Tag: Khalil Mack

Chargers remain steady in NFL power rankings after bye week

Find out where the Chargers stand in the national eye after Week 5

The Chargers are gearing up to endure 13 straight regular games after having last week off.

After their bye, let’s see where Los Angeles stands in NFL power rankings:

USA Today: 18 (Previous: 17)

“Don’t know how rejuvenated a battered group will be following its bye. We do know Denver has been a house of horrors for the Bolts, who have dropped 10 of 11 in the Mile High City.”

NFL: 19 (Previous: 18)

“Early bye weeks might earn groans from teams when the schedules are released, but this one seemed to fall at an opportune time for the Chargers, given all their injuries. Justin Herbert definitely needed the time off to rest his ankle. The offensive line missed both starting tackles in Week 4. The defense missed Joey Bosa. Even the special teams coverage units were down several contributors. Now the Chargers must go on the road for three of the next four games, with a tough matchup against the Saints tucked in the middle. Two straight losses after the 2-0 start isn’t likely how Jim Harbaugh imagined things going, but everything the Chargers want to accomplish remains ahead of them. This defense has far surpassed what last year’s unit did during any four-game stretch last season, and the Bolts should be a little more effective offensively with some better health.”

ESPN: 18 (Previous: 18)

Fantasy surprise: QB Justin Herbert

“Because of the running focus of coach Jim Harbaugh-led teams, Herbert having less gaudy passing stats was somewhat expected. Still, his numbers are worse than anticipated. He has thrown for 578 yards this season, his fewest in any four-game span in a season in his career. His previous low was 785 yards from Weeks 11 to 14 last season. Some of the struggles could be related to a high right ankle sprain from Week 2, but Herbert is attempting just 22.7 passes per game. Before this season, he averaged 39.1 passes per game.

CBS Sports: 20 (Previous: 20)

“They battled through a bunch of major injuries before their bye, but some of those players are expected back this week against Denver. Quarterback Justin Herbert probably needed the bye as much as anybody to help heal his injured ankle.”

Sports Illustrated: 15 (Previous: 14)

“At the bye, the Chargers are 25th in EPA per play and 22nd in rushing EPA per play. Justin Herbert is 26th in EPA and completion percentage over expectation composite. While everyone will assume this is a negative, I’m trying to illustrate how much growth there still can be from this team over the back end of its season. If the team holds up injury-wise, there is no reason to believe they won’t be in a good spot by Thanksgiving. Up until that point, L.A.’s schedule breaks more fortuitously than almost any other team in the NFL.”

Bleacher Report: 20 (Previous: 19)

“…The Chargers still have some issues—the offense struggled last week with Justin Herbert nursing a high ankle sprain. But the team’s bye week came at the perfect time for the team’s injured signal-caller. And while a healthy Chargers team may not be a serious threat to the Chiefs in the AFC West, the Chargers have at least shown the potential to be a tough out for opponents.”

Studs, duds from Chargers’ first 4 games of the 2024 season

There were little expectations for the Chargers heading into 2024. After a 2-2 start, there is room for optimism for a possible playoff run.

It’s hard to believe we are already over a quarter of the way through the 2024 NFL season. Just like that, the Chargers are 2-2 and have already had their bye week.

The start to the season has come with mixed results, which has included some pleasant surprises and unfortunate disappointments. Through four games, here are some of the team’s studs and duds in 2024 so far.

Stud: Khalil Mack 

Just a few years ago, some pondered if Mack’s best days were already behind him. Well, he responded with a career-high 17 sacks in 2023, his second year with the Chargers. Four games into the 2024 season, and he’s been elite once again. The 33-year-old has 2.5 sacks, four quarterback hits, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery. He’s been elite in defending the run and seems to be well on his way to his ninth career Pro Bowl appearance.

Dud: Bradley Bozeman

Center was a major area of need this past offseason. The team decided to sign veteran Bradley Bozeman, who had 77 career starts under his belt entering 2024. Unfortunately, he’s been one of the worst centers in football so far. Bozeman has been particularly bad in pass blocking, and it may be sooner rather than later before the Chargers try someone else at the position.

Stud: Kristian Fulton

We’ve talked endlessly about Fulton on his site, so it’s only right that he finds his way with the studs of the 2024 season. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the fifth-best cornerback in the NFL so far this season. Fulton signed a one-year deal worth just over $3 million and it looks to be one of the best value deals of the offseason. If he can keep this up, look for him to get a nice contract next offseason.

