Best and worst PFF grades for Chargers at the bye

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It’s the bye week so we’re taking a look at the best and worst Pro Football Focus grades for the Chargers.

Who has been performing well enough to be in the top five? Which players have gotten themselves stuck in the bottom five with their underwhelming play?

Let’s go ahead and find out.

Offense​


Best (min. 20 snaps)

QB Justin Herbert – 85.7
WR Keenan Allen – 79.8
OT Joe Alt – 79.0
RB Kimani Vidal – 73.5
RB Omarion Hampton – 73.0

Herbert is unsurprisingly the Chargers’ best player on the team by PFF grade. He’s been the crutch this team has leaned on all year. Allen has the team’s best receiving grade at an 80.0.

Before he went down with an injury, Alt was one of the team’s highest-graded players (to no one’s surprise). He had the team’s best run (70.8) and pass block grades (82.3).

Both Vidal and Hampton have been solid when healthy and/or playing. Hampton has better grades as a receiver and rusher, but Vidal has been the better player in pass protection this year (56.8 vs. 20.0).

Worst

OT Austin Deculus – 36.7
OG Mekhi Becton – 40.5
TE/FB Tucker Fisk – 47.3
C Bradley Bozeman – 47.6
OT Trey Pipkins – 49.7

To no one’s surprise, the bottom five players for the Chargers offense consists of four offensive lineman and Fisk.

Deculus and Becton are the worst two players for the offense by a good bit. Deculus leads the team with 27 pressures allowed and four sacks. Becton has 19 pressures allowed with one sack. Becton’s run block grade is the worst among all qualifying offensive linemen (41.4) while Deculus has the team’s second-worst pass block grade (34.7).

Bozeman is second in pressures allowed with 24 while letting up two sacks. He’s below 50.0 in both run and pass block. Pipkins’ 42.2 in run block is second-worst to Becton while his 61.1 in pass block is third among qualifying linemen. He’s still let up 21 pressures which is third on the team.

Defense​


Best

DT Teair Tart – 79.3
CB Benjamin St-Juste – 75.6
S Derwin James – 75.0
CB Donte Jackson – 73.1
EDGE Khalil Mack – 70.4

Despite a very bad tackling grade (44.8), Tart has been the team’s highest-graded defender this season. He’s been great in run defense with a 83.2 and that’s on top of a solid 70.7 in pass rush, as well.

St-Juste owns the team’s best tackling grade at 86.2. His coverage grade of 76.2 is also best among all qualifying cornerbacks on the team. James has had a rough year tackling (47.8) but has otherwise been very good in pass rush (78.1) and coverage (77.2).

Jackson’s season grade has been held up by a coverage grade of 75.0 on top of his team-leading three interceptions. He’s otherwise had a very bad tackling grade (28.9) and a fine 52.1 in run defense.

Mack is best in run defense at 77.7 which is the second-highest mark behind Tart. Unfortunately his pass rush grade is the worst outside of his coverage mark at 65.9.

Worst

LB Denzel Perryman – 45.7
LB Daiyan Henley – 49.7
EDGE Bud Dupree – 53.0
DT Da’Shawn Hand – 53.5
S Elijah Molden – 55.2

Both starting middle linebackers for the Chargers have been heavily dinged for their disastrous coverage grades this season. Outside of the edge rushers (who should not be dropping into coverage all that much anyway), Henley has the worst coverage grade at 42.7. Perryman’s is almost exactly the same at 42.8. Perryman’s 55.2 in run defense is also the worst among all linebackers.

Dupree has been below average across the board with none of his grades reaching above 60.0. His worst grades are in tackling and pass rush (both 50.4).

Hand has one grade above 60.0 but that comes in the irrelevant coverage category. His worst grade is in run defense with a 53.7.

Molden’s worst grade is a 51.8 in coverage. Not great when you’re the team’s starting free safety. He’s got a solid grade at 66.3.

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...-and-worst-pff-grades-for-chargers-at-the-bye
 
Los Angeles Chargers fans: How confident are you at the bye?

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Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Chargers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it: Last week’s loss to the Jaguars was an absolute mess. But the team is still in playoff contention, and your confidence in the team relies on a much bigger picture than just last week’s loss. Take our survey below, and talk about it in the comments with your fellow Bolts fans.

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...9/record-standings-justin-herbert-performance
 
Chargers Daily Links: Wednesday Open Thread

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Good morning, Chargers fans!

You know what to do!

And now for today’s links.

