Tag: Josh Palmer

Chargers PFF grades: Best, worst performers in Week 16 loss to Texans

Spotlighting Pro Football Focus’ highest and lowest graded Chargers players from the loss to the Texans.

On Sunday, the Chargers fell to the Texans in an unexpected manner, 41-29.

Along the way, some players performed well, and there were a few who struggled.

With that being said, here are the best and worst performers from the Week 16 contest, according to Pro Football Focus player grades.

Note: To be more accurate, this is based on players who played at least 35% of the snaps on offense (62) or defense (68).

Top 5 Offense

OT Storm Norton – 78.2

TE Stephen Anderson – 75.5

TE Jared Cook – 68.5

OL Michael Schofield – 66.5

WR Josh Palmer – 66.2

Top 5 Defense

DT Christian Covington – 81.8

DT Breiden Fehoko – 68.1

EDGE Uchenna Nwosu – 66.0

DT Jerry Tillery – 64.8

LB Kyzir White – 61.1

Bottom 5 Offense

WR Jason Moore – 64.1

RB Justin Jackson – 62.3

OL Scott Quessenberry – 61.9

WR Keenan Allen – 61.7

OT Rashawn Slater – 60.0

Bottom 5 Defense

EDGE Kenneth Murray – 50.9

CB Asante Samuel Jr. – 48.5

S Alohi Gilman – 47.5

NT Linval Joseph – 42.3

CB Davontae Harris – 38.3

Twitter reacts to Chargers’ dreadful loss to Texans

What the general population thought of the Chargers’ Week 16 loss to the Texans.

With the playoffs on the line, the Chargers blew an opportunity against a Texans team that sat near the bottom of the league and had 16 players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list – falling by the score of 41-29.

Here’s what the general population had to say about Los Angeles’ loss to Houston in Week 16:

Everything we know about Chargers’ 41-29 loss to Texans

Highlighting everything notable from the Los Angeles Chargers’ loss to the Houston Texans.

The Chargers fell to the Texans by the score of 41-29.

To recap Week 16, here is everything we know:

It was over when…

Davis Mills found Nico Collins to put the Texans up, 34-23, with 3:23 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Notable numbers of the game

The Texans were 9-of-13 on third-down attempts.

The Chargers turned the ball over three times.

The Texans won the time of possession battle, 34:52 to 25:08.

The Chargers allowed 437 yards.

Quick takes

– Justin Herbert was efficient for the most part, finishing the game with a 77% completion percentage. However, he made some questionable decisions with his passes that were picked off.

– Filling in for Austin Ekeler, who was out with COVID-19, Justin Jackson had a great showing. Aside from the costly fumble in the fourth quarter, Jackson was effective both on the ground and in the passing game, totaling 162 yards from scrimmage and two rushing touchdowns.

– A good chunk of Herbert’s production came in the short areas from Jackson. But he spread the wealth throughout the afternoon. Jason Moore, Josh Palmer, Jared Cook, and Keenan Allen had at least three catches. Moore led the pack with 56 yards, while Palmer had five receptions for 43 yards and a score.

– For the most part, the Corey Linsley-less offensive line held its own. Herbert was sacked just once. The group was dinged for penalties on two occasions (holding by Scott Quessenberry and a false start by Rashawn Slater). The Chargers finished 4.2 yards per carry.

– The depth of defense has been tested this season, but it was exploited against a Texans offense led by a rookie quarterback who was without his top skill player in Brandin Cooks and three starters along the offensive line.

– Without Justin Jones and Joe Gaziano, two of the better defenders up front, the Chargers were gashed for 189 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

– Kenneth Murray, who got the start in place of Joey Bosa and Chris Rumph II, struggled. He showed he lacks the strength at the point of attack to hold his ground, the inability to disengage when blockers get their hands on him, and a lack of a plan when rushing the passer.

– Missed tackles are also to blame for the team’s run defense woes.

– Davis Mills put together a solid performance, but the lack of pass rush and talent in the secondary was evident. Without Michael Davis, they were forced to lean on Davontae Harris, who allowed the 41-yard touchdown right before the half. The team was also down Derwin James.

– Asante Samuel Jr. and Alohi Gilman returned, but some rust was seen in their games, which is to be expected after missing the last four and five games, respectively.