Dud: Gus Edwards

Edwards tallied a career-high 13 rushing touchdowns in 2023, which was tied-for-fifth in the NFL. He’s yet to reach the endzone as a Charger and in turn, he’s seemingly lost the job to J.K. Dobbins. After splitting duties with Dobbins in the first two weeks, Edwards has registered a total of just nine carries over the last two games. The veteran has averaged 3.0 yards per carry and hasn’t added anything in the pass game either.

Stud: Rashawn Slater

Rookie Joe Alt has gotten a lot of attention, and rightfully so. With that being said, Slater continues to be prove himself as one of the best tackles in all of football. He’s been elite throughout his four-year career, and the Chargers have a phenomenal foundation along the offensive line between Slater, Alt, and Zion Johnson. Slater did miss the team’s Week 4 game against the Chiefs, but he was great in each of the first three weeks. The former Northwestern product should make it to his second career Pro Bowl if he continues to play at this level.

Dud: Hayden Hurst

I wrote about the lack of production from the tight end position just over a week ago. Hayden Hurst has registered six catches for 59 yards while his counterpart Will Dissly has looked noticeably better. Perhaps more importantly, Hurst has not been awfully poor as a run blocker. With the way things are trending at the moment, tight end will be a major area of need for the Chargers next offseason.

Chargers defender named ‘hidden gem’

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox named every team’s hidden gem at the quarter mark of the season.

The Chargers have a few players who have made their presence felt up to this point of the season.

All the while, some have played well, yet they’ve still gone under the radar.

One is edge defender Bud Dupree, who Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recognized as Los Angeles’ biggest hidden gem.

While Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa remain the stars of L.A.’s pass rush when healthy—Bosa missed Week 4 with a hip injury—Dupree has flashed as a rotational sack artist. He recorded a pair of quarterback takedowns in Week 4, has logged three quarterback pressures and has made two tackles for loss. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Dupree get more opportunities moving forward after playing just 56 percent of the defensive snaps over the first month.

Dupree had a big game right before the bye week, as he notched two sacks against the Chiefs. The veteran has taken advantage of his extensive playing time while Joey Bosa has been sidelined with a hip injury.

Through four games, Dupree has eight quarterback pressures, five run stops and four hurries.

If Bosa continues to be hindered by his injury, it will only lead to more playing time for the 31-year-old Dupree.

Pair of Chargers fined for ‘use of helmets’ in Week 4 vs. Chiefs

The NFL continues to discipline the Chargers.

The NFL continues to discipline the Chargers.

Linebacker Denzel Perryman was fined $66,666 for unnecessary roughness/use of helmet against the Chiefs. Perryman attempted to make a tackle on Kareem Hunt and he lowered his helmet and made contact with Hunt’s helmet.

Edge defender Khalil Mack was also fined $22,511. Mack was pass rushing from the outside and came inside, where his helmet made contact with center Creed Humphrey.

While both of these incidents were likely unintentional, the league is being more strict with the safety of the players, and things like this are resulting in consequences.

These came a week after safety Derwin James was suspended for the game against Kansas City for a hit on Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth the week before. Despite appealing, it was upheld.

Chargers PFF grades: Top 5 offensive, defensive performers through first 4 games

Looking at Pro Football Focus’ top five Chargers players on both sides of the ball at the bye week.

Which Chargers players have impressed the most so far this season?

That said, here are the best performers on both sides of the ball, according to Pro Football Focus’ player grades.

Note: To be more accurate, this is based on players who have played at least 40% of the snaps on offense (228) and defense (234).

Top 5 Offense

OT Rashawn Slater — 81.7

WR Ladd McConkey — 80.2

OT Joe Alt — 77.0

OL Zion Johnson — 70.6

TE Will Dissly — 69.2

Top 5 Defense

EDGE Khalil Mack — 89.8

CB Kristian Fulton — 82.5

S Elijah Molden — 82.4

DL Poona Ford — 73.1

CB Ja’Sir Taylor — 72.9

Where the Chargers rank statistically after Week 4

Here is how the Chargers compare statistically to the rest of the NFL after Week 4

The Chargers fell to 2-2 after losing to the Chiefs this past Sunday.

Los Angeles had the opportunity to pull off the upset, but a lackluster offensive performance and penalties held them back.