Chargers News:


What’s the current playoff picture look like entering Week 12? (Chargers.com)

Check out the Chargers’ unofficial depth chart for Week 12 (Chargers.com)

Jim Harbaugh provided an update in Omarion Hampton (Chargers Wire)

Jim Harbaugh is continuing to keep the faith in a down part of the Chargers season (Bolt Beat)

NFL News:


Aaron Rodgers does not need surgery on his wrist (ESPN)

Which teams have the most to gain or lose in Week 12? (NFL.com)

The Chiefs are in the highest draft slot currently since the selection of Patrick Mahomes (NFL.com)

What’s next for Justin Fields after he has been benched by the Jets? (CBS Sports)

The Titans placed wideout Calvin Ridley in IR (Pro Football Talk)

Five prospects who increased their draft stock in Week 12 (Sports Illustrated)

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...64/chargers-daily-links-wednesday-open-thread
 
Chargers Power Rankings Roundup: Bolts take expected tumble after blowout loss

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The Chargers had an excellent opportunity to head into their Week 12 bye with a boatload of momentum had they been able to beat the Jaguars and move to 8-3. However, the exact opposite of the ideal situation happened.

The Bolts were blown out by the Jaguars on the road 35-6 behind what had to be the most uninspired performance by the team under Jim Harbaugh. There was simply no life in any of the three phases and that translated to exactly what you’d expect in the box score.

Rightfully so, the Chargers took a tumble in this week’s power rankings. They’re still in a decent spot at 7-4, but there’s only one, maybe two, very winnable games left on the schedule.

Let’s go ahead and see where they landed this week.

Sports Illustrated – #13

‘‘Some pretty horrifying news for Jim Harbaugh, who loves Justin Herbert like an old person loves his golden retriever: Herbert is on pace to be the most hit and pressured quarterback since the advent of hit and pressure statistics. Is there any way L.A. can keep this up?” – Conor Orr

ESPN – #14

“Analysts have placed Herbert in the upper echelon of quarterbacks since he entered the league in 2020, but he hasn’t elevated the Chargers to postseason success. Instead, his two playoff appearances have been some of the most embarrassing losses in team history. The Chargers signed Herbert to a five-year, $262.5 million deal in July 2023, and the organization believes he will lead the team to a title. So if the Chargers go another year without winning a playoff game, Los Angeles will likely place blame on and consider moving on from Roman, who has drawn ire for uncreative playcalling.” – Kris Rhim

The Athletic – #15

The Chargers clearly thought next week’s bye came this weekend. It’s the only real explanation for being outgained by 210 yards by the Jaguars. Los Angeles averaged 3 yards per play, and Justin Herbert was 10-of-18 for 81 yards and an interception as the Chargers saw their three-game winning streak snapped. “We were out-physicaled,” said Jim Harbaugh, who must have hated to say it.” – Josh Kendall

Yahoo Sports – #16

“That was a troubling loss for the Chargers. They’re unlikely to fall off completely, but the flaws are evident. The offensive line in particular is a liability due to injuries, and Justin Herbert is taking way too much punishment. The Chargers’ season could go either way from here on out.”

CBS Sports – #16

‘‘What the heck happened in Jacksonville? They head to their bye with a lot of questions. They have to get the offensive line figured out.” – Pete Prisco

Pro Football Talk – #16

“It’s not going to be easy to come back from Sunday’s Duval demolition.” – Mike Florio

USA Today – #17

Duval County is just a house of horrors for QB Justin Herbert, who really needs a week off … along with the rest of this wounded roster.” – Nate Davis

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...bolts-take-expected-tumble-after-blowout-loss
 
AFC playoff picture: Los Angeles Chargers move up without playing a game

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The Los Angeles Chargers didn’t play this weekend on their bye, but that didn’t stop them from moving up a slot in the AFC playoff picture. The Buffalo Bills lost on Thursday night, moving Los Angeles ahead of them into the fifth seed. The Chargers and Bills are also tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars at 7-4 in the wild card race, but LA holds the tiebreaker.

The New England Patriots won again to secure the top spot in the conference for the week. The Denver Broncos were also on the bye and remain second. The Indianapolis Colts lost but remain third. The Baltimore Ravens won and vaulted the losing Pittsburgh Steelers into fourth.

Pittsburgh, the Houston Texans, and the Kansas City Chiefs are all tied at 6-5 and on the outside looking in for now.

AFC standings after Week 12​


The Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers were on the bye this week along with the Miami Dolphins.

In the three-way tie at 6-5, the Chiefs are eliminated first because of a worse AFC record than Pittsburgh and Houston. The Steelers wins have come against teams with 30 total wins while the Texans’ wins have come against teams with a combined 29 wins. That can change very quickly.

