EL SEGUNDO — Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman pulled quarterback Justin Herbert aside before Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Roman recalled Thursday that he had a simple, but slightly unusual message for Herbert going into what loomed as a pivotal game.
“I told him before the game, ‘This game is going to be different now,’” Roman said of their pregame conversation. “‘You’ve got to trust me on this. We’re going to try to pound these guys early.’ And, you know, we did that. As we got going, more balance started to take place.”
Roman called six consecutive running plays on the Chargers’ first possession and eight of 11 on a drive that resulted in the first of Cameron Dicker’s three field goals in their 16-13 victory over the Chiefs. It continued a trend, a different mindset in play-calling since the bye in Week 12.
The Chargers have run the ball far more often during their victories over the Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles and Las Vegas Raiders coming off their bye week when compared to their first three games of the season. The ratio of runs to passes has been flipped since the start of the season.
In the first three games of the season, victories over the Chiefs, Raiders and Denver Broncos, the Chargers passed the ball 108 times and ran it 79. In their most recent three-game winning streak, they have passed the ball 76 times and run it 110 times, a complete reversal.
Herbert and Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh seemed perplexed when questioned Wednesday about the recent change in their offensive approach, but Roman acknowledged there has been a shift in their mindset. It’s likely due to what’s been working for the Chargers.
But Herbert’s fractured left hand probably has played a role, too.
Herbert was injured in the first quarter of the Chargers’ 31-14 victory Nov. 30 over the Raiders and underwent stabilizing surgery the next day. His total of 29 attempts this past Sunday against the Chiefs was the most times he’s passed since he was hurt. The Chargers also ran 29 times against Kansas City.
The Chargers passed for 210 yards and ran for 94 more against the Chiefs.
“I think it’s a week-to-week thing, it really is,” Roman said. “It’s an obvious shift that has taken place based on circumstances. There are some games where our running game was a huge factor in our success, (especially in victories over) Minnesota and Pittsburgh, and even last week.
“I would say there was definitely a little bit of a mindset shift moving into December. Looking ahead, (we’re) looking at everything. This week is a different week. If teams are really good against the run or really good against the pass, you want to be able to do what they’re not good at.
“Being one dimensional, I have no interest in that. I want to be good at everything and I want to be able to exploit the other team’s perceived weaknesses, and that can change during the game. But we like to be balanced and we’d like to be able to do what’s going to win the game, especially at this time of the year.”
SCOUTING REPORT
The Dallas Cowboys, the Chargers’ opponent Sunday, have one of the lowest-ranked defenses in the NFL.
The Cowboys are 31st among the league’s 32 teams in points allowed per game (30), 29th in net yards allowed per game (374.9), 18th in net rushing yards allowed per game (120.1), 32nd in net passing yards allowed per game (254.8) and 19th in yards given up per play (5.42).
“Well, I think the beginning of the season was really tough on them statistically, moving up through the beginning of October,” Roman said. “Then you start to see them start to play the Eagles and then play the Chiefs and some other teams, too, and they have had some really good moments.”