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Los Angeles Chargers

NFL Playoff Preview: Chargers at Patriots

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Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at New England Patriots (14-3)
Sunday, 8 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Patriots -3.5, Total 46.5
Series Rewind: New England leads the all-time series 27-17-2 and has won each of the three times they’ve faced off in the NFL playoffs (2007, 2008, 2019). But Los Angeles beat the Patriots in 2023 and 2024 by a combined score of 46-7.

Patriots MVP candidate Drake Maye is set to make his playoff debut after a stellar second season in which he led the league with a 72.0 completion percentage along with 4,394 yards and 31 TDs to eight picks. He led an offense which finished second in scoring (28.8 points per game) and third in total offense (379.4 yards). But he was also sacked 47 times, fourth-most of any NFL QB, and will be facing a Chargers defense which ranked 10th in the league in sacks (45). Chargers QB Justin Herbert has actually been sacked even more (54 times, third in the NFL) behind a ramshackle line missing two tackles. Herbert is looking for some playoff redemption after his first two postseason games did not go according to plan. Los Angeles blew a 27-0 lead in a 2022 wild-card game at Jacksonville, and he threw a career-high four picks in a 32-12 wild-card game last season at Houston. Herbert (left hand) has practiced fully this week after sitting out the regular-season finale with minimal stakes. Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs (1,013 receiving yards) and rookie RB Tre’Veyon Henderson (911 yards, nine touchdowns) have boosted Maye, who could be down two starting offensive linemen this week with left guard Jared Wilson (concussion) and center Garrett Bradbury (illness) missing practice or limited.

Pats v. Chargers: “It Starts with the D”

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FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Since Sunday night’s AFC wild-card matchup between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers will feature two of the top quarterbacks in the NFL, one of the key questions entering the matchup is this: Which team’s pass rush will be able to apply the most pressure?

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Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert was sacked 54 times in 16 games, and New England’s Drake Maye was sacked 47 times in 17 games. Those were the third- and fourth-most sacks against a quarterback during the regular season.

The seventh-seeded Chargers (11-6) have used 32 combinations on their injury-ravaged offensive line this season — more than any other team — and played much of the season without starting tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, both of whom are on injured reserve.

Los Angeles has allowed 60 sacks over its season when factoring in the six backup Trey Lance took last week while Herbert sat.

Second-seeded New England (14-3) is one of five teams that tied for 22nd in the NFL in sacks with 35. The team’s sack leaders are linebacker Harold Landry III (8.5) and linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson (7.5). Landry, who missed the last two games with a knee injury, returned to practice this week in a limited capacity and is questionable for Sunday.

“I don’t think that’s ever something you can tell in practice,” New England coach Mike Vrabel said when asked about his team’s pass rush. “You gotta go out there and win in live action, and not only win, you have to be able to get the guy on the ground. Justin’s just a great player — strength, toughness. He can avoid and scramble for a lot of yards. So again, I think that’ll have to be determined Sunday night.”

Maye, an MVP candidate, led the league with a 72.0 completion percentage this season, but will be facing a Chargers defense that tied for 10th in the league with 45 sacks.

Linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu led the team with 13 sacks, and linebacker Odafe Oweh collected 7.5 sacks in 12 games after being acquired in an October trade with the Ravens.

New England has started two rookies — guard Jared Wilson and tackle Will Campbell — on the left side of the line for most of the season. The Patriots have surrendered 48 sacks.

Los Angeles coach Jim Harbaugh said he has a lot of confidence in his team’s defense.

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“It starts with the players, then it’s (defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s) ability and our defensive coaches’ ability to put them in spots to make plays, to be most effective,” Harbaugh said. “The understanding of the defense (is what gives me confidence). I know there will be some wrinkles as well.”

Los Angeles finished the regular season 12th in total offense (333.8), 20th in points per game (21.6), fifth in total defense (285.2) and ninth in points allowed per game (20.0).

New England was third in total offense (379.4), second in points per game (28.8), eighth in total defense (295.2) and fourth in points allowed per game (18.8).

“I’m happy, I’m excited, but also, we’re not here just to be here,” Vrabel said. “We have to be able to host games and compete for championships. There’s not going to be any consolation prize for anybody. We understand what we have to do.”