1. New England Patriots (10-2)
2. Denver Broncos (9-2)
3. Indianapolis Colts (8-3)
4. Baltimore Ravens (6-5, 2-0 AFCN)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4, 6-2 AFC)
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4, 4-2 AFC)
7. Buffalo Bills (7-4, 4-3 AFC)
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5, 5-2 AFC, SOV > HOU)
9. Houston Texans (6-5, 5-2 AFC, SOV < PIT)
10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-5, 3-4 AFC)
11. Miami Dolphins (4-7)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (3-8, win over CLE)
14. Cleveland Browns (3-8, loss to CIN)
13. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)
15. New York Jets (2-9)
16. Tennessee Titans (1-10)

AFC West standings after Week 12​


The Chargers and Broncos were on the bye, but the Kansas City Chiefs won to inch closer to a playoff spot. The Las Vegas Raiders were picked apart by the Cleveland Browns defense. Not that it’s a surprise, but the Raiders were eliminated from the AFC West race.

1. Denver Broncos (9-2)
2. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (6-5)
4. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...geles-chargers-move-up-without-playing-a-game
 
Chargers open up as betting favorites ahead of Week 13 vs. Raiders

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The Los Angeles Chargers are hoping to put their past behind them when they take on the Las Vegas Raiders in their first game after the bye week.

The Chargers are coming off of an embarrassing 35-6 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars in their Week 11 matchup, but a new week awaits with the Raiders on deck. FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Chargers as a 9.5-point favorite over the AFC West rival.

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The Chargers are pretty much in a must-win situation with one of their easier opponents popping up on the schedule at home coming off of a bye. As a 7-4 team in the AFC playoff picture, there’s isn’t much room for error.

The Chargers have a prime chance to capture their eighth victory to close out the month of November, but they have to execute when going up against the Raiders, who are in a bit of a state of flux.

The Raiders fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly following their 24-10 loss to Shedeur Sanders and the Cleveland Browns at home in Week 12.

The two teams met back in Week 2 in Sin City, where the Chargers picked up a 20-9 victory against the Raiders. In that game, quarterback Justin Herbert threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns as they beat the Raiders by two scores.

Kickoff between the Raiders and Chargers is set for Sunday at 1:25 p.m. PT from SoFi Stadium. Fans can watch the game on CBS or stream it on the Paramount Plus app.

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...betting-favorites-ahead-of-week-13-vs-raiders
 
Chargers Daily Links: Monday Open Thread

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Good morning, Chargers fans!

You know what to do!

And now for today’s links.

Chargers News:


Five takeaways from the Chargers’ Week 12 bye (Chargers.com)

Ranking the Chargers’ remaining six games from easiest to hardest (Chargers Wire)

The Chargers got a bump in the right direction regarding the playoff picture during their bye (Bolt Beat)

Dameon Pierce chose to sign with the Chiefs over the Chargers (Charger Report)

NFL News:


The Raiders fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly after just 11 games (ESPN)

Baker Mayfield sprained his shoulder against the Rams on Sunday Night Football (ESPN)

Dak Prescott became the Cowboys’ leading passer in franchise history (CBS Sports)

What we learned from Week 12’s slate of games in the NFL (NFL.com)

Geno Smith looked as if he flipped off Raiders fans as he left the field on Sunday (Pro Football Talk)

Is Saquon Barkley the one holding the Eagles offense back? (Sports Illustrated)

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...61667/chargers-daily-links-monday-open-thread
 
Week 13 Poll: Are the Chargers trending up this week?

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Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Chargers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Heading into Week 13, we want to know how you’re feeling after watching the team so far this year. Every week of the season we will ask fans if they are confident the team is headed in the right direction and more of the most pressing questions facing the coming game. Let us know what you think!

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/general/61758/chargers-survey-week-13-reacts
 
Chargers Daily Links: Thursday Open Thread

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Good morning, Chargers fans!

You know what to do!

And now for today’s links.

Chargers News:


Hear why Omarion Hampton is excited to return from his ankle injury (Chargers.com)

Check out Wednesday’s injury report for the Chargers (Chargers.com)

Jim Harbaugh provided an update on the status of the offensive line this week (Chargers Wire)

The Chargers’ remaining schedule looks a lot more difficult than it did prior to the bye week (Bolt Beat)

NFL News:


One thing every team should be thankful for on Thanksgiving (Sports Illustrated)

Chip Kelly reportedly botched a number of play calls while with the Raiders (Pro Football Talk)

Six wild NFL trends entering Week 13 (ESPN)

Center Frank Ragnow is ending his retirement to join the Detroit Lions (ESPN)

The Bills signed veteran receiver Brandon Cooks (CBS Sports)

Ranking the 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL entering Week 13 (NFL.com)

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...747/chargers-daily-links-thursday-open-thread
 
Chargers-Raiders Game Preview: How will Omarion Hampton look in his return from IR?

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Chargers football is back.

The bye has come and gone and the hope is that the team was able to flush everything negative over their extended break. It’s tough to feel uber-confident this week based on how the Jaguars game went, but if they can’t take care of business this week, then there’s no point in believing their at a place to make a push in the playoffs.

