Quentin Johnston accounted for three drops against the Ravens, one of which ended a pivotal drive in the fourth quarter.
The Chargers could not string together their fifth consecutive win as they fell to the Ravens 30-23 at home on Monday Night Football. The loss brings the Chargers’ record to 7-4 and has them sitting as the AFC’s No. 6 seed in the playoffs were the season to end today.
After a fast start that saw the Chargers lead 10-0 in the first quarter, Los Angeles was then outscored 30-6 the rest of the way before Gus Edwards scored a touchdown in garbage time to make the score look better than it really was.
Here are this week’s lone winner and a pair of losers from the recent loss.
Winners
QB Justin Herbert
Herbert’s final stat line against the Ravens could have been a whole lot prettier if his receivers would have made some fairly routine catches for him in the second half. Still, he finished with 218 yards on 21-of-36 passing with zero touchdowns or interceptions.
Herbert did run in a score on the team’s opening drive which really helped set the tone early for the Chargers are they built a quick 10-0 lead. He’d end the day with 29 yards on four carries.
Further extending hid franchise record streak of consecutive passes without an interception, Herbert continues to play very clean ball. At the same time, I can understand the frustration from fans who still want to see more touchdown passes getting thrown. Those will come, but each week we’re all reminded that wide receiver is still near the top of the list for the Bolts. Herbert is doing nearly everything he can. If he could provide separation for his pass catchers, I’m sure he’d do that, too.
Losers
CB Kristian Fulton
Two of Fulton’s three worst games in coverage have come over the past two weeks and Monday night’s performance against the Ravens was his worst by a good margin. Per Pro Football Focus, Fulton recorded the worst coverage grade by any Charger with a 45.7. His previous season low in that area was 56.3 against the Broncos in Week Six.
On the same drive, Fulton was called for pass interference on Ravens wideout Rashod Bateman that helped bring the Ravens into Chargers territory. On the very next play, Fulton was covering Bateman on a go route up the left sideline. Lamar Jackson lofted a pass towards the two players and Bateman managed to haul in the pass through the contact by Fulton who did not turn his head at all while defending the pass. The play ended in a 40-yard touchdown that gave the Ravens the lead which they never gave back.
Fulton missed some time in recent weeks only to return just before the Chargers schedule saw a rise in difficulty. The lumps he’s taken shouldn’t be a big surprise, but it’s definitely tough to watch after rookies Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still were holding the fort down well in his absence.
WR Quentin Johnston
This was the type of night that Johnston probably wished would have come to an end much sooner than it did.
The 2023 first-round pick had multiple drops against the Ravens, all of which came in the second half when the Chargers offense was sputtering and struggling to move the ball down the field. One specifically came on a crossing route that would have surely converted a third-and-six with the Chargers down 14. The ball hit Johnston perfectly in the hands while in stride but he looked away before fully securing the catch.
On the final drive for the Chargers, despite scoring to make it a seven-point game in the end, Johnston dropped back-to-back passes on first and second down.
This night is going to do some short-term damage to his confidence, but he’s got to remember who currently leads this team in touchdown catches (him) and get back to work.