The Union-Tribune’s Nick Canepa grades the Chargers following Sunday’s 41-38 loss to the Lions at SoFi Stadium:
Quarterbacks: A
Justin Herbert’s broken left finger is down to the Band-Aid stage, and it sure didn’t affect him vs. the Lions. Was picked when it looked as though he was throwing one away. Missed too much early, but he got better when the run game finally worked. Wasn’t doing much until he threw a missile to Keenan “Third Down” Allen for the first TD. And then he was terrific. Alas, he couldn’t play defense and lost another one-score game.
Running backs: A
Austin Ekeler has been the most underused fine tailback in football at any level, including flag. Sunday, he got more chances, and the engine got some oil. He’s a weapon on an offense, with Mike Williams and Josh Palmer out, that has two — Ekeler and Keenan Allen. One short run and it’s rare when they follow with another.
Receivers: A+
If not for Keenan Allen, this team would score once a month. He is valedictorian, a brilliant player, off on his own with little help. Allen his shoulder midway through the third, just before Herbert found Jalen Guyton for a score to tie it up. Allen went out, returned, then went to the locker room, returned, and scored again. Rookie Quentin Johnston caught a 1-yard TD pass and had his coming-out party.
Offensive line: C+
Center Corey Linsley (heart) is beyond missed. But they pretty much bowed their necks against a fine front seven. Herbert wasn’t sacked. The goal-line blocking stunk.
Defensive line: D
Chargers allowed 177 first-half rushing yards, then got better. The “D” was going to have to show up against the best offensive line in The League, and it had muscular issues. Explosive Lions back Jahmyr Gibbs found some vacant property often in the early going. Nick Williams halted a TD and Austin Johnson headed a goal-line stand. Joey Bosa had a tackle-for-loss.
Linebackers: D-
Went soft on a fourth-and-six and a third-and-five. Put Khalil Mack on a wideout? Kenneth Murray is growing every week. Everyone got lost on David Montgomery’s 75-yard scoring run that made it 24-10,
Secondary: F+
Top cornerback Michael Davis sat with an illness. Derwin James was making plays in Hawthorne, but he can’t be more than one person, and he got beat for the fourth-quarter go-ahead TD. Asante Samuel Jr. had an obvious PI early. Deane Leonard stopped a touchdown. Alohi “Goodbye” Gilman got beat on a 47-yard pass on the first series, leading to a field goal. Couldn’t find Amon-Ra St. Brown with a metal director.
Special teams: A
Cameron Dicker The Kicker made an early field goal and JK Scott punted well.
Coaching: D
OC Kellen Moore made some nice adjustments after a mediocre start and got things rolling against a fine defense. But head coach/defensiuve guru Brandon Staley allowed too much and couldn’t get the big stop when it mattered.
Next opportunity — at Green Bay: B
The Pack aren’t good and the tundra probably won’t be frozen.