What’s next?

The Chargers return home to take on the Broncos on Jan. 2 at 1:05 pm PT.

Chargers WR Mike Williams placed on COVID-19 list, out next two games

The Chargers will be without Mike Williams against the Texans, leading to a big opportunity for Josh Palmer.

The Chargers’ COVID-19 outbreak continued, as Mike Williams was the latest to be added to the reserve list.

Williams is unvaccinated, which means he will be out the next ten days, forcing him to miss this weekend’s contest against the Texans and next weekend against the Broncos.

With Williams out, Keenan Allen, Josh Palmer, Jason Moore, Michael Bandy, and Maurice Ffrench make up the wide receiver room. Jalen Guyton, who’s also on the COVID-19 list, is out in Week 16.

One of the biggest questions this offseason is whether or not the Bolts decide to re-sign Williams. Early on in the season, he was making a strong case, but since Week 6 his play has been up and down.

There’s also the possibility of the Chargers placing the franchise tag on Williams.

This season, Williams has 64 receptions for 964 yards and seven touchdowns.

Chargers QB Justin Herbert looking to continue to shine bright under primetime lights

Chargers QB Justin Herbert was born for prime time.

Quarterback Justin Herbert has solidified himself as a legitimate MVP candidate in his sophomore season.

Herbert currently ranks fourth in the NFL with 294 passing yards per game, third with 30 passing touchdowns, first with a quarterback rating of 67.35, and tied for first with five game-winning drives.

When the Chargers meet the Chiefs on Thursday night, he will have a great opportunity to further make his case, as Herbert has proven to shine bright under the primetime lights.

In Herbert’s four career games in primetime, he is 97-of-145 passing for 1,182 yards, 12 touchdowns, one interception, and a rushing touchdown.

The last time Herbert faced Kansas City came back in Week 3, where he put together an impressive performance – finishing with four touchdowns.

However, since then, the Chiefs’ defense has done a complete 360.

Amid their six-game win streak, Kansas City has allowed just 9.6 points per game, which ranks second in the NFL. In addition, the unit has been stingy, posting 15 takeaways in their last five outings.

Herbert should benefit from the return of Keenan Allen, who missed last weekend’s win over the Giants. However, he will be without his blindside blocker, Rashawn Slater, who was ruled out with COVID-19.

If we know one thing about Herbert, it’s that pressure rarely phases him. But against a team like the Chiefs, who are one of the best at getting to opposing quarterbacks, Joe Lombardi will need to draw up a solid game plan.

While not an ideal scenario, the Chargers can mask his absence and make life easier for Slater’s fill-in, Trey Pipkins, with extra blockers, moving the pocket, and simplified half-field reads.

A win led by Herbert not only allows the Chargers to control their destiny en route to the first AFC West title since 2009 but increases the chances of him being recognized as the league’s most valuable player.

Stars, studs and duds from Chargers’ victory over Giants

Highlighting the Chargers players who shined and struggled in the victory over the Giants.

The Chargers took care of business last Sunday, defeating the Giants by the score of 37-21.

With that being said, here is a look at the players who helped en route to Los Angeles’ victory.

Stars

QB Justin Herbert: It took one throw for Herbert to put himself under this category. That throw, which might have been the best of the year, was Herbert’s 59-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Guyton, which traveled 63.8 yards. What made it even more incredible was that it came on the run, off his back foot while being hit from behind. Maybe three quarterbacks in this league can make a throw like that. Aside from the jaw-dropping pass, Herbert became the first player to have 30 touchdown passes in each of his first two seasons. He finished the game 23-of-31 passing for 275 yards and three touchdowns.

Studs

WR Josh Palmer: Palmer, Mike Williams, and Jalen Guyton are all worthy of being placed here after their performances. However, the rookie deserves the spotlight for stepping up in the absence of Keenan Allen. Flashing the receiving skills that the team fell in love with coming out of Tennessee, Palmer finished with a team-high seven targets that he turned into five receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown. Furthermore, he played a role in the blocking department, notably springing Austin Ekeler free for an 18-yard gain.

