Studs and duds from Chargers’ victory over Colts
The Chargers have officially booked their playoff tickets with Monday night’s mercy killing of the Colts team, which saw them win 20-3.
Here’s who got Los Angeles there and who should count themselves lucky to be on the ride.
Stud: Kyle Van Noy
Van Noy followed up his two previous weeks of outstanding performances by posting a Monday game-breaking effort. Van Noy, a veteran linebacker/edge rusher, was Everywhere against Indianapolis, making Nick Foles’ life harder by chasing after him, blowing up screens, and shutting down the run game. Van Noy put pressure on Foles from the jump. He also hit him in the first half and followed that up with a tackle to Deon Jackson for a loss 9 on a screen. A fourth-quarter sack got him on the board, capping a fabulous game from one of the Chargers’ best players over the last few weeks.
Dud: Third quarter execution…again
This feels like beating someone dead at this point but it felt like LA could get out of their third-quarter slump due to the Colts team’s current state. Instead, the Chargers extended their streak without a touchdown in third quarters to 10, the longest streak in any quarter of the NFL’s season. Trey Pipkins’ holding penalty negated DeAndre Carter’s 30-yard pass. LA converted an Asante Samson Jr. interception into 21-yard field goals after failing to punt the ball in. Carter muffed a punt, which didn’t result in a change of possession thanks to Deane Leonard touching the ball while out of bounds, but it was followed by a Justin Herbert fumble on which all four Colts defenders got pressure on the QB. After the fourth quarter began, defense received a fourth down block that the Chargers turned into touchdown. It’s bizarre!
Stud: Keenan Allen
Allen was feasting against Gus Bradley’s zone defense all night, frequently finding gaps in the coverage on his way to an 11-reception, 104-yard performance. Allen was targeted 14 times out of Herbert’s 31 pass attempts, a reflection of how he was individually cooking the Colts’ defenders. If there’s one gripe to be had, Allen couldn’t keep his feet in bounds on the double pass bullet from Herbert. Had he done that, he would’ve gotten his elusive touchdown; instead, he only got another 25 yards. The performance was nonetheless a reminder that, no matter his athletic ability, Allen’s savvy will always win the ball.
Dud: Intense playcalling
Let’s do a visualization exercise real quick. Pretend you’re Joe Lombardi. Your offensive line has surrendered 21 sacks over their last five matches, while the Colts only had seven last week. Herbert has the league’s third-highest quarterback rating when he throws the ball on the move. The Colts have the second-worst QBR for quarterbacks running the game. What would you do?
If you said, “drop back like normal and watch Herbert get hit seven times”, congrats! You’ve truly channeled the spirit of Lombardi.
Okay, second question. You have a 6-foot-4 receiver (Mike Williams) and a 6’8” tight end (Donald Parham Jr.) who have made a career off of high-flying red zone touchdowns. You haven’t been calling those plays and the red zone efficiency is cratering. It is possible that something has to change. What can you do to make things better?
If you said, “nothing. Throw a screen to Keenan Allen and a two-yard route to Austin Ekeler on third and goal from the 10”, please find a mirror immediately. You might, I think. Be Joe Lombardi.
Stud: Pass rush
On Monday, the Chargers had seven sacks: two from Morgan Fox, one from Drue Transnquill, Kenneth Murray Jr. and one each from Khalil Mack and Chris Rumph II. That’s practically every front-seven player who has generated any pocket pressure all season for LA. (Sorry Sebastian Joseph-Day & Breiden Fetchoko. It was a great run defense game! The Chargers didn’t even blitz very much in this one, evidenced by the lack of pressures generated by secondary players. The defensive line was able instead to win one on one matches and return home to Nick Foles.
Dud: Conservation and preservation of momentum
The Chargers have been on a winning streak, but refuse to take advantage of any momentum-tilting play or event at any time during any game. Tonight, the defense forced Colts into a three – and-out, interceptions, interceptions, and three -and-out on their first four drives. LA responded by converting the defense with a three, out, interception and three and out. The touchdown made it 7-0. An eight-play drive that averaged less than three yards per play was facilitated by a third Nick Foles intercept. It ended in a field goal. The Chargers often strayed away from the offense’s hot hands as they began to find a rhythm. This is a team that is actively making things harder for themselves at every junction, and yet, they’ve clinched a playoff spot with their third straight win.
Stud: Kickoff coverage
Indianapolis came in with one of the hottest kick returners in the league, as Dallis Flowers had averaged 34.1 yards per return coming into tonight’s contest. Flowers averaged 28 yards for each of his three attempts this week. The starting field positions on those chances were Indianapolis 28, Indianapolis 13, or Indianapolis 26. So, even though Flowers was taking it nearly 30 yards, he never got more than 3 yards beyond the 25, where the ball would’ve been spotted on a touchback. Ryan Ficken’s unit deserves credit. They brought in Raheem Layne to replace Kemon Hall. Layne was able to put the wood on the return that ended at the 13.
Dud: Justin Herbert
Herbert had his moments of brilliance – he always does – but this was far from his best game. It was. Also His second consecutive game was without a touchdown pass. This is compared to the four turnovers he had in the same period. He followed a similar pattern with his two turnovers today. On the interception, he’s trying to force a third down throw into a tighter-than-tight window because the play call has all five eligible receivers within eight yards of the line of scrimmage on the same side of the field. The Chargers let pressure from all four Colts rushers on the fumble and Herbert is forced to give up the ball. That’s not to absolve the star from any blame: he’ll be the first to tell you he needs to be better, and he said as much in his postgame interview on ESPN. It’s amazing that he plays this way and the Chargers are able to win games. If Herbert can find his groove as the playoffs begin, it is a good sign.