Tag: Justin Herbert

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)

 

Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Bengals?

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

The Los Angeles Chargers are 1.5-point favorites over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11 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 lean to Los Angeles.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Bengals
Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Chargers
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chargers
Matt Bowen (ESPN) Chargers
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Chargers
Bill Bender (Sporting News) Bengals
NFL.com Staff Bengals (3-2)
Bleacher Report Bengals

Sunday’s game will begin at 5:20 p.m. PT and be televised on NBC.

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.”

Panthers QB Bryce Young sits alongside 2024 MVP candidates in this stat . . .

Panthers QB Bryce Young, since returning to the starting lineup three weeks ago, has something in common with MVP front-runners Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen.

Hey, look at Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young with 2024 Most Valuable Player front-runners Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen.

Who would have thought?

Not us.

Since returning to the starting lineup three weeks ago, Young has inspired at least a sprinkle of hope for the Panthers. The much-improved version of last year’s No. 1 overall pick has completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 521 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions while helping lead Carolina to a 2-1 mark.

He’s also, perhaps more impressively, done this . . .

The first of those drives came near the end of the Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos. Young orchestrated a 10-play, 98-yard possession that finished up with a 15-play touchdown throw to rookie wideout Jalen Coker.

The second happened this past Sunday, in the first quarter of the 20-17 victory over the New York Giants. That one was punctuated by a 5-yard connection between Young and rookie tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders for the opening points of the contest.

As of this writing, Carolina head coach Dave Canales still has yet to commit to Young as the starter moving forward.

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Oregon vs. Wisconsin: Series history features a run for the roses

Check out the rose-filled history between the Oregon Ducks and Wisconsin Badgers football programs.

Unlike most of Oregon’s new conference foes, there is some history between the Oregon Ducks and the Wisconsin Badgers. Just six games have been played between these programs, but two have taken place on college football’s greatest stage: the Rose Bowl.

The Ducks and the Badgers first shared the field in Pasadena in 2012 as the No. 6 and No. 9 teams, respectively. Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas led the Ducks to a win over current Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson and the Badgers. Eight years later, Oregon and Wisconsin met in the Rose Bowl again, this time led by Justin Herbert, and the Ducks defeated the Badgers once again.

The Ducks won the 2012 Rose Bowl 45-38, and the game was the perfect example of a shootout. So many Ducks had great days, including Darron Thomas — who threw for 3 TDs and over 250 yards — and LaMichael James — who rushed for 159 yards and a TD.

The real star, however, was De’Anthony Thomas. Thomas had four catches for 34 yards, but he truly made his mark in the run game. On just two carries, Thomas rushed for 155 yards and two TDs. His first rush was a 91-yard inside zone for the score, and a little later, he took a jet sweep 64 yards to the end zone. It was the perfect display of talent for one of the most athletic college players ever.

Eight years later, Oregon and Wisconsin won their conferences once again, punching tickets to the Rose Bowl. This time, it was QB Herbert and RB Jonathan Taylor leading the teams. This game was even closer than the 2012 matchup with Oregon winning 28-27.

Herbert, usually a pocket passer, led the Ducks to a win in an unusual way. Instead of getting the ball into the end zone with his arm, Herbert rushed for three TDs  — all on read-option QB keeps. The Ducks’ other touchdown came from safety Brady Breeze, a native Oregonian like Herbert, who delivered a fumbled ball to the endzone after a botched punt.

The 2020 Rose Bowl victory was the final game of Herbert and Breeze’s college careers. It’s hard to ask for a better ending.

Oregon and Wisconsin’s other four matchups came from two regular-season home-and-home series, spanning from 1977-1978 and 2000-2001. Wisconsin was 3-1 in those games, but the Ducks took the most recent regular season game.

This week’s game will be Oregon’s first trip to Camp Randall Stadium in almost 25 years, which is not an easy place to play. The Badgers are unranked, but they’re a dangerous opponent. Oregon and Wisconsin may not be in a run for the roses this weekend, but beating the Badgers is an important step on the Oregon Ducks’ path to a championship, with a chance to clinch a spot in the Big Ten Championship on the line.

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Game Balls: 5 standouts from Chargers’ win over Titans

It was another dominant team effort from the Chargers in Week 10, which included seven sacks from the defense.

Folks, the Los Angeles Chargers are hot. The team has now won three straight and four of their last five after their victory over the Titans in Week 10.

Jim Harbaugh has been persistent about the fact that it’s been a total team effort, and that couldn’t be more true. Here are five players who were key to the team’s 27-17 victory over the lowly Titans this past Sunday.

WR Derius Davis

Davis provided an impact all over the field on Sunday. After the Titans cut to 13-10 early in the third quarter, Davis had a 56-yard kick return into Titans territory. It set the offense up with prime field position, and they were able to capitalize with a touchdown to take a 10-point lead. Davis added a 16-yard catch and seven-yard run to a busy, effective day for him.