Los Angeles will also be wearing their navy uniforms again after winning their first game with the new alternates. After going 0-6 in the old navy kits, being able to start 2-0 in these would be a refreshing change, as well.

With that said, let’s go ahead and jump into this week’s game preview and the three things I’ll be watching closely when these teams take the field on Sunday.

1.) How will the Chargers have gone about recalibrating their offensive line?​


The Chargers entered their bye week after watching their offensive line get obliterated by the Jaguars pass rush that featured Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. Newly-acquired offensive lineman Trevor Penning was rough in his Chargers debut and it seemingly has forced the Chargers take him out of the starting lineup after just one game.

Per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, it is Jamaree Salyer who is getting the shot at starting on the blindside this week based on observations from practice. Also of note is that, even when healthy, it looks like Trey Pipkins has won back the starting right tackle job from Bobby Hart.

#Chargers OL in practice today: LT Jamaree Salyer, LG Zion Johnson, C Bradley Bozeman, RG Mekhi Becton, RT Trey Pipkins

— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) November 25, 2025

The unfortunate part is, no matter what they do at the tackle spot in place of Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, the interior of Johnson, Bozeman, and Becton has been so poor for the majority of the season that it almost is irrelevant who they throw out there.

Salyer has played well in spot duty and you just hope his lack of elite athleticism won’t hurt him against the monster that is Maxx Crosby and his 19 total tackles for loss this year.

2.) How much play will Omarion Hampton see in his return from IR?​


While filling in for Hampton, Kimani Vidal recorded three games of over 100 yards offense while scoring three total touchdowns. However, in the other three games, Vidal totaled 63 yards combined with zero scores. Hampton’s ability to make something out of nothing has sorely been missed, but it remains to be seen just how fast they’ll throw Hampton back into the lion’s share of the carries.

With this week, I don’t think it’d be all that surprising to see Vidal still get a good chunk of snaps against the 2-9 Raiders. With or without Hampton returning, this is a must-win game that most certainly SHOULD be a victory, so I can see the coaching staff making the call to ease Hampton in more than the fans would probably like.

For comparison’s sake, Vidal has recorded 417 yards and two rushing touchdowns with an average of 4.3 yards per carry. Before being injured, Hampton was up to 314 yards and two scores while averaging 4.8 yards per tote. As a receiver, Hampton was also more active with 20 catches for 136 yards (6.8 yards per reception) while Vidal has 52 yards on 12 catches (4.3), albeit with a touchdown through the air.

3.) Can the Chargers actually get off the bus this week?​


This one isn’t going to be very analytical or full of cold-hard numbers, but it remains important nonetheless.

The Chargers had every reason to be as motivated as possible when they traveled to Jacksonville in Week 11. They had plenty to fight for and plenty to avenge. Instead, it was the least-inspired game I’ve ever seen from the Bolts under Jim Harbaugh.

It was so out of character that there was just no way that it could boil down to offensive line issues or the fact that the Chargers traveled from the coast to coast. I understand there’s something to say about the time change, but it’s not supposed to amount to a complete soul-sucking.

There aren’t many games where you almost feel as if you didn’t watch a game in the first place. The Charger barely held the ball in the second half and by the final whistle, you honestly couldn’t recall a single play that happened in the previous 60 minutes of game time. It was surreal. It was out-of-this-world wacky. It was NOT what Jim Harbaugh has been selling since taking over in 2024.

The Chargers have the opportunity to make everyone forget about their drumming by the Jaguars with an all-out tail-whooping of the Raiders. A win is assumed. That’s the lowest bar. Los Angeles, however, needs to come out and inflict every ounce of their will on the Raiders or else questions will continue to linger about their true makeup going into the final stretch of the season.

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...ll-omarion-hampton-look-in-his-return-from-ir
 
Chargers-Raiders Injury Report: RB Omarion Hampton OUT

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After having his activation window opened to begin Week 13, the Chargers have decided not to activate running back Omarion Hampton from injured reserve despite the rookie practicing every day this week. That means it will be one more week of Kimani Vidal in the backfield with his backups being Jaret Patterson, Amar Johnson, and Trayveon Williams.

The two other names that showed up on the Chargers’ final injury report were wide receiver Tre’ Harris (jaw) and defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia (elbow). Harris logged full practices on Thursday and Friday and was completely off the report without a tag for game day. Ogbonnia was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

Final injury report for #Chargers and Raiders pic.twitter.com/QW4tO5V3h9

— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) November 29, 2025

As for the Raiders, tight end Michael Mayer was the lone player ruled out for Sunday. Defensive tackle Adam Butler (illness), cornerback Darnay Holmes (illness), offensive lineman (ankle), and running back Zamir White (illness) are all listed as questionable.

