43 points, per BetMGM Sportsbook.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 43 points.

My score prediction for the game is a 20-17 win for the Chiefs, with a total of 37 points. So, if I were putting money based on my prediction, I’d bet the under.

As for game picks, analysts believe Kansas City will sweep Los Angeles.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Chiefs
Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Chiefs
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chiefs
Matt Bowen (ESPN) Chiefs
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Chiefs
Bill Bender (Sporting News) Chiefs
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 14 opponent: Chiefs

Here are some important things to know about the Chiefs ahead of the Week 14 matchup with the Chargers.

The Chargers are on the road to face the Chiefs under the lights on Sunday night, Dec. 8, at 5:20 p.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 14 bout, here are a few key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

How things are going…

The Chiefs have the best record in the AFC at 11-1, with their only loss coming against the Bills.

Close wins

When you see the Chiefs’ record, you would think they’ve dominated their opponents. However, it has been far from that. Kansas City has now won nine games by one score or less, with six coming down to the final drive.

Pat is not all that

The Chiefs are atop the AFC, but their success cannot be attributed to Patrick Mahomes’s play. This is statistically Mahomes’ worst season. He is completing 68.4% of his passes but has a career-low 4.4% touchdown rate and a career-worst 2.6% interception rate.

Key piece is back

When the Chargers played the Chiefs back in Week 4, they were without running back Isiah Pacheco, a vital piece of their offense. Pacheco was sidelined for two months with a leg injury and returned last week against the Raiders. He only ran the ball seven times but averaged 6.3 yards per carry.

Spag’s defense is still dominating

The Chiefs aren’t going to make it easy for the Chargers’ offense. Kansas City’s defense ranks No. 8 in scoring defense (19.6 allowed points per game). While they’re slightly susceptible against the pass, ranking 23rd, the Chiefs are a brick wall against the run. They’re only allowing 87.8 rushing yards per game, good for the third in the NFL.

Look out for…

Defensive tackle Chris Jones. The Chargers have had problems along the interior part of the offensive line, which Jones will look to exploit. Jones has 54 quarterback pressures and six sacks this season.

Where the Chargers rank statistically after Week 13

The Chargers only mustered 187 yards of total offense, so how did that impact them in the rankings?

The Chargers improved to 8-4 after beating the Falcons in Week 13.

Los Angeles’ defense, which compiled four interceptions on the day, was why they won the game. The offense only managed 187 yards of total offense and allowed five sacks to a Falcons defense with just ten entering Sunday.

With Week 14 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 21.7 ppg 18th
Passing offense 198.4 ypg 24th
Rushing offense 112.9 ypg 18th
Total offense 311.3 ypg 24th
3rd down conversions 37.74% 18th
Red zone scoring 53.33% 21st
Sacks allowed 30 21st
Turnovers 5 1st

Defense

Category Stat Rank
Points allowed 15.7 ppg 1st
Passing defense 206.4 ypg 10th
Rushing defense 119.4 ypg 14th
Total defense 325.8 ypg 14th
3rd down conversions 33.33% 2nd
Red zone defense 42.86% 2nd
Sacks 35 T-6th
Takeaways 13 14th