The Chargers ruled out two backups on Friday, wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) and safety Kendall Williamson (ankle). Rookie running back Omarion Hampton, who sat out two days of practice with an ankle injury and returned Friday in a limited capacity, is listed as questionable, along with backup tackle Austin Deculus (oblique), tight end Tucker Fisk (ankle), linebackers Bud Dupree (hamstring) and Del’Shawn Phillips (hamstring) and defensive back Elijah Molden (hamstring).

The Patriots have only ruled out defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga (foot). Joining Landry as questionable are wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring), offensive lineman Thayer Munford Jr. (knee) and cornerback Alex Austin (wrist).

–Field Level Media

 

NFL Sunday Night Football Preview

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Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) at Los Angeles Chargers (6-3)

Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Chargers -2.5, Total 44.5

Series Rewind: The Steelers won 20-10 last season for their 11th win in the past 15 meetings, including the postseason.

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Aaron Rodgers wasn’t the least bit unnerved when Tuesday’s trading deadline came and went without the AFC North-leading Steelers adding a receiver. Now comes prove it time for the four-time NFL MVP with 520 career touchdown passes. The Steelers rank 21st in passing offense at 200.9 yards per game despite having the future Hall of Famer at the controls. Rodgers’ season high for passing yardage is just 249 and his season output of 1,692 yards is less than erratic Tennessee Titans rookie Cam Ward (1,760). Offseason acquisition DK Metcalf leads the team with a modest 29 receptions, 467 yards and five scoring catches. The Pittsburgh defense helped a bunch in last weekend’s taming of the Indianapolis Colts by recording five sacks and forcing five turnovers. The Steelers caused a sixth turnover on special teams. The Chargers look to attack that defense with Justin Herbert, who ranks second in the NFL with 2,390 yards. Ladd McConkey (524) and Keenan Allen (520) are both having solid seasons. The offensive line is beat up and that caused a deadline-beating trade for Trevor Penning from the New Orleans Saints. Penning worked out at both tackle spots on his first day in town. Joe Alt (ankle) joined fellow star tackle Rashawn Slater (knee) on injured reserve. Linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu (team-high 7.5 sacks) would like to cause issues for Rodgers.

Texans Too Much for Chargers

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HOUSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Houston’s QB C.J. Stroud passed for 282 yards and a touchdown, Joe Mixon rushed for 106 yards and a score and Eric Murray returned an interception for a touchdown as the host Texans routed the Los Angeles Chargers 32-12 in an AFC wild-card game on Saturday.

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Houston (11-7) advanced to the divisional round for the second straight season.

After throwing just three interceptions in 504 passing attempts during the regular season, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was picked off four times on Saturday. Herbert was 14-for-32 for 242 yards and a touchdown.

The Chargers scored the first six points, on field goals of 35 and 39 yards by Cameron Dicker. His second came after a Texans fumble gave Los Angeles a short field.

Ka’imi Fairbairn connected on field goals of 41, 37 and 30 yards for Houston.

Houston ran just four offensive plays during the first quarter and had two punts bookending a Stroud interception to start the second.

Fortunes changed just before halftime. Houston drove 99 yards in 13 plays, punctuating the possession with a 13-yard scoring pass from Stroud to Nico Collins with 58 seconds left in the second quarter.

Stroud extended the drive with a highlight-reel play entering the two-minute warning. He scooped up a fumbled snap, then scrambled to connect with Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard gain to the Los Angeles 49-yard line on third-and-16.

Herbert threw three straight incompletions on the ensuing Chargers possession, and Houston responded with Fairbairn’s 41-yard field goal to take a 10-6 halftime lead.

The Texans scored the first 13 points after intermission. Murray delivered the lone touchdown over that span with a 38-yard pick six with 13 seconds left in the third quarter.

Derek Stingley Jr. snagged two interceptions for Houston and Kamari Lassiter had another.

Herbert recovered from his third pick with an 86-yard pass-and run touchdown to Ladd McConkey. The burst followed two straight Texans sacks. Houston blocked the extra-point attempt, and D’Angelo Ross returned it to the end zone for two points.

Mixon, who had 25 carries, capped the scoring with a 17-yard run with 3:42 left.

McConkey caught nine passes for 197 yards and a touchdown.

Collins had seven receptions for 122 yards and a score.

Houston outgained Los Angeles 429-261.