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...-raiders-injury-report-rb-omarion-hampton-out
 
Chargers-Raiders Game Preview: Maxx Crosby is a one-man wreaking crew

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The Chargers are back from their much-needed bye week and a matchup with the hapless Raiders is just what the team needs. This SHOULD be a win, but you just never know when the Bolts are coming off a game where they looked no better than Las Vegas in a lopsided loss to the Jaguars in Week 11.

Luckily for them, the run game gets a big boost from the likely return of Omarion Hampton. Even with a jumbled up offensive line, the big rookie back should be able to make something happen with the skillset he exhibited before his injury.

That, and the fact the Raiders have been hemorrhaging coaches off their staff in recent weeks doesn’t bode well for a flawless operation. The Chargers need to keep their foot on the pedal and keep the Raiders down in the dumps for another week.

With that said, here’s a quick screenshot of how these two teams fare on paper thus far into the season.

Let’s dive in!

Chargers Offense​


Total yards per game: 347.3 (12th)
Points per game: 23.5 (20)
Passing yards per game: 231.5 (11th)
Rushing yards per game: 115.7 (17th)

The Chargers were firmly in the top 10 for both total offense and passing offense prior to their

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Top Performers

Passing: QB Justin Herbert – 2,691 passing yards, 19 touchdowns
Rushing yards: RB Kimani Vidal – 417
Rushing touchdowns: RB Omarion Hampton, RB Kimani Vidal – 2
Receiving yards: WR Ladd McConkey – 644
Receptions: WR Keenan Allen – 56
Receiving touchdowns: WR Quentin Johnston – 6

Chargers Defense


Total yards allowed per game: 286.1 (5th)
Points allowed per game: 21.6 (10th)
Passing yards allowed per game: 172.4 (4th)
Rushing yards allowed per game: 113.8 (16th)

Top Performers

Tackles: LB Daiyan Henley – 72
Tackles for loss: EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu – 12
Sacks: EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu – 8
Passes Defended: CB Donte Jackson – 8
Interceptions: CB Donte Jackson – 3
Forced fumbles: EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu, EDGE Khalil Mack – 2
Fumble recoveries: DT Teair Tart, LB Del’Shawn Phillips – 1

Raiders Offense


Total yards per game: 268.9 (30th)
Points per game: 15.0 (T-31st)
Passing yards per game: 189.5 (25th)
Rushing yards per game: 79.5 (31st)

Top Performers

Passing: QB Geno Smith – 2,367 passing yards, 13 touchdowns
Rushing yards: RB Ashton Jeanty – 604
Rushing touchdowns: RB Asthon Jeanty – 4
Receiving yards: WR Tre Tucker – 530
Receptions: TE Brock Bowers – 45
Receiving Touchdowns: WR Tre Tucker – 5

Raiders Defense


Total yards allowed per game: 321.6 (14th)
Points allowed per game: 25.2 (23rd)
Passing yards allowed per game: 218.3 (18th)
Rushing yards allowed per game: 103.4 (13th)

Top Performers

Tackles: LB Devin White – 103
Tackles for loss: EDGE Maxx Crosby – 19
Sacks: EDGE Maxx Crosby – 6
Passes Defended: EDGE Maxx Crosby – 6
Interceptions: S Isaiah Pola-Mao, CB Kyu Blu Kelly – 2
Forced fumbles: EDGE Maxx Crosby, S Jeremy Chinn – 2
Fumble recoveries: 6 players tied w/ 1

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...review-maxx-crosby-is-a-one-man-wreaking-crew
 
Chargers Daily Links: Chargers-Raiders prediction thread

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Good morning, Chargers fans!

You know what to do!

And now for today’s links.

Chargers News:


Experts pick the winner of Chargers-Raiders (Chargers.com)

Check out Thursday’s injury report for the Chargers (Chargers.com)

Three former Chargers were named semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 (Chargers Wire)

Could this season be the last for Khalil Mack before retirement? (Bolt Beat)

NFL News:


Jordan Love tossed four touchdowns en route to beating the Lions on Thanksgiving (ESPN)

Jaxson Dart has be cleared from the concussion protocol (ESPN)

Check out a new 2026 first-round mock draft (CBS Sports)

Daniel Jones is dealing with a fractured fibula but is expected to play (NFL.com)

Updated playoff picture following Thanksgiving’s slate of games (Pro Football Talk)

The good, the bad, and the ugly from Thanksgiving (Sports Illustrated)

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...aily-links-chargers-raiders-prediction-thread
 
Chargers vs. Raiders: How to watch, game time, TV schedule, streaming, and more

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Welcome to game day, everyone!

It’s been a long two weeks but Chargers football is officially back! The Bolts are 7-4 and have a date with the hapless 2-9 Raiders at home in SoFi. The team is also wearing their navy alternates for the second time this season after their first outing donning them went so well.

This game against Las Vegas is the easiest game — by far — remaining on the schedule for the Chargers before they face a final five-game stretch that features games against the Chiefs, Broncos, Eagles, Texans, and Cowboys. They will likely have to win today and at least two of their final five to have a shot at the postseason.

