Tag: Justin Herbert

Game Balls: 5 standouts from Chargers’ clutch victory over Falcons

The Chargers defense carried the team to victory in Week 13, which included four interceptions off Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins.

The Chargers improved to 3-0 against the NFC South on Sunday with a narrow win over the Falcons. Los Angeles’ defense finished with four interceptions, a major difference in the comeback win.

Here were the team’s biggest standouts in the massive Week 13 victory that vaulted the Chargers to an 8-4 record:

CB Tarheeb Still

What a game for the rookie fifth-rounder. Still had the play of the game in the third quarter with a 61-yard pick six. It completely flipped the momentum in the game and gave the Chargers a 17-10 lead. Earlier in the game, he had another interception. Still was impressive in coverage throughout the day and has earned even more playing time moving forward.

S Derwin James

This was one of the best performances of the season from the star safety. He was all over the field in this contest with several timely plays. The three-time Pro Bowler finished with 10 total tackles, which included a huge tackle for loss on a 3rd-and-1. James clinched the win with a game-sealing interception, his first of the season and ninth of his career.

WR Ladd McConkey

McConkey is quite clearly the Chargers’ best weapon, and he proved that again on Sunday. The rookie caught a career-high nine passes, eight of them in the first half, for 117 yards. Perhaps even more impressively, McConkey continues to play through injuries. He’s quitely become one of the most valuable players on the team, as no other Charger finished with more than two catches.

Daiyan Henley

Henley has been an underrated part of this year’s stellar defense, and that continued on Sunday. He was all over the field and finished the day with 10 total tackles. The Chargers held the talented Falcons offense to just 13 points, and Henley was a huge part of that.

Cameron Dicker

Fans often don’t fully appreciate the advantage of having a reliable kicker. Sunday illustrated just how valuable it is, as it was a primary difference in the result of the game. Dicker went 3-for-3 on his field goal tries, while Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo missed a chip shot in the first half. Ultimately, these two were the difference in the Chargers leaving Atlanta with a win.

Chargers PFF grades: Best, worst performers in Week 13 win over Falcons

Spotlighting Pro Football Focus’ highest and lowest-graded Chargers players from the win over the Falcons.

In Week 13, the Chargers defeated the Falcons, 17-13.

En route to victory, there were some standout performers and others who did not contribute as much.

That said, here are the best and worst performers from Sunday’s contest, according to Pro Football Focus’ player grades.

Top 5 Offense

OT Rashawn Slater — 88.4

QB Justin Herbert — 72.8

WR Ladd McConkey — 72.2

OT Trey Pipkins — 69.4

OL Bradley Bozeman — 68.5

Top 5 Defense

CB Tarheeb Still — 94.0

S Derwin James — 90.9

LB Daiyan Henley — 83.1

S Tony Jefferson — 83.0

EDGE Khalil Mack — 79.5

Bottom 5 Offense

OL Zion Johnson — 56.7

FB Tucker Fisk — 54.2

WR Jalen Reagor — 53.7

WR Derius Davis — 52.5

TE Will Dissly — 49.2

Bottom 5 Defense

DL Teair Tart — 55.2

EDGE Bud Dupree — 52.1

CB Kristian Fulton — 49.5

CB Ja’Sir Taylor — 48.1

DT Otito Ogbonnia — 28.8

Chargers pull out gritty win over Falcons: Instant analysis of Week 13 victory

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ gritty win over the Falcons behind a four-interception performance.

The Chargers defeated the Falcons on Sunday, improving to 8-4.

Here’s our recap of the Week 13 win.

It was over when…

Derwin James intercepted Kirk Cousins with 47 seconds remaining.

Notable number

Per AP Sports’ Joe Reedy, Ladd McConkey’s 105 yards are the most receiving yards by a Chargers rookie in the first half since 1991.

