Tag: Joey Bosa

Where the Chargers rank statistically after Week 11

Even after allowing 27 points, the Chargers still have the No. 1 scoring defense in the NFL.

The Chargers improved to 7-3 after beating the Bengals in Week 11.

Justin Herbert was lights out in the first half until he wasn’t. He and the rest of the offense stalled in the second half before engineering a game-winning drive. The defense allowed more than 20 points for the first time this season.

With Week 12 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 22.0 ppg 18th
Passing offense 204.8 ypg 19th
Rushing offense 121.6 ypg 12th
Total offense 326.4 ypg 18th
3rd down conversions 38.81% 15th
Red zone scoring 53.85% 21st
Sacks allowed 26 19th
Turnovers 5 T-1st

Defense

Category Stat Rank
Points allowed 14.5 ppg 1st
Passing defense 206.6 ypg 12th
Rushing defense 110.5 ypg 11th
Total defense 317.1 ypg 11th
3rd down conversions 32.33% 2nd
Red zone defense 40.91% 2nd
Sacks 34 T-4th
Takeaways 13 13th

 

Chargers continue to climb in NFL power rankings after Week 11 win over Bengals

The Chargers received high praise from NFL analysts after their primetime win.

The Chargers improved to 7-3 after defeating the Bengals last Sunday night.

After Week 11, let’s see where Los Angeles stands in NFL power rankings:

USA Today: 11 (Previous: 13)

“Sunday night saw their best offensive performance of the season … and worst showing on defense. But teammates pick one another up and vanquishing Cincy gives the Bolts a near-ironclad grip on a wild-card berth.”

NFL: 9 (Previous: 10)

“The Chargers made as wide a swing as was imaginable on Sunday night, looking like a dark-horse Super Bowl team in the first half, then nearly coughing up what would have been an inexcusable loss — one that would have also significantly damaged their playoff hopes. After opening the game scorching hot, Justin Herbert froze over pretty fast, going 5-for-18 passing at one point in the second half and missing two big throws to Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey. The QB’s early fourth-quarter fumble (Herbert’s first turnover since Week 2) led to the Bengals tying things up, and it looked like Cincinnati was going to walk out of there with a win. But Herbert hit McConkey for 28 and 27 yards in the final minute, and the Chargers escaped a game that had a playoff-like atmosphere. The competition only gets tougher from here on out, too, so they’d better be prepared for more of these types of battles.”

ESPN: 9 (Previous: 11)

Preseason hot seat: WR Quentin Johnston
Current temperature of hot seat: Cold

“After struggling with drops as a rookie, there were questions coming into this season about whether Johnston was an NFL-caliber wideout. He has silenced any doubt this season, with a team-high six receiving touchdowns. In L.A.’s win over Cincinnati, he became the first Charger since 2021 to have a receiving touchdown in three straight games. “Honestly, if nobody else believed in me, I still had full confidence in myself,” Johnston said. “It was just a matter of going out and proving it.”

CBS Sports: 9 (Previous: 9)

“Jim Harbaugh has this team playing good football. The defense got a little exposed against the Bengals, but they are better than that.”

Sports Illustrated: 8 (Previous: 9)

“The Chargers got the absolute best out of the Bengals not only offensively but defensively too. Justin Herbert threw a league high 27.8% of his throws into tight coverage on Sunday night against a very good—for one week at least—Bengals defense. Herbert also dealt with a paltry average wideout separation rating, which was more than a yard below the league leader from Sunday.”

Bleacher Report: 10 (Previous: 10)

“These Chargers are different. These Chargers didn’t find themselves Chargering late in the fourth quarter. The Bengals almost pulled off the biggest second-half comeback in franchise history. But Herbert, McConkey, and Dobbins didn’t let it happen thanks to a strong game-winning drive with less than a minute remaining. Head coach Jim Harbaugh is changing the attitude in the Chargers locker room. This squad earned its 7-3 record. It’ll be a difficult out for the rest of the season.”