But before any of that even matters, they must beat the Raiders and move to 4-0 in the AFC West.

For all the information you need to watch today’s game, check it out below.

Date: Sunday, November 30th
Kickoff: 1:05 p.m. PST
Location: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
Watch it live: CBS
Broadcast Team: Andrew Catalon, Charles Davis, Jason McCourty, AJ Ross
Radio: Chargers radio can be heard on KFI AM-640 called by Matt “Money” Smith, analyst Daniel Jeremiah and sideline reporter Shannon Farren. Chargers radio in Spanish can be heard on Que Buena FM 105.5/94.3, called by Adrian Garcia-Marquez and analyzed by Francisco Pinto, here, and also on UniRadio San Diego. The game will also be aired nationally on Sports USA with Larry Kahn and Ron Rivera on the call.
SB Nation Affiliate: Silver & Black Pride

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...atch-game-time-tv-schedule-streaming-and-more
 
AFC playoff picture: Los Angeles Chargers move up again in Week 13

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The Los Angeles Chargers moved up without playing a game last weekend and this weekend they were able to gain another slot in the AFC playoff picture. They now sit in fifth place in the conference.

The Chargers moved up because the Jacksonville Jaguars won and the Indianapolis Colts lost, moving the Jags into the AFC South lead and the Colts down to the wild card race. Los Angeles has a better conference record than the Colts, so they move up to fifth. The Colts are sixth and the Bills stay in seventh.

The Denver Broncos won Sunday night to move into first place in the AFC, and the Chargers continue to look up to them.

The New England Patriots play on Monday night.

The Houston Texans are one game out while the Chiefs and Steelers sit two games back of the wild card teams.

AFC standings during Week 13​


In the tie between the Broncos and Patriots, Denver is undefeated against the Jets, Raiders, Titans, and Bengals. The Patriots lost to the Raiders in Week 1 and that’s the difference.

1. Denver Broncos (10-2, record vs common opponents > NE)
2. New England Patriots (10-2, record vs common opponents < DEN)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)
4. Baltimore Ravens (6-6, record vs common opponents > PIT)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4, 7-2 AFC)
6. Indianapolis Colts (8-4, 6-3)
7. Buffalo Bills (8-4, 5-3 AFC)
8. Houston Texans (7-5)
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6, record vs common opponent < BAL, 5-3 AFC)
10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6, 3-4 AFC)
11. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
13. New York Jets (3-9)
14. Cleveland Browns (3-9)
15. e-Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)
16. e-Tennessee Titans (1-11)

The Tennessee Titans were eliminated from playoff contention as were the Las Vegas Raiders.

AFC West standings during Week 13​


The Kansas City Chiefs lost on Thanksgiving to fall further behind. The Broncos won late against the Commanders. The Chargers won in the division, toppling the Las Vegas Raiders.

Vegas was eliminated from the playoff picture in Week 13.

1. Denver Broncos (10-2)
2. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
4. Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...los-angeles-chargers-move-up-again-in-week-13
 
2 winners, 2 losers from Chargers-Raiders: Vidal, Tuipulotu carry Bolts in big win

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The Chargers got a much-needed win on Sunday against the Raiders which will provide a semblance of cushion in regards to their playoff chances. Now, they face a five-game gauntlet to end the year. Their next opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles, are coming off back-to-back losses to both the Cowboys and Bears. It’d be a smart thing for the Chargers to do everything in their power to make sure they stay down in the dumps for another week.

One way for them to do that is for their best players to show up and show out. Some of them did just that against Las Vegas, while others did not. We need to hope for a lot more of the “did” in Week 14.

With that said, lets check out this week’s winners and losers.

Winners​


RB Kimani Vidal

Vidal has been a bit boom or bust as the starter for the Chargers, but Sunday’s win over the Raiders was certainly his biggest “boom” to date.

The former sixth-round pick took 25 carries for a career-high 126 rushing yards and an electric 59-yard touchdown run to give the Chargers the lead they eventually wouldn’t relinquish. That’s now four games in which Vidal has gone over 100 yards from scrimmage while scoring a touchdown in each of those outings.

It’s likely that Omarion Hampton is back next week when the team hosts the Eagles in primetime, but I wouldn’t expect Vidal to be relegated back to an afterthought. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman will likely ride the hot hand and with his history, Vidal could easily be that guy for the Chargers in the right matchup.

This is third game with 100 or more rushing yards for Kimani Vidal this season, the most for a Chargers player in a single season since Melvin Gordon in 2018 pic.twitter.com/YbmZLWOGi2

— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) November 30, 2025

EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu

The Chargers pass rush, as a whole, had a strong day against the Raiders as they sacked Geno Smith five times. However, no defender single-handedly made a bigger impact than Tuipulotu who recorded his ninth and 10th sacks of the season on top of two more tackles for loss and a pass deflection while leading the team with seven total tackles.