With Week 4 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 17.0 ppg 26th
Passing offense 136.5 ypg 31st
Rushing offense 127.8 ypg 11th
Total offense 264.3 ypg 28th
3rd down conversions 36.36% 20th
Red zone scoring 44.44% 25th
Sacks allowed 9 14th
Turnovers 2 2nd

Defense

Category Stat Rank
Points allowed 12.5 ppg 1st
Passing defense 188.5 ypg 12th
Rushing defense 94.0 ypg 5th
Total defense 282.5 ypg 7th
3rd down conversions 39.29% 20th
Red zone defense 28.57% 2nd
Sacks 11 15th
Takeaways 7 6th

 

Chargers continue to fall in NFL power rankings after loss to Chiefs

Find out where the Chargers stand in the national eye after Week 4

The Chargers lost to the Chiefs in Week 4, 17-10.

After coming up short, let’s see what national analysts think of Los Angeles:

USA Today: 17 (Previous: 16)

“No player wants a Week 5 bye, but the Bolts might also wind up reaping the benefits given their rampant injuries. And better rest up with only one home game between now and Nov. 10.”

NFL: 18 (Previous: 14)

“To what degree should we hold a close loss against this team? Despite not having Joey Bosa, Rashawn Slater, Joe Alt or Derwin James, and with Justin Herbert hobbled, the Chargers were in a position to seize control late against the Chiefs. As for the negatives, the Bolts were neutered offensively after the opening drive, failing to finish off their only two promising possessions of the second half by missing a long field-goal try and turning it over on downs at the Kansas City 3-yard line. Herbert struggled after a hot start. The offensive line was overwhelmed much of the day, erasing the run game. And the receivers only made a few plays of note. So L.A. still fell, even with Jesse Minter’s defense turning in a whale of a performance. The Chargers can rally from this after a well-timed Week 5 bye, but they’re noticeably lacking in big-play pop right now.”

ESPN: 18 (Previous: 15)

Biggest issue on defense: Absent stars

“The Chargers have been one of the NFL’s best defenses, allowing the fewest points per game through four weeks (12.5). Still, this defense has been without two of its best players. Outside linebacker Joey Bosa (hip) has played just 16 snaps since Week 1 and missed Week 4. The NFL suspended safety Derwin James Jr. against the Chiefs after he was flagged for unnecessary roughness for a helmet-to-helmet hit in Week 3. With these players back, the Chargers’ defense would be an even more formidable unit.”

CBS Sports: 20 (Previous: 14)

“They blew a 10-point lead in losing to the Chiefs to fall to 2-2. Justin Herbert and the passing game just don’t look crisp.”

Sports Illustrated: 14 (Previous: 15)

“Jim Harbaugh is testing the limits of his tough-guy offensive game plan strategy and, for the second straight week, J.K. Dobbins was unable to run through a defense. The Steelers and the Chiefs are not the Sun Belt and Harbaugh is gathering information as he goes. There’s no doubt this is a team that can finish the season with a winning record but the question becomes: what does it look like?”

Bleacher Report: 19 (Previous: 14)

“…Jim Harbaugh’s physical brand of football doesn’t work when injuries upend the starting lineup,” he said. “This past weekend, the Chargers didn’t have either of their starting offensive tackles. On the other side of the ball, Joey Bosa wasn’t available, either. Los Angeles battled the Kansas City Chiefs, but what became brutally obvious as the game progressed was that the Chargers don’t have the depth or overall talent to compete when obstacles are in their path. Once healthy, the Chargers will be better. But they can’t set the tone when key pieces are missing.”

4 crazy stats for Chargers after 4 weeks of regular season

The Chargers have been superb on the defensive side of the ball, while the passing offense has been poor.

The Chargers enter the bye week with a 2-2 record.

There have been a lot of good things on both sides of the ball, but one thing has hindered them up to this point in the season.

Here are four notable numbers after four weeks of the regular season:

136.5

When Greg Roman was hired as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator, everyone knew that Justin Herbert and the passing game would likely take a backseat while the running game would become more of a priority. However, we weren’t expecting that department to be as inefficient as it is. The Bolts are averaging 136.5 passing yards per game, which ranks 31st in the NFL. He’s had four consecutive games with fewer than 200 passing yards. It doesn’t help that Herbert has been dealing with his high ankle sprain and the team was without Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt in Week 4, but it’s concerning that they haven’t been playing to their best player’s strengths.