RB Austin Ekeler: The Chargers finally established an efficient rushing attack, finishing with 152 yards and 4.1 yards per carry. But it was Ekeler who steamrolled the Giants’ defense before leaving the game with an ankle injury. Benefiting from the blocks up front, Ekeler amassed 12 carries for 67 yards (5.6 yards per carry), four rushing first downs, and two explosive carries, per Pro Football Focus. He also added two catches for 17 yards.

EDGE Joey Bosa: After leaving the Bengals’ game with a head injury, Bosa did not lose a step upon returning to the action a week later. Eating Nate Solder’s lunch throughout the afternoon, Bosa made up half of the Chargers’ pressures, finishing with four and adding two hurries, a hit, and a sack.

CB Michael Davis & Chris Harris Jr.: The Chargers have been susceptible to the pass in prior weeks, but they changed the narrative against the Giants, holding Mike Glennon to just 4.6 yards per pass. Without Derwin James and Asante Samuel Jr., Michael Davis and Chris Harris Jr. stepped up. Davis and Harris finished with four, and three passes defended, respectively. Davis gave up just three catches for 25 yards on eight targets. Harris allowed just one catch for 24 yards on five targets.

Duds

Special teams (sort of): There weren’t any players in particular that performed poorly enough to be recognized here. However, the special teams had its woes. Ty Long averaged just 26 yards per punt, but the protection is to blame for some of the struggles, as it broke down on a kick late in the fourth quarter that resulted in a shank. That shorter field position for the Giants led to a touchdown. Later on, Donald Parham dropped an onside kick recovery that ended up in the hands of New York.

Tunnel Vision of Week 14

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Josh Allen 308 – 109 3
 Tom Brady 363 – 16 3
Ben Roethlisberger 308 – 5 3
 Aaron Rodgers 341 – 1 4
 Justin Herbert 275 – 19 3
Running Backs Yards TD
Dalvin Cook 27-205 rush
1-17 catch		 2
Rashaad Penny 16-137 rush
1-1 catch		 2
Najee Harris 20-94 rush
3-10 catch		 2
Alvin Kamara 27-120 rush
4-25 catch		 1
Leonard Fournette 19-113 rush
4-19 catch		 1
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Hunter Renfro 13-117 1
Tyler Lockett 5-142 1
Ja’Marr Chase 5-83 2
Robby Anderson 7-84 1
Davante Adams 10-121 2
Tight Ends Yards TD
George Kittle 13-151 1
Mark Andrews 11-115 1
Dawson Knox 7-60 1
A. Okwuegbunam 5-41 1
Austin Hooper 5-30 1
Placekickers XP FG
Justin Tucker 1 3
Harrison Butker 6 3
Dustin Hopkins 4 3
Cairo Santos 3 3
Greg Zuerlein 1 4
Defense Sack – TO TD
Titans 3 – 4 0
Chiefs 4 – 5 1
Cowboys 4 – 2 1
Browns 4 – 2 1
Washington 4 – 2 1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Lamar Jackson – Ankle
QB Taylor Heinicke – Knee
QB Josh Allen – Foot
QB Justin Fields – Hand
QB Aaron Rodgers – Toe
RB Kareem Hunt – Ankle
RB Giovani Bernard – Hip
RB Rex Burkhead – Groin
RB Austin Walters – Illness
RB Austin Ekeler – Ankle
WR Terry McLaurin – Concussion
WR Emmanuel Sanders – Knee

Chasing Ambulances

Tis the season for quarterbacks and running backs.

QB Lamar Jackson (BAL) – Was carted to the locker room  with what is expected to be a high-ankle sprain. He’ll get tests on Monday to determine the severity but this is not the sort of injury that a running quarterback needs. Tyler Huntley replaced him and put in a credible effort and mounted a comeback bid in the loss to the Browns. The remaining games all face teams with winning records and will need an effective passing offense.

QB Taylor Heinicke (WAS) – Left the loss to the Cowboys with a knee injury. HC Ron Rivera said that it didn’t look bad but that they would have it evaluated on Monday. Kyle Allen would replace him again this week if Heinicke was unable to play at the Eagles.

QB Josh Allen (BUF) – Injured his foot during the loss in Tampa Bay but refused to come out of the game. Allen was in a walking boot at the press conference. He will have an MRI on his foot and ankle on Monday. If Allen misses any time, Mitchell Trubisky will take over.