Numerous times Tuipulotu was the reason a Raiders drive ended and every single one of those efforts was critical in the Chargers shaking off a slow start to dominate one of their divisional rivals.

tuli on third down is scary#probowlvote + tuli tuipulotu

📺 | @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/B4alzbeXf9

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 30, 2025

Losers​


QB Justin Herbert

Herbert is a tough S.O.B. and that should always be appreciated, but Sunday was a day in which he was carried by his teammates around him moreso than we’ve seen in recent memory. He was efficient with his limited attempts (15-of-20) but finished with 151 yards, two touchdowns, and a head-scratching interception that simply looked unlike what we’ve come to expect from the team’s franchise quarterback. Granted it was a great play by cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, but it still looked like a forced pass by a quarterback who has the utmost confidence in his arm strength to fit it into tight places.

The interception was Herbert’s 10th of the season which ties the second-most he’s tossed in any given year (2020, 2022). If his pace continues, his 2.5 percent interception rate will be the highest of his career, beating the previous high of 2.2 percent he set during his 5,000-yard, 15-interception season in 2021.

The attention paid to TE Brock Bowers

If you watched every reception by Bowers, you may have noticed an unfortunate pattern when it came to the coverage of the Raiders’ best offensive player.

On his first catch, Denzel Perryman bit on the play-action a bit too hard and Bowers streaked free in front of his face for what ended up being a big gain. The second catch by Bowers was on a corner route in which it looked like no one really had tabs on him until Cam Hart came off a different player to defend the pass at the last moment.

Several plays later, Bowers released vertically towards Derwin James inside the five-yard line before he was passed off to…no one. Safety Elijah Molden, who was behind James in coverage to start the play, drifted away from the middle of the field to defend someone else. Bowers simply cut behind James after being passed off and caught a wide open touchdown.

In each instance, it showed a complete lack of acknowledgement from the Chargers defense. I have no idea what Jesse Minter called nor will we likely ever, but I guarantee it didn’t involve leaving Bowers open more often than not.

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...aiders-vidal-tuipulotu-carry-bolts-in-big-win
 
Chargers sign RB Royce Freeman to practice squad

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Late last week, the Chargers signed running back Jaret Patterson to the active roster after he ran out of game day elevations for the season. To fill his place on the practice squad, the Chargers have signed veteran running back Royce Freeman.

The move brings the total number of running backs to three on the practice squad (Freeman, Amar Johnson, and Trayveon Williams) with Kimani Vidal and Jaret Patterson as the two backs on the active roster.

we’ve signed RB Royce Freeman to the practice squad pic.twitter.com/XiHaMJReTA

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 1, 2025

Freeman last played in an NFL game in 2023 as a member of the Los Angeles Rams. That year, he rushed for 319 yards and two touchdowns.

Originally a third-round pick by the Broncos out of the University of Oregon, Freeman’s best year came as a rookie in 2018 when he rushed for 521 yards and five touchdowns. He currently has career totals of 1,792 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns across stints with Denver, Carolina, Houston, and the Rams.

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...rgers-sign-rb-royce-freeman-to-practice-squad
 
Chargers Power Rankings Roundup: Bolts see little change after win over Raiders

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The Chargers beat the Raiders 31-14 this week to improve to 8-4. Las Vegas is a bad team and the Chargers did what any decent team should have done, which was to dominate them and win by multiple scores. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like their latest win changed the minds of the media all that much. If anything, the Bolts slid in most power rankings as opposed to moving forward.

This week, however, is a great chance to surge upwards with a win over the reigning Super Bowl champions.

With that said, let’s go ahead and see where they landed amongst the rankings this week.

Yahoo Sports – #13

Running back Kimani Vidal has been hot and cold, but coming off a 126-yard game against the Raiders, he should maintain a role even when rookie Omarion Hampton returns from injury. The running game and defense will need to help Justin Herbert, who will be playing after getting surgery on a broken bone in his left hand. – Frank Schwab

ESPN – #14

The 2025 first-round pick has been on injured reserve since Week 5 because of a left ankle fracture but could return to the field as early as Monday against the Eagles. Hampton had been a consistent, bruising force on the ground and a safety valve in the passing game for Herbert. Hampton caught 17 passes from Weeks 3 to 5, tied for second most on the team with wide receiver Keenan Allen. Hampton was also third in the NFL in yards from scrimmage (364) over that span. His return should jump-start this offense at a crucial part of the season. – Kris Rhim

Sports Illustrated – #14

Justin Herbert is now at least the third quarterback I can remember this season that has had some kind of injury to his non-throwing shoulder or wrist, which has created a cornucopia of different options with which to hand off the football using the opposite arm. I know most people don’t care about this, but I could watch off-handed handoffs for hours. – Conor Orr