3 stars of the game

  1. WR Ladd McConkey: McConkey was the only productive player in the passing game. He finished the game with a season-high nine receptions for 117 yards.
  2. CB Tarheeb Still: The rookie out of Maryland was a ball magnet, finishing with two interceptions, including one he took back to the house for a touchdown.
  3. S Marcus Maye: This could’ve gone to Derwin James, who closed the game with a pick. But Maye, who was signed just this past week after being released by the Dolphins, had one in the end zone on the drive right before.

Quick hits

  • The Chargers’ offense was underwhelming. They failed to find the end zone the entire game, even on their two trips to the red zone.
  • Their only offensive points came from Cameron Dicker’s three made field goals.
  • The Chargers were 3-of-14 on third down. They had 187 yards of total offense.
  • The second-half offensive struggles continued. They only picked up two first downs on four drives.
  • The Falcons entered this game with one of the worst pressure rates, only having ten sacks. Atlanta flipped the switch, as they lived in the Chargers’ backfield. Justin Herbert was sacked five times.
  • Gus Edwards and Kimani Vidal combined for ten rushes, finishing with 5.3 and 5.0 yards per carry, respectively.
  • Aside from McConkey, the pass-catching group was lackluster. Quentin Johnston was the next productive receiver, with only 14 yards on two catches. Six pass catchers had just one catch.
  • The defense was why the Chargers came out of this game victorious. Jesse Minter’s unit combined for four interceptions, headlined by Still, who had two, one he returned for a score.
  • The run defense held its own, limiting a good backfield of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier to 3.5 yards per carry.

What’s next?

The Chargers are on the road again to face the Chiefs next Sunday night, Dec. 8, at 5:20 pm PT.

Staff predictions for Chargers vs. Falcons

Find out who the Chargers Wire staff is picking between Los Angeles and Atlanta in Week 13.

The Los Angeles Chargers kick off Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons.

Who is going to come out victorious?

Here is a look at the predictions from each of our writers at Chargers Wire:

Gavino:

The Chargers look to bounce back after losing to the Ravens last Monday. Los Angeles enters this game on a short week, while the Falcons come into this one well-rested after their bye. Offensively for the Bolts, I expect Justin Herbert to shred a Falcons defense that has struggled against the pass. On the other side of the ball, I see Jesse Minter’s unit getting back on track after surrendering 57 points combined in the last two weeks. Kirk Cousins is not on the same level as Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson. Bijan Robinson is also no Derrick Henry. Chargers 27, Falcons 21

Alex K:

Atlanta’s defense doesn’t have the resources to compete with Justin Herbert and Ladd McConkey if both come out sharp, but the Falcons offense is getting healthier and has been effective moving the ball this season. Expect a fairly high-scoring affair that the Chargers can pull out with some key plays on special teams. Chargers 30, Falcons 23

3 bold predictions for Chargers in Week 13 vs. Falcons

The Chargers lost their first game in over a month in Week 12, but they’ll look to improve to 3-0 against the NFC South this weekend.

The Chargers’ four-game winning streak ended in Week 12 when they lost to the Ravens. Now, they have to travel to Atlanta to face the NFC South leaders, the Falcons.

The Bolts stand at 7-4 with a current spot in the postseason on the AFC side. Another win on Sunday, and they will continue to better their chances at reaching the playoffs in Jim Harbaugh’s first season as head coach in L.A.

Justin Herbert throws for 275+ passing yards

Since recovering from his injury early in the season, Herbert has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He’s reached 275+ passing yards in four of his last six games, and there’s no reason to think he can’t do it again on Sunday. The Falcons give up the seventh-most passing yards (229.9) per game. With J.K. Dobbins out, expect the Chargers to rely more on Herbert in Week 13.

Chargers don’t allow a sack

The Chargers have one of the best offensive tackle duos in all of football, which has helped keep Herbert more upright in 2024. The Falcons have just ten sacks in 11 games this season, which is by far the worst pass rush in the league. In fact, the second-worst pass rush (Panthers) has seven more sacks than the Falcons. As long as the interior part of the Chargers offensive line holds its own, this doesn’t feel as bold of a prediction as some may think.