OG Zion Johnson

The Chargers have improved their offensive line play in 2024, and Johnson has been a big reason for that. The offense finished with 145 rushing yards, and quarterback Justin Herbert wasn’t sacked once. In a season that has provided many bright spots, Johnson’s progression has been crucial to the offensive line’s success.

RB Gus Edwards

For awhile, it seemed that Edwards had lost his backup job to Kimani Vidal. He missed over a month due to injury and was largely ineffective when he was active this season. Vidal wasn’t effective in the team’s last few games, which led to him being a healthy inactive against the Titans. On Sunday, Edwards was the team’s most efficient ball carrier. He finished with 55 rushing yards on ten carries, over two yards per carry better than starter J.K. Dobbins.

LB Daiyan Henley

Henley was all over the field on Sunday. He had his ups and downs in 2024 but was solid against the Titans. Henley finished the day with 10 total tackles and his first sack of the season. The Chargers’ defense continues to be much improved this season, and the linebacker play has been a big reason for that.

EDGE Bud Dupree

The Chargers’ backup edge rushers have stepped up in a huge way recently. This week, Dupree broke out with two sacks and a forced fumble. The defense finished the day with seven sacks, which included two more from Tuli Tuipolotu. The defensive front continues to wreak havoc, and Dupree was the most significant contributor.

Mics caught Jim Harbaugh’s animated reaction to missing a pass from Justin Herbert

Missed it by that much!

Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has many jobs with his team, but catching passes from quarterback Justin Herbert is not one of them.

However, Harbaugh getting miffed at himself for missing a pass from Herbert during warmups from Sunday’s Los Angeles game was priceless.

It was truly meaningless whether or not Harbaugh caught this warmup pass, but his animated reaction to the miss just shows how passionate he is about football.

It’s also a very funny moment where a coach goes briefly ballistic on himself for missing a football catch. Either way, it’s a delightful snippet in a moment many of us don’t really ever pay attention to on our own.

Some NSFW language to follow. 

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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

 

Chargers PFF grades: Best, worst performers in Week 10 win over Titans

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

In Week 10, the Chargers defeated the Titans, 27-17.

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

QB Justin Herbert — 91.6

FB Tucker Fisk — 73.8

OL Zion Johnson — 72.8

TE Will Dissly — 72.6

OT Joe Alt — 72.0

Top 5 Defense

EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu — 71.2

EDGE Bud Dupree — 69.1

CB Cam Hart — 67.4

DT Poona Ford — 67.3

DT Morgan Fox — 67.1

Bottom 5 Offense

WR Quentin Johnston — 55.7

RB J.K. Dobbins — 52.8

WR Jalen Reagor — 50.9

OL Foster Sarell — 50.0

FB Scott Matlock — 49.6

Bottom 5 Defense

S Alohi Gilman — 57.3

LB Denzel Perryman — 52.7

EDGE Joey Bosa — 51.1

DT Otito Ogbonnia — 45.0

DT Teair Tart — 34.2

Everything to know from Chargers’ win over Titans

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ 27-17 win over the Titans.

The Chargers beat the Titans on Sunday afternoon, improving to 6-3.

Here’s our recap of the Week 10 win.

It was over when…

The Chargers scored their third touchdown in the fourth quarter to go up by 17 points.

Notable number

Of the Chargers’ six wins, five have come by double digits.

3 stars of the game

  1. QB Justin Herbert: Herbert only passed for 164 yards but still looked sharp in that department, finishing 14 of 18, with two going for over 30 yards and no turnovers. He also did an excellent job of using his legs when needed to pick up yards.
  2. RB Gus Edwards: Edwards returned to the field and was efficient on the ground after missing the last five games with an injury. He had 55 yards on ten carries.
  3. Defense: 7 sacks

Quick hits

  • Herbert failed to surpass 200 passing yards for the first time since Week 4. But he was still effective by navigating the pocket well, avoiding sacks, making crisp throws to his receivers, and continuing to take care of the football.
  • Herbert was also impressive as a runner, juking multiple Titans defenders, including former Chargers Kenneth Murray and Sebastian Joseph-Day.
  • The ground game came alive after taking a backseat the past few weeks, and Edwards provided the jolt as he averaged 5.5 yards per carry on ten attempts. J.K. Dobbins had 15 yards on 50 rushes.
  • Jesse Minter’s unit lived in the backfield and compiled seven sacks. Credit goes to Joey Bosa, Tuli Tuipulotu, and Bud Dupree for stepping up with Khalil Mack on the sideline for nearly the entire game.
  • Daiyan Henley led the way with 14 tackles.
  • Speaking of tackles, the Chargers struggled with missed tackles, which has been a slight issue on the defensive side of the ball this season. The Titans averaged 6.3 yards per carry.
  • Derius Davis provided the special teams spark with a 56-yard kickoff return.

What’s next?

The Chargers host the Bengals next Sunday night, Nov. 11, at 5:20 pm PT.