QB Justin Fields (CHI) – Still nursing sore ribs, Fields injured his non-throwing hand and played with it swollen. It was X-rayed, but Fields said it wasn’t a major issue. With Andy Dalton already out with his own hand injury, Nick Foles would start if Fields were to miss any time.

QB Aaron Rodgers (GB) – He turned in a monster game against the Bears but suffered a setback to his fractured toe. Rodgers indicated that surgery is a lost resort, but he would not rule it out. The Packers will win the NFC North but need to continue to win if they hope to get the No. 1 seed and the single bye for the conference. The Packers could rest Rodgers knowing that they are going to the playoffs anyway. This should remain a topic until Rodgers or the team addresses the outlook.

RB Kareem Hunt (CLE)  – Left the win over the Ravens with an ankle injury but HC Kevin Stefanski is optimistic that injury won’t extend into this week’s matchup with the Raiders. They’ll get an MRI on Monday to make sure, but Hunt wanted to return to the game and didn’t believe it was anything significant.

RB Rex Burkhead (HOU) – The Texans’ lead running back left the loss to the Seahawks with a groin injury and David Johnson is already out on the COVID-19 list. Royce Freeman replaced him for the rest of the game but ended with only 15 yards on 11 carries. This week the Texans play at the Jaguars, so there could be minor fantasy value for a very desperate fantasy team.

RB Austin Ekeler (LAC) – Left the win over the Giants with a sprained ankle. He had his ankle re-taped after leaving the medical tent but never returned to the easy win.  HC Brandon Staley later said that Ekeler is fine and could have returned to the game but there was no need. Barring  a surprising report this week, it appears Ekeler should be good to go for Thursday night against the Chiefs.

WR Terry McLaurin (WAS) – Knocked from the matchup with the Cowboys without a catch. He left with a head injury and was downgraded to out with a concussion. If McLaurin misses the game in Philly this week, expect Cam Sims and Adam Humphries to see an uptick in targets.

WR Emmanuel Sanders (BUF) – Injured his knee and was ruled out for the rest of the game. There was no word after the game regarding the severity but there should be more news no later than Wednesday and likely on Monday.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

WR K.J. Osborn (MIN) –  Replaced Adam Thielen when he was injured in Week 13 with four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. He started this week and ended with three receptions for 83 yards and a score. His nine targets were second only to Justin Jefferson.

Falcons backfield – Mike Davis went through a few weeks where he was  phased out and Cordarrelle Patterson dominated the rushing and receiving. Over the three games, Patterson has taken over a heavy load as a rusher, but fallen back to minimal use as a receiver. Davis is now a third-down back with four or five catches per game and this week, he ran for 44 yards on 11 carries and caught five passes for 42 yards. Five catches and 86 total yards say he is still a major part of the backfield again.

WR Robby Anderson (CAR) – Turned in his best game of the season when he caught seven passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. That was more yardage than his five previous games combined. P.J. Walker threw him the score, so Anderson reverts to his old lack of production when Cam Newton plays since he only managed 33 yards when Newton played.

WR Rashod Bateman (BAL) – The rookie still hasn’t scored in the NFL but comes off his best showing yet – seven catches for 103 yards in the loss to the Browns.

RB Rashaad Penny (SEA) – After four years of injuries and disappointing results, Penny turned in a career-best effort in Week 14. He was slated to share the backfield with Alex Collins (7-16), but Penny blew up with 16 runs for 137 yards and two touchdowns. His scores came from 47 and 32 yards. Too bad next week is at the Rams because Penny has earned more touches.

QB Davis Mills (HOU) – He replaced Tyrod Taylor again and threw for 331 yards and a score against the Seahawks. His previous start was in Week 13 when he threw for 310 yards and two scores. The Texans are still not competitive, but at least Mills generates fantasy points. Brandin Cooks caught eight passes for 101 yards with Mills playing.  He only had 38 yards last week with Taylor as the starter.

WR Hunter Renfrow (LV) – The Raiders continue to crumble, but Renfrow became the focus of the offense for the last three weeks. In each game, he’s gained over 100 yards and at the Chiefs, he accounted for 13 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown.

RB Corey Clement (DAL) – With Tony Pollard out, Clement backed up Ezekiel Elliott, who was bothered by his nagging knee injury. Elliott was pulled from the game for most of the second half and while he ended with 45  yards on 12 runs, Clement gained 44 yards on 13 carries. He’s the current insurance until Pollard returns.

