The Chargers offensive line was superb against the Bengals as four of the five starters landed amongst the top five in Pro Football Focus grades.
The Chargers got big games out of their offensive and defensive lines to go with Ladd McConkey’s career day. Justin Herbert also showed out in the first half to help build a 21-point lead over the Bengals on Sunday night.
Defensively, without Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu stepped up with 1.5 sacks and some massive plays down the stretch to secure a game many believed was a must-win entering the more difficult half of the 2024 schedule.
Without further ado, let’s go ahead and dive in to see how Pro Football Focus graded out the Chargers in their latest win.
Offense
Best (min. 20 snaps played)
WR Ladd McConkey – 85.7
OT Joe Alt – 84.1
OG Trey Pipkins – 81.3
OT Rashawn Slater – 79.1
OG Zion Johnson – 77.4
The player of the game rightfully earned the highest grade of the game for any Chargers player. McConkey led the team with six receptions and posted a career-high 123 receiving yards to help down the Bengals in primetime.
Well would you look at this! Four of the Chargers’ starting five offensive linemen graded out amongst the top five players vs. Cincy. Rookie Joe Alt led the way, allowing one pressure on over 40+ pass pro snaps. He posted a run block and pass block of 84.4 and 80.8, respectively.
Pipkins led the ground game with an 86.6 run block grade while Johnson led all linemen with an 82.2 in pas blocking.
Worst
FB Scott Matlock – 53.9
WR Quentin Johnston – 61.3
WR Joshua Palmer – 64.0
TE Tucker Fisk – 73.3
RB J.K. Dobbins – 74.8
Just go ahead and consider this section of the grades a wash. The Chargers were so strong on offense that some highly-graded players ended up here.
Let’s move on!
Defense
Best
S Alohi Gilman – 83.3
LB Denzel Perryman – 75.1
CB Cam Hart – 74.3
S Derwin James – 72.8
DT Poona Ford – 69.2
Gilman was solid across the board and almost had an interception if it wasn’t for an ill-timed roughing the passer penalty. Perryman looked liked a missile at times the way he closed on ball carriers around the line of scrimmage. His 83.5 tackling grade was the best on the team.
Hart was rough in run defense (40.2) and tacking (49.4) but his 81.0 coverage grade was tops on the team among qualifying teams.
James finished with all of his grades at or above 69.0. He had a great day punctuated by knocking down the final Hail Mary attempt by the Bengals.
Worst
CB Ja’Sir Taylor – 38.9
DT Otito Ogbonnia – 47.5
S Elijah Molden – 50.2
EDGE Bud Dupree – 54.2
LB Daiyan Henley – 55.5
Taylor was unfortunately on the end of several bad plays that helped the Bengals come back from their 21-point deficit. It’s bee a rough two games for him and that’s only allowed the pair of rookies to sail past him on the depth chart this season.
Tito was the author of one of the night’s biggest blunders when he flattened Joe Burrow on a play that ended in an interception for the Chargers. He was subsequently called for roughing the passer as he landed on Burrow with his full weight.
Henley played well but was unfortunately dinged for the play in which his attempt at a pass breakup turned into him helping Tee Higgins catch the ball near the end zone.