Chargers win by 7+

There is never an easy road game in the NFL, particularly against a talented unit like the Falcons. That said, this Chargers team has been trending upward for over a month now. Coming off their first loss in quite some time, expect Harbaugh’s unit to come out and send a message to the Falcons. Los Angeles has won by an average of 20.5 points in their two matchups against NFC South sides this season.

Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Falcons?

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

The Los Angeles Chargers are 1-point road favorites over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 13 of the 2024 regular season. The over/under is 47.5 points, per BetMGM Sportsbook.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 47 points.

My score prediction for the game is a 27-21 win for the Chargers, with a total of 48 points. So, if I were putting money based on my prediction, I’d bet the over.

As for game picks, analysts give a slight nod to Los Angeles.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Falcons
Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Falcons
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chargers
Matt Bowen (ESPN) Chargers
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Chargers
Bill Bender (Sporting News) Chargers
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.

Week 8 unnecessary roughness fine against Saints DT has been overturned

The $11,817 unnecessary roughness fine against Nathan Shepherd for his play against the Los Angeles Chargers has been successfully appealed and overturned:

The New Orleans Saints have been fined quite a few times this season, and one of the ones that many fans did not question was the $11,817 fine placed on Nathan Shepherd for unnecessary roughness after their matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Both Shepherd and Chargers’ center Bradley Bozeman received penalties in-game for unnecessary roughness, as Shepherd made a late tackle and roll on Justin Herbert which certainly was controversial at minimum. Bozeman came in and shoved Shepherd off of Herbert, which ultimately led to the offsetting penalties in game. Shepherd received a fine shortly thereafter, however, it has been appealed recently and ultimately ended with the fine being discarded.

Saints’ defensive end Cameron Jordan took to social media to defend Shepherd after the fine was taken back as well. Other Saints staff and players had previously defended Shepherd on the play when it was criticized by media and fans, including former head coach Dennis Allen.

“Here’s a guy who’s trying to wrap the quarterback up, he’s on the ground, he has no idea whether the quarterback has the ball or not,” Allen said. “He’s just trying to bring the quarterback down to the ground, so there was nothing malicious about this play.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Where the Chargers rank statistically after Week 12

The Chargers allowed a season-high 30 points, so how did that impact them in the rankings?

The Chargers fell to 7-4 after losing to the Ravens in Week 12.

Los Angeles’ defense was dominated by Baltimore’s ground game, which accrued 212 yards, the most given up in Jim Harbaugh’s coaching career. After not allowing more than 20 points in the first nine weeks of the season, the Bolts gave up 27 and 30 points in the past two weeks.

With Week 13 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 22.1 ppg 18th
Passing offense 204.5 ypg 20th
Rushing offense 118.1 ypg 13th
Total offense 322.6 ypg 21st
3rd down conversions 38.51% 16th
Red zone scoring 57.14% 13th
Sacks allowed 30 21st
Turnovers 5 1st

Defense

Category Stat Rank
Points allowed 15.9 ppg 1st
Passing defense 203.9 ypg 13th
Rushing defense 119.7 ypg 15th
Total defense 323.6 ypg 13th
3rd down conversions 34.46% 8th
Red zone defense 45.83% 4th
Sacks 35 T-6th
Takeaways 13 14th

 

Chargers hold steady in NFL power rankings after Week 12 loss to the Ravens

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

The Chargers fell to 7-4 after losing to the Ravens on Monday night.

After Week 12, let’s see where Los Angeles stands in NFL power rankings:

USA Today: 13 (Previous: 11)

“Detractors who might want to label them the Hoosiers of the NFL are eating no crow. A defense that hadn’t given up more than 20 points all season – albeit against questionable competition – has surrendered 57 at home over the past two weeks. It was also scorched for 212 yards on the ground Monday, the most ever for a Jim Harbaugh-coached team. Factor in RB J.K. Dobbins’ knee injury and … woof.”

