Justin Herbert was the Chargers’ highest-graded player for the second time in the past three weeks, finishing with an elite 91.6 game grade by Pro Football Focus.
The Chargers and Justin Herbert did not need to throw the ball all that much against a leaky Titans defense that allowed them to run the ball effectively enough to put together multiple drives consisting of double-digit plays. They ended with an average clip of 3.7 yards and never had a run longer than 12 yards, but when it mattered most in the second half, both Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins were able to churn out the needed real estate.
A big shoutout to the offensive line in this one, too. They did a great job of keeping Herbert clean and opening just enough holes in the run game.
While it wasn’t a very flashy performance, the Chargers essentially won by three scores before allowing a garbage time touchdown in the final 60 seconds of regulation.
So, in a game that didn’t really have many fireworks, who ended up standing out the most?
Let’s go ahead and dive in.
Offense
Best (min. 20 snaps played)
QB Justin Herbert – 91.6
TE Tyler Fisk – 73.8
OG Zion Johnson – 72.8
TE Will Dissly – 72.6
OT Joe Alt – 72.0
Herbert records his second 90.0+ grade of the past three weeks. He remains the highest-graded player in the span across all players.
Recently signed to the active roster, Fisk recorded a 68.2 grade in both run blocking and pass protection. He played a very solid game for the Chargers.
Johnson recorded a 79.4 in pass protection to lead the team. Alt was right behind him in that area with a 78.5. Johnson (67.9) and Alt (66.9) were also second and third in run blocking, both coming behind Fisk.
Dissly led the Chargers with five receptions and had the team’s highest receiving grade among qualifying players (72.7).
Worst
FB Scott Matlock – 49.6
RB J.K. Dobbins – 52.8
WR Quentin Johnston – 55.7
OG Jamaree Salyer – 61.2
OT Rashawn Slater – 66.1
Matlock’s grade was mainly dragged down by a 28.7 in pass protection along with the third-worst run block grade on the team (51.6). I don’t know if the fullback experiment is honestly working all that much at this point in the season, but the Chargers seem set on making it a thing so on we march.
The rest of the grades here truly aren’t all that bad. Slater and Salyer being included here mainly has to do with the lack of qualifying players on offense. Dobbins had the team’s lowest rushing grade at 52.1 which certainly hurt his overall, but every other grade was at or below 60.0, as well.
Johnston’s grade took the biggest hit from a run block grade of 39.9, by far the worst on the team.
Defense
Best
EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu – 71.2
EDGE Bud Dupree – 69.1
CB Cam Hart – 67.4
DT Poona Ford – 67.3
DT Morgan Fox – 67.1
The defense wasn’t perfect, but they held the Titans in check for most of the night. With Khalil Mack only playing four snaps, Tuli and Dupree each notched two sacks and led the way for a pass rush that got to Will Levis seven times on Sunday.
Once again, one of the team’s rookie cornerbacks was amongst the team’s highest-graded players on defense. Hart was strong across the board, including the team’s second-best run defense grade behind only Derwin James (69.6).
Ford recorded his second sack of the season and ended with the team’s best pass rush grade (70.8). Fox was solid with all of his grades coming in above 60.0.
Worst
DT Otito Ogbonnia – 34.2
EDGE Joey Bosa – 51.1
LB Denzel Perryman – 52.7
S Alohi Gilman – 57.3
CB Ja’Sir Taylor – 57.8
Bosa recorded a sack on Sunday that pushed him into second place all time (70.0) in Chargers history behind Leslie O’Neal. He was impactful in his limited snap count, but finished with the team’s second-worst tackling grade at 24.5. Perryman wasn’t much better in that area with a 28.7.
Gilman actually had the team’s top tackling grade at 85.0. The rest of his grades hovering around average, including coverage (58.9) which weigh against his grade much more than tackling.