Game Balls: 5 standouts in Chargers’ Week 11 primetime victory

Once again, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was dominant in the team’s fourth consecutive victory.

The Chargers won their fourth straight game with a narrow victory in primetime on Sunday Night Football. The Bolts may not have won this game in the past, but it’s starting to feel like a new era with Jim Harbaugh.

Without further ado, here are the standouts from the Chargers’ impressive victory in Week 11.

QB Justin Herbert

Herbert was slinging the rock early on before cooling off in the second half. He finished the contest with 297 passing yards and two touchdowns. Perhaps most importantly, he was able to continuously escape the pocket and pick up first downs with his legs. Herbert finished with five carries and a season-high 65 rushing yards on the night.

WR Ladd McConkey

The rookie wideout racked up a career-high 123 receiving yards and tied his best mark of six catches. As Herbert continues to play better, so does McConkey. He’s become the clear No. 1 in an offense that desperately needed it earlier in the season. Without him, the Chargers would not have won this contest.

OT Joe Alt

This rookie class continues to perform, led by Alt and McConkey. Alt was phenomenal all night, and Herbert was sacked twice against the Bengals’ front. The rookie offensive tackle may be a candidate to make the AFC’s Pro Bowl squad.

EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu

With Khalil Mack out of the lineup, Tuipulotu continued his recent excellence. Against a vulnerable Bengals offensive line, he racked up 1.5 sacks, five total tackles, and four quarterback hits. All seven of his sacks on the season have now come in the last four weeks. Tuipulotu is tied for 11th in the NFL in bringing down the quarterback.

EDGE Joey Bosa

This was a vintage performance from Bosa and a reminder of how good he is when healthy. While he didn’t officially register a sack, he was after Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow all night long. Bosa finished with eight pressures and three quarterback hits on the evening. This Chargers pass rush has been exceptional recently, and that was on full display again on Sunday.

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 inactives: See who’s in and who’s out for Week 11 vs. Bengals

Find out if Khalil Mack will play on Sunday night.

The Chargers are about 90 minutes away from kicking off Week 11 against the Bengals.

Here is a look at their inactive players today:

WR DJ Chark

TE Hayden Hurst

RB Kimani Vidal

OL Brenden Jaimes

OL Jordan McFadden

QB Easton Stick (emergency 3rd)

Statistical Breakdown: How the Chargers and Bengals stack up before Week 11 game

Here’s how the Chargers and Bengals stack up statistically ahead of Sunday’s matchup.

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

Here’s how Los Angeles and Cincinnati stack up statistically on both sides of the ball ahead of the Week 11 matchup:

Offense

Category Chargers Bengals
Points per game 20.7 ppg (19th) 27.0 ppg (6th)
Passing offense 196.4 ypg (22nd) 254.8 ypg (4th)
Rushing offense 117.9 ypg (19th) 89.7 ypg (29th)
Total offense 314.3 ypg (22nd) 344.5 ypg (12th)
3rd down conversions 39.84% (13th) 47.29% (3rd)
Red zone scoring 54.17% (18th) 72.41% (2nd)
Sacks allowed 24 (17th) 23 (12th)
Turnovers 4 (T-1st) 10 (8th)

Defense

Category Chargers Bengals
Points allowed 13.1 ppg (1st) 26.2 ppg (26th)
Passing defense 191.6 ypg (9th) 220.2 ypg (23rd)
Rushing defense 110.6 ypg (9th) 127.3 ypg (17th)
Total defense 302.1 ypg (6th) 347.5 ypg (23rd)
3rd down conversions 32.76% (5th) 45.80% (29th)
Red zone defense 38.89% (2nd) 71.88% (31st)
Sacks 31 (T-4th) 17 (28th)
Takeaways 13 (11th) 10 (20th)

 

Chargers crack top 10 in NFL power rankings after Week 10 win over Titans

The Chargers received high praise from NFL analysts after their third-straight win.