Pro Football Talk – #14

Without Justin Herbert, they wouldn’t have much of a chance. – Mike Florio

The Athletic – #15

It’s weird for a Jim Harbaugh-led team, but the Chargers have struggled on the ground this season. They entered Sunday ranked 20th in rushing success rate and EPA per rush. But against the Raiders, they ran for 192 yards. – Josh Kendall

NFL.com – #15

Kimani Vidal’s 59-yard TD run seemed to help wake up the Chargers and vault them to a big second half in the much-needed win over the Raiders. It wasn’t a terribly impressive performance, all things considered, and Justin Herbert’s fractured left hand provides the latest dose of hold-your-breath drama, although it appears he’s going to do everything he can to play in Week 14. Interestingly, the Chargers went 100 percent shotgun even after the injury, with Herbert throwing just 15 times from the second quarter on. He also was sacked three times on 23 dropbacks, meaning the Bolts’ most indispensable player was further beat up. The Chargers can still win the AFC West, and they still have a better chance than not of making the playoffs, but Herbert’s health remains a stark concern.

CBS Sports – #18

They came off their bye and beat up a bad Raiders team. Now here come the Eagles with Justin Herbert’s hand injury a major concern. – Pete Prisco

USA Today – #19

Better to go into a Monday night game against a salty Philly D with a quarterback fresh off surgery for a broken (non-throwing) hand? Or Trey Lance? – Nate Davis

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...olts-see-little-change-after-win-over-raiders
 
Chargers Daily Links: Tuesday Open Thread

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Good morning, Chargers fans!

You know what to do!

And now for today’s links.

Chargers News:


Five takeaways from Monday’s press conferences (Chargers.com)

Five things to know about the Chargers ahead of Week 14 (Chargers.com)

Where do several Chargers rank in Pro Bowl voting early on? (Chargers Wire)

The Chargers’ path to the postseason is now certainly as a wild card (Bolt Beat)

NFL News:


The Giants benched Abdul Carter for the second time this year due to tardiness (ESPN)

The Vikings cut Adam Thielen to allow him to seek more playing time elsewhere (ESPN)

New England took back the AFC’s No. 1 seed by beating the Giants on Monday night (CBS Sports)

What we learned from the Patriots’ win over the Giants in primetime (NFL.com)

Marcus Jones broke the record for highest career yards per punt return against the Giants (Pro Football Talk)

Check out a new set of power rankings following Week 13 (Sports Illustrated)

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...1750/chargers-daily-links-tuesday-open-thread
 
Chargers draft CB with NFL bloodlines in new 2026 mock draft

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The Chargers enter Week 14 with one of the best pass defenses in the NFL. After limiting the Raiders through the air, they now rank second in the league with an average allowance of 168.3 passing yards per game.

They’re also getting the most out of some veteran defensive backs with both cornerback Donte Jackson and safety Tony Jefferson tied for the team lead with three interceptions. Corners Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart are solidified in the future of this team, but it’s not too early to start finding that third corner to help solidify a starting trio for years to come.

In a new 2026 mock draft by CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson, the NFL analyst has the Chargers selecting Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell with the 25th overall pick. Terrell is the brother of current Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, a former second-team All-Pro in 2021.

Terrell has NFL bloodlines — his brother is former first-round pick AJ Terrell.,“ says Wilson. ”Avieon plays bigger than his listed size (see his matchup in 2024 against former Stanford WR Elic Ayomanor). He can stay in phase on vertical routes and has good ball skills and he will try to bait QBs into making throws. In run support, he plays outside CB like he’s a strong safety.

Outside of the obvious skills Terrell possesses in coverage, he’s also one heck of a turnover creator. Just this season alone, he’s forced five fumbles which brings his career total to eight (three recovered).

Clemson CB Avieon Terrell is just so ridiculously good at this. https://t.co/wCNMlIsYgo pic.twitter.com/lc2Fql1441

— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) November 30, 2025

Over the past two seasons as a full-time starter, Terrell has totaled 108 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, 21 pass breakups, and two interceptions to go along with the aforementioned forced fumbles/recoveries. He looks to be a stat-sheet stuffer who can play a number of roles for a secondary.

Cornerback is not a huge need for the Chargers at the moment and I’m not sure they’ll be lacking bodies at the position this offseason, mainly due to the presumed UDFA finds in both Nikko Reed and Eric Rogers. If they do end up drafting a cornerback, I would be fairly surprised. Especially when several other positions are drastically more in need.

But what are all of your thoughts on this one? Would cornerback be a terrible move for the Chargers in the first round? Yay or nay on Terrell? Let me know!

Source: https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/lo...cb-with-nfl-bloodlines-in-new-2026-mock-draft
 
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