Chargers Show They Can Adjust On The Fly With Impressive Win Over Steelers

2 jam yang lalu

The Chargers made nan correct move for Justin Herbert erstwhile they passed connected prima receiver Malik Nabers successful favour of stud tackle Joe Alt successful past year’s draft. They besides had Herbert successful mind erstwhile they took moving backmost Omarion Hampton pinch their first-round prime successful April and erstwhile they locked up Pro Bowl tackle Rashawn Slater pinch a lucrative statement hold successful nan summer.

These were each moves to return unit of L.A.’s franchise quarterback, pinch a less-is-more attack to support Herbert upright and prevention his champion for erstwhile it matters astir successful nan wintertime months.

But Alt, Slater and Hampton weren’t connected nan section Sunday nighttime against nan Steelers. Herbert again took a fistful of hits and again he played leader successful nan 25–10 triumph to support his squad afloat successful nan AFC West race.

There’s nary sympathy successful nan NFL for wounded waves, particularly not for teams fortunate capable to person a backmost arsenic bully arsenic Herbert. Still, nan Chargers’ latest lawsuit of bad luck was astir apt much mentally devastating than successful erstwhile seasons, because coach Jim Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz executed nan cleanable offseason scheme for helping a franchise quarterback, mixed pinch nan moves they made erstwhile hired successful 2024. The hiring of Harbaugh was chiefly made to assistance Herbert because nan coach has a way grounds of building beardown violative lines and productive rushing attacks, and doesn’t get caught up pinch having shiny, caller toys astatine nan accomplishment positions.

But Harbaugh’s accuracy has been tested owed to injuries, and it must crush him astatine his halfway seeing Herbert driblet backmost perpetually connected a play basis. Alt and Slater aren’t coming backmost aft sustaining season-ending injuries. Every Super Bowl contender has an elite spot aliases two, and having All-Pro-caliber bookend tackles was expected to beryllium nan Chargers’ ace power.

However, what nan Chargers showed successful Sunday night’s rout of nan Steelers powerfully implied that they’re not going to slice successful nan standings. They’re besides going to beryllium a reliable retired successful nan postseason because they person Herbert and a coaching unit that has capable subject to instrumentality to nan moving crippled contempt who’s successful nan backfield.

Los Angeles had nary prime but to spot second-year moving backmost Kimani Vidal, nan sixth-round prime retired of Troy who had 25 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown against nan Steelers. That was capable equilibrium for Herbert (20-of-33, 220 yards, TD) to run from nan pouch and utilize his abundance of playmakers specified arsenic wide receivers Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Keenan Allen. McConkey was taken successful nan 2nd information aft nan squad drafted Alt successful 2024 and Allen was a late-summer signing aft nan abrupt status of Mike Williams. Again, Harbaugh’s Chargers don’t splurge for walk catchers, but they revived nan profession of nan erstwhile regime’s 2023 first-round action pinch really good Johnston has played this season, different denotation that this squad is successful bully hands contempt nan circumstances.

The Chargers are ever going to person a chance because of Herbert and Harbaugh’s knack for adjusting connected nan fly. Allen, who group nan Chargers’ all-time profession receptions grounds connected Sunday night, would quickly show you that these Chargers are still different moreover aft nan grueling wounded wave. He’s apt conscionable arsenic assured that this could very good beryllium nan twelvemonth that nan Chargers sound disconnected nan Chiefs (5–4) for nan AFC West crown.

But nan Chargers (7–3) are chasing nan Broncos (8–2) for first spot successful nan division. As for a assurance booster, L.A. has already beaten Denver and Kansas City during nan first information against divisional opponents.

Alt won’t beryllium backmost for Round 2, but there’s a chance Hampton returns from his ankle wounded successful nan adjacent fewer weeks. Hampton’s readiness could beryllium different quality shaper erstwhile nan playoffs rotation around. Last postseason, Herbert’s violative statement crumbled astatine nan worst clip and he threw 4 interceptions successful nan disfigured wild-card nonaccomplishment against nan Texans.

The tandem of Hampton and Vidal could beryllium nan cardinal for nan Chargers returning to Harbaugh’s beingness marque of football. There’s besides nan emergence of rookie tight extremity Oronde Gadsden II, but he exited early Sunday owed to a knee injury.

The Chargers are nary longer built for really they wanted to play erstwhile they put together their expansive plans successful nan offseason. But aft their patchwork violative statement held up against T.J. Watt & Co., they’re not going anywhere. They’ll proceed adjusting and will beryllium good if Herbert remains upright.

So don’t consciousness bad for nan banged-up Chargers. They person a prima astatine backmost and he’s still connected way to person a memorable postseason tally pinch nan astonishment positives that person emerged successful caller weeks.