NFL: 9 (Previous: 9)

“After a great start, the Chargers really struggled to contain the run game of the Ravens, namely Derrick Henry. Henry helped get the Ravens out of an early funk, and the Bolts helped Henry get going by missing several tackles, although they’re hardly the first team to struggle with that against Baltimore. Still, this has to worry Jim Harbaugh. His defense now has been taken apart a bit over the past six quarters against the Bengals and Ravens. But the problems weren’t relegated to the defense. The offense has plenty to worry about, starting with RB J.K. Dobbins’ knee injury. The Chargers just couldn’t get the ground attack going after he left, and Justin Herbert’s receivers let him down. Incredibly, all five starting offensive linemen were also flagged. Trey Pipkins’ hold offset a 27-yard pass interference on third-and-6 in a 23-16 game. Instead, the Chargers ended up punting, and Justice Hill cribbed it a few minutes later. No time for the Bolts to cry over the four-game win streak ending; they go to Atlanta and Kansas City over the next two Sundays.”

ESPN: 9 (Previous: 9)

Offense ranking: 15
Defense ranking: 15
Special teams ranking: 14

“By scoring metrics, the Chargers have the league’s best defense, allowing just 15.9 points per game. But that has come with the NFL’s easiest schedule, according to ESPN analytics. The Chargers’ offense has soared since a 23-16 win over the Broncos in Week 6 when quarterback Justin Herbert was fully recovered from a high ankle sprain. The offense’s ranking will likely continue to increase as the season progresses; Los Angeles ranks third in average in-game win probability.”

CBS Sports: 8 (Previous: 9)

“The top-ranked defense was exposed some in the loss to the Ravens. Now they have a tough road trip to face Atlanta, which is coming off a bye.”

Sports Illustrated: 9 (Previous: 9)

“With a relatively nonexistent pass rush and Lamar Jackson racking up almost all of his passing yards on extended plays, we have now seen just how far the Chargers have come and just how far they need to go. Wide receiver is still of desperate need, with Quentin Johnston reverting back to 2023 form on a couple of critical balls Monday.”

Bleacher Report: 9 (Previous: 10)

“The Chargers came into Monday looking for only their second win of the season against a playoff-caliber team—Denver being the only team they’ve beaten that is currently over .500. They appeared up to the challenge until J.K. Dobbins exited the game with a knee injury. L.A. made things somewhat interesting late, but they lost convincingly to the Ravens.

This is who the Chargers are in Year 1 under Jim Harbaugh. The future is bright, but Los Angeles is going to beat the teams it is supposed to and struggle against those we’re likely to see in late January. And if Dobbins is forced to miss extended time, L.A. might not even make it to the postseason.”

Chargers PFF grades: Best, worst performers in Week 12 loss to Ravens

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

In Week 12, the Chargers lost on the road to the Ravens, 30-23.

Along the way, there were some standout performers and others who did not contribute as much.

Here are the best and worst performers from Monday’s contest, according to Pro Football Focus’ player grades.

Top 5 Offense

OT Rashawn Slater — 85.6

QB Justin Herbert — 76.6

OT Joe Alt — 71.9

TE Will Dissly — 68.3

RB J.K. Dobbins — 68.1

Top 5 Defense

DT Poona Ford — 83.6

DT Teair Tart — 75.0

LB Nick Niemann — 71.1

S Derwin James — 70.9

EDGE Khalil Mack — 70.4

Bottom 5 Offense

WR Jalen Reagor — 56.0

RB Hassan Haskins — 54.6

FB Scott Matlock — 54.3

TE Tucker Fisk — 40.3

WR Quentin Johnston — 32.2

Bottom 5 Defense

CB Elijah Molden — 53.3

CB Ja’Sir Taylor — 51.9

DL Morgan Fox — 45.0

S Alohi Gilman — 43.6

DT Scott Matlock — 31.8