–Field Level Media

MNF: Ravens End Chargers Win Streak

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INGLEWOOD – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson accounted for three touchdowns and his teammate Derrick Henry rushed for 140 yards on 24 carries to help the Baltimore Ravens record a 30-23 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night in the “Harbaugh Bowl” in California.Calif.

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Justice Hill added a long scoring run and Rashod Bateman caught a touchdown pass to help Baltimore coach John Harbaugh improve to 3-0 against younger brother Jim, the coach of the Chargers.

Jackson completed 16 of 22 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a touchdown for Baltimore (8-4), which won for the eighth time in 10 games. Mark Andrews caught a touchdown pass and converted a stunning fourth-down gamble for the Ravens.

Justin Herbert was 21 of 36 for 218 yards and rushed for a score for the Chargers (7-4), who had a four-game winning streak snapped. Cameron Dicker kicked three field goals for Los Angeles.

John and Jim Harbaugh exchanged a quick handshake and hug after the contest.

The big meeting between the brothers was Baltimore’s 34-31 win over Jim’s San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl following the 2012 regular season. The other meeting was on Thanksgiving Day in 2011 when the host Ravens won a 16-6 decision.

Baltimore star linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) sat out the Monday contest.

Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins (knee), a former Baltimore player, exited in the first half. He gained 40 yards on six carries and had three catches for 19 yards.

The Ravens took a 23-16 lead when Jackson hit Andrews on an 8-yard touchdown pass with 12:32 left in the game. The two-point conversion pass failed.

Baltimore added on when Hill exploded for a 51-yard scoring run to make it a 14-point margin with 7:24 remaining.

Gus Edwards ran in from the 1 for the Chargers with 46 seconds left, and the Ravens recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal it.

Baltimore overcame a 10-point second-quarter deficit to lead 14-13 at halftime.

The Ravens got on the board with Jackson’s 10-yard run with 7:48 left in the half.

After the two-minute warning, Baltimore lined up to go for it on fourth-and-1 from its own 16-yard line. Andrews, the tight end, lined up behind center and took the snap and gained 2 yards for a first down.

The gamble paid off when Jackson tossed a 40-yard touchdown pass to Bateman to give the Ravens a 14-10 lead with 24 seconds left. The drive covered 93 yards on eight plays.

Dicker booted a 52-yard field goal as time expired in the half.

The Chargers scored the first 10 points on Herbert’s 5-yard run in the opening quarter and Dicker’s 42-yard field goal with 11:26 left in the second quarter.

–Field Level Media

NFL Desk: Fully Charged

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INDIANAPOLIS – (Staff and Field Level Media Wire Report) – Quarterback Justin Herbert passed for 235 yards and RB Austin Ekeler ran for two touchdowns to help the Los Angeles Chargers clinch a playoff berth with a 20-3 win against the host Indianapolis Colts Monday night.

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With their third straight victory, the Chargers (9-6) qualified for the postseason for the first time since the 2018 season.

Nick Foles took over as the starter at quarterback for Indianapolis this week and finished 17-for-29 for 143 yards and three interceptions. He was also sacked seven times.

Matt Ryan was benched after the Colts blew a 33-0 halftime lead on Dec. 17 in a 39-36 overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Indianapolis (4-10-1) was held to 173 total yards in its fifth straight loss.

The Chargers did not record a first down on their first three drives, but they marched 70 yards on 13 plays on their fourth and took a 7-0 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by Ekeler with 8:41 left in the second quarter.

The Chargers intercepted two passes in the first quarter, including one by All-Pro safety Derwin James, who had missed the previous two games with a quad injury.

James was involved in a helmet-to-helmet tackle on Ashton Dulin with 5:19 left in the first half. James was disqualified from the game and Dulin was later ruled out with a concussion.

Chase McLaughlin capped the drive with a 46-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7-3 with 4:21 left in the half.

Cameron Dicker booted a 24-yard field goal as time expired to give the Chargers a 10-3 halftime lead.

Asante Samuel Jr. intercepted the third pass for Los Angeles on its first defensive series of the second half, and the Chargers cashed that in with a 21-yard field goal by Dicker for a 13-3 lead with 6:01 left in the third quarter.

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Ekeler scored on another 1-yard run to extend the lead to 20-3 with 8:20 left in the game.

The Colts played without running back Jonathan Taylor, the leading rusher in the NFL last season, who was put on injured reserve last week after sustaining a high ankle sprain early in the loss to Minnesota.

–Field Level Media and Digital Sports Desk