The Chargers won handedly in an ugly game over the Steelers on Sunday Night Football. Running back Kimani Vidal posted another game of over 100 yards of offense while safety R.J. Mickens recorded his second interception this season. Wideout Ladd McConkey was also top amongst pass-catchers with a season-high 107 yards and a touchdown on four catches.
Behind these youngsters, the Chargers turned a dismal game into one of their best victories this year just one week after Pittsburgh beat the Colts whom
walloped the Bolts just a few week prior.
Let’s go ahead and see how the Chargers graded out in this week’s victory.
Offense
Best (min. 20 snaps)
RB Kimani Vidal – 77.2
WR Ladd McConkey – 71.3
TE Tyler Conklin – 65.5
OT Trey Pipkins – 61.3
WR Quentin Johnston – 61.2
Vidal put together another performance with over 100 yards of offense and it helped bleed the clock all night long in a lopsided win over the Steelers. He did not break off many explosives, but his consistent gains of six, seven, and eight yards were key in keeping the Steelers off the field.
McConkey turned a short catch into a 58-yard gain in the second half which was the longest play of the night. The Bolts score two plays later to help put Pittsburgh away for good.
Pipkins finished top among offensive linemen with a 73.9 pass block grade.
Worst
OT Austin Deculus – 35.1
TE Oronde Gadsden II – 37.0
TE/FB Tucker Fisk – 44.0
OG Mekhi Becton – 48.0
QB Justin Herbert – 50.5
Deculus finished with a pass block and run block grade below 40.0. He also allowed four pressures and remains one of the worst linemen for the Chargers whenever he plays.
Gadsden dropped multiple passes he got both hands on which certainly sunk his grade.
Becton led the Chargers with five sacks allowed and had the team’s worst pass block grade at 36.6.
Herbert threw a few questionable passes and missed some layups we’ve come to expect from him to always be completed. He played clean enough when it mattered, but the early lapses were enough to keep his grade lower than we’re used to seeing.
Defense
Best
S R.J. Mickens – 85.5
CB Nikko Reed – 79.2
EDGE Odafe Oweh – 77.2
LB Daiyan Henley – 75.7
CB Donte Jackson – 71.7
Mickens picked off his second pass of the year and he’s certainly going to keep this one all the same as the first since it was given to him by Aaron Rodgers. Reed also authored an excellent play on a broken up deep ball that helped stymie the Steelers in the first half. His 79.8 coverage grade was tops among all defensive backs.
Oweh did not record a sack but he was instrumental in the pass rush effort that brought down Rodger three times and kept him very uncomfortable on third downs.
Henley had a much better game in coverage compared to recent outings. His 80.1 in that category was the best mark for the Chargers from Sunday.
Worst
DT Teair Tart – 38.6
CB Cam Hart – 46.8
S Elijah Molden – 47.2
DT Jamaree Caldwell – 51.5
EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu – 53.4
Tart finished with a run defense and tackling grade below 30.0 which is pretty egregious. He did have the top pass rush grade on the team, however.
Hart’s grade was mainly brought down to poor grades in run defense and tackling, as well, but I thought he did better in coverage than what PFF gave him (52.2).
Caldwell’s 23.5 in tackling was the worst amongst all Chargers on a day where five Bolts finished below 30.0 in that category.