The Chargers improved to 6-3 after defeating the Titans last Sunday.

After Week 10, let’s see where Los Angeles stands in NFL power rankings:

USA Today: 13 (Previous: 17)

“The league’s stingiest defense – it hasn’t allowed more than 20 points in a game – is about to get stern tests with the high-powered Bengals and Ravens headed to SoCal the next two weeks for prime-time showcases.”

NFL: 10 (Previous: 12)

“When it comes to wins, the Chargers have a type. They’ve scored between 22 and 27 points in each of their six victories, allowing 17 or fewer in all of them. The Titans scored late to hit 17, but the Chargers really choked them out in the second half with two long, draining touchdown drives and two quality stops on defense. The Bolts’ formula isn’t tricky, but it is effective. Defensively, Jesse Minter remains a prodigy, coordinating a smothering effort with two rookies starting at corner. The Chargers had seven sacks, and that was with Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa playing limited roles. Justin Herbert overcame what looked like a strip sack run back for a score before officials got the replay fix right. He played another composed game and was creative as a scrambler. The return of Gus Edwards also gave this offense a boost. Efficient ball all around, once again. It’s arguable the Chargers haven’t beaten a great team yet, but they have to be a pain to face off against.”

ESPN: 11 (Previous: 13)

Non-QB MVP: Running back J.K. Dobbins

“Dobbins has been the Chargers’ most impactful offseason signing, giving L.A. its best rushing offense since the days of LaDainian Tomlinson. After suffering a season-ending Achilles rupture in Week 1 of last season, Dobbins is having one of the best years of his career. Coach Jim Harbaugh has used postgame news conferences to campaign for Dobbins to be the Comeback Player of the Year. He is up to 670 yards and six touchdowns this season, which both rank in the NFL’s top 10.”

CBS Sports: 9 (Previous: 10)

“They can run it, throw it and play defense. Oh, they also have a great coach. This team will be dangerous come playoff time.”

Sports Illustrated: 9 (Previous: 11)

“As good as Justin Herbert’s day was, there was another score to Will Dissly that nearly happened. I’m not sure how Herbert feels about this, but I wonder if he would trade those outlier Burrow-Jackson duel-under-the-lights games for what he has now: a more conservative approach that allows for some panache but keeps him mostly protected. He has gone from a top-third sacked player in the NFL to a middle-tier sacked player. That has to make a difference.”

Bleacher Report: 10 (Previous: 13)

“Jim Harbaugh was never likely to make the Chargers title contenders in his first season on the job. However, he has quickly forged a squad that, when healthy, has few real weaknesses. The defense is elite, the running game is above average, and quarterback Justin Herbert is thriving as a high-end game-manager.

With both Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey emerging as reliable receivers, the Chargers have become a well-balanced, well-coached team and talented enough that no one should want to see them in January.”

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.

Where the Chargers rank statistically after Week 10

Jesse Minter’s defense is elite, but where does the offense rank after Week 10?

The Chargers improved to 6-3 after beating the Titans in Week 10.

Justin Herbert showed off his legs. Gus Edwards came back from injury and provide a spark on the ground. The defense, which produced seven sacks on the day, continued to dominate.

With Week 11 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 20.7 ppg 19th
Passing offense 196.4 ypg 22nd
Rushing offense 117.9 ypg 19th
Total offense 314.3 ypg 22nd
3rd down conversions 39.84% 13th
Red zone scoring 54.17% 18th
Sacks allowed 24 12th
Turnovers 4 T-1st

Defense

Category Stat Rank
Points allowed 13.1 ppg 1st
Passing defense 191.6 ypg 9th
Rushing defense 110.6 ypg 9th
Total defense 302.1 ypg 6th
3rd down conversions 32.76% 5th
Red zone defense 38.89% 2nd
Sacks 31 T-4th
Takeaways 13 11th

 

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.