7

Even though there isn’t a lot to write home about the Chargers’ passing offense, Ladd McConkey’s rookie season has been very encouraging. According to CBS Sports’ Jacob Gibbs, McConkey is seventh among 102 qualified players in targets per route run. He is averaging more PPR points per route (0.53) than Marvin Harrison Jr. (0.52). A.J. Brown averaged 0.54 through his first four games as a rookie. McConkey had his most productive performance in the season in Week 4, finishing with five catches on seven targets for 67 yards and a touchdown. Don’t be surprised if he continues to grow as Herbert’s primary target moving forward. He has proven himself to be a slick separator with reliable hands.

6.1

Ahead of the season, J.K. Dobbins said he was ready to remove the “injury-prone” label and return to his old ways. Dobbins has stuck to his word, as he’s been one of the most productive running backs thus far. He is averaging 6.1 yards per carry, the most among backs with at least 30 rushes.

12.5

Jesse Minter’s defense is playing at a high level. They have only allowed 12.5 points per game, which ranks No. 1 in the league. Minter’s pressure packages have had a positive impact. Up front, they have been stout against the run, only allowing 94 yards per game (5th). The players in the middle and on the back end have done a great job of rallying to the football and making plays in the open field.

Chargers PFF grades: Best, worst performers in Week 4 loss to Chiefs

Find out who Pro Football Focus tabbed as their winners and losers from the Chargers’ loss to the Chiefs.

In Week 4, the Chargers came up short to the Chiefs, 17-10.

Things were looking good for Los Angeles, who led at halftime. While the Bolts were dominant defensively, they could not get anything going on the offensive side of the ball. There were multiple missed opportunities, as well.

With that being said, here are the best and worst performers from Sunday’s game, according to Pro Football Focus’ player grades.

Top 5 Offense

WR Ladd McConkey — 81.9

TE Will Dissly — 73.8

C Bradley Bozeman — 61.8

RB Gus Edwards — 60.3

WR Joshua Palmer — 60.2

Top 5 Defense

EDGE Khalil Mack — 85.3

EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu — 85.1

DL Poona Ford — 77.6

CB Kristian Fulton — 72.8

S Elijah Molden — 68.4

Bottom 5 Offense

OL Sam Mustipher — 37.1

FB Scott Matlock — 42.6

TE Hayden Hurst — 43.7

RB J.K. Dobbins — 49.2

TE Eric Tomlinson — 49.4

Bottom 5 Defense

S Alohi Gilman — 30.9

LB Denzel Perryman — 36.6

LB Troy Dye — 41.9

LB Daiyan Henley — 49.4

DL Otito Ogbonnia — 50.1

Chargers players voice frustration over loss to Chiefs: ‘We had a chance to do something special’

Despite missing four of their best players and having a banged-up Justin Herbert, the Chargers looked like they were on their way to upset the Chiefs on Sunday. However, they came up short.

Despite missing four of their best players and having a banged-up Justin Herbert, the Chargers looked like they were on their way to upset the Chiefs on Sunday. However, they came up short.

“We had a chance to do something special and weren’t able to hold onto the rope when it mattered the most,” Khalil Mack said, according to Eric Smith, per the team’s official website.

Asante Samuel, Jr. added: “We prepare throughout the offseason, not just for them, but we know we have to beat them to get to where we’re going. It’s definitely frustrating.”

Los Angeles has lost 11 straight home games to Kansas City.

To beat the Chiefs, you have to be able to limit Patrick Mahomes, which the Chargers did, holding him to 17 points or fewer for just the 11th time in his 99 career NFL starts.

But as we know by now, the best defense is offense against Kansas City. Los Angeles could not get anything going on that side of the ball. They scored 10 points off a pair of Chiefs turnovers, but that was it.

The Chargers, who have had a lot of success running the football, finished with only 55 yards rushing and averaged 2.3 yards per carry.

It was evident that Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt were out. The offensive line struggled to protect Justin Herbert. Herbert was sacked twice and pressured on 12 of his dropbacks. Penalties were costly, too. Los Angeles went three-and-out on four of its eight possessions in the final three quarters.

“The game was within our control and we made a lot of self-inflicted wounds to cause us to not win the game,” Trey Pipkins said.

When you play the Chiefs, people aren’t going to remember what happened during the game but the outcome of it. Coming close to beating them is not anything to be proud of.

“There’s a lot of football we can be proud of. But that doesn’t matter,” Mack said. “There’s no moral victories, especially for me. I’m looking to dominate [people] on Sundays.”