RB Jonathan Williams (WAS) – The itinerant running back has been on a different team in each of his  five NFL seasons. Team #5 is Washington, where he never had a touch until he was allowed four runs, one of them being a 1-yard touchdown instead of using Antonio Gibson (10-36) who flopped hard after three-straight games that suggested he was healthy and ready to be elite.

RB Craig Reynolds (DET) – He should be a poster child for the 2021 fantasy football season. Just when  D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams were both out, it was finally safe to roll out Jermar Jefferson and Godwin Igwebuike. But no. Jefferson was active but never used. Igwebuike managed 25 yards on eight rushes. And the undrafted second-year player of Craig Reynolds was a Jaguar with one carry last year. His first action with the Lions resulted in 11 rushes for 83 yards and two catches for 16 yards. He pops up with 99 total yards and may return to the practice squad this week, or he may start against the visiting Cardinals. In 2021, you just cannot ever be certain.

WR Josh Palmer (LAC) – The rookie had never gained more than 25 yards in any game, but Keenan Allen was out this week and Palmer was the most targeted receiver (7) and ended with five catches for 66 yards and a touchdown for his best performance. Mike Williams ended with six catches for 61 yards and no score.

TE George Kittle (SF) – When he returned in Week 9, he started to score in every game with moderate yardage. In Week 13 at  Seattle, he posted  a season-best 181 yards and two scores on nine catches. Versus the Bengals this week, he was nearly unstoppable and ended with 13 receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown. And this week, he faces the Falcons with their Bottom-5 defense against tight ends.

WR Allen Lazard (GB) – With Randall Cobb gone, Lazard became the No. 2 target behind Davante Adams in the win over the Bears. Lazard caught six of seven targets for 75 yards and a touchdown and even added a 14-yard run for his best yardage of the season.

Huddle player of the week

RB Dalvin Cook  (MIN)  –  He missed three games this year and was questionable for the matchup with the Steelers with a shoulder injury that kept him out in Week 13. Was he worth the risk of starting? Kinda. All he did was to run  for 205 yards and two scores on 27 carries and added a 17-yard catch. Imagine what he could do if he was healthy.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB B. Roethlisberger 308 3 QB Lamar Jackson 22 0
RB Rashaad Penny 138 2 RB James Robinson 4 0
RB Derrick Gore 89 1 RB Antonio Gibson 41 0
WR Robby Anderson 84 1 WR Terry McLaurin 0 0
WR Jalen Guyton 87 1 WR DK Metcalf 43 0
WR Josh Palmer 66 1 WR Julio Jones 33 0
TE A. Okwuegbunam 41 1 TE Travis Kelce 27 0
PK Evan McPherson   2 XP  3  FG PK Chris Boswell  2  XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 129 Huddle Fantasy Points = 23

Now get back to work…

Watch: Scenes after Chargers’ victory over Giants

Watch as the Chargers celebrated their 37-21 win over the Giants.

The Chargers improved to 8-5 after beating the Giants in Week 14.

Los Angeles dominated on both sides of the ball, highlighted by a stellar performance from Justin Herbert, who became the first quarterback to have 30 touchdown passes in each of his first two seasons.

Following the 37-21 victory, watch below as the Chargers celebrated, including head coach Brandon Staley’s weekly post-game speech.

Twitter reacts to Chargers’ 37-21 win over Giants

What the general population thought of the Chargers’ Week 14 win over the Giants.

https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=jaoEjStv47-1671460-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on

The Chargers took care of business in Week 14, defeating the Giants by the score of 37-21.

It was complete domination by Los Angeles on both sides of the ball.

By the fourth quarter, Justin Herbert was resting on the sidelines after becoming the first quarterback ever to collect 30 touchdown passes in both of his first two seasons.

Here’s what the general population said about the Bolts’ victory:

WR Josh Palmer’s touchdown retakes Chargers’ lead over Giants

This marked Josh Palmer’s second career touchdown.

Justin Herbert and Josh Palmer connected for a 12-yard touchdown.

The scoring play featured a good stick route from Palmer and precise ball placement by Herbert.

Check out the rookie’s second career touchdown:

Los Angeles leads New York, 14-7.