Los Angeles Charger kicker Cameron Dicker
On a day when the offense could not produce a touchdown, the Los Angeles Chargers used a stout defense to hang on to a tough 17-13 road win over the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday. The Chargers used four interceptions off Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, including an interception return of 61 yards for a touchdown by rookie Tarheeb Still, to steal a victory in Atlanta.
Offensively, the Chargers could only muster 187 yards and three field goals from kicker Cameron Dicker. The offense consisted of quarterback Justin Herbert throwing to rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey, who caught nine passes for 117 yards. The Chargers rushed for just 56 yards and ran only 46 offensive plays to 77 offensive plays for the Falcons.
The offense did come up with an important two-point conversion after the touchdown by Still, a 3-yard pass from quarterback Justin Herbert to wide receiver Josh Palmer. That conversion gave the Chargers a 17-10 lead and that seven-point difference was important late in the game when the Chargers were hanging on to a 17-13 lead.
The win improved the Chargers record to 8-4 for the season and according to ESPN, the Chargers have a 95% chance to make the playoffs. They are currently three games ahead in the loss column over the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts, with just five games remaining in the regular season schedule. Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh understood the importance of this victory over the Falcons.
"It's a beautiful thing," Harbaugh said. "It's coming together, guys playing complimentary winning football – an entire organization and fan base, players, coaching, personnel staff. Everybody back home. Those who didn't make the trip. Our field staff is the best. It's incredible. our equipment people, our trainers, the doctors. It's just a beautiful thing coming together."
For the Falcons, the loss to the Chargers extended their losing streak to three games. They are 6-6 for the season and tied for first place in the NFC South with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, who was the defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams for the past three seasons, was impressed with the Chargers defense.
"They did a nice job," Morris said. "I think they're one of the top-ranked defenses in the National Football League. They've got really good football players. They've got a really good pass rush. They're coached really well. Derwin James is one of the best players. I don't even know what they call him: stars, safety, dime, whatever you want to call it in the National Football League. He showed up today, made a bunch of big-time plays. Those guys are a very good football team. Well coached. Lot of hats off to those guys."
The defense had plenty of good individual performances, but the performance of the rookie Still was outstanding. He had two interceptions in the game, including the pick-6 interception. Still was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 13, becoming the first Chargers rookie since 2007 to win the award.
The Chargers return to the road on Sunday Night, December 8 to take on the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC West division game. The Chiefs own the best record in the AFC at 11-1 and it is very unlikely that the Chargers can catch the Chiefs and win the division. The Chiefs currently own a six-game winning streak versus the Chargers.
The game will start at 5:20 pm locally and will be nationally televised on NBC. The Chargers are currently the 5th seed in the 7-team playoff race in the AFC and need to hold on to that seeding to ensure that they face the 4th seed, or the worst division winner, which is currently the Houston Texans.
For the Chargers to beat the Chiefs this weekend, they need to run the football, which they have struggled to do recently. With starting running back J.K. Dobbins on the injured reserve list with a knee injury for the next three weeks, the Chargers will need backup Gus Edwards and rookie Kimani Vidal to have a good night, which would then open up some play-action opportunities for Herbert and the receivers. The Chargers need to get some production from some of the other receivers besides McConkey.
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