It was a devastating loss for the Chargers in Week 14, all but ending their chances at the AFC West title. After a slow start, Jim Harbaugh’s squad responded with a stellar second half to give them a chance at getting the win.
There were still things to be satisfied with in the loss, including these five standout players:
QB Justin Herbert
Despite the absence of top wideout Ladd McConkey, Herbert still played exceptional. The impressive play came despite the fact that the game was on the road against a good defense, in addition to him playing through injury throughout the game. Herbert completed 70% of his passes for 213 yards through the air and his first passing TD since Week 11 against the Bengals. Most importantly, he continues to take care of the ball as still has just one interception this year across 366 pass attempts.
WR Quentin Johnston
With McConkey out, Johnston stepped up with five catches for 48 yards and a late third quarter TD that gave the Chargers the lead. He held on for a huge third down conversion early in the game despite taking a big hit. Johnston continues to show signs of being an improved player after his disappointing 2023 rookie season.
TE Stone Smartt
The Chargers’ tight end room has struggled throughout the 2024 campaign. Will Dissly has stepped up at times, but he left Sunday night’s game with a shoulder injury. That forced Smartt into action, who played a season-high 22 snaps. The third-year tight end finished with three catches and a career-high 54 yards and could see more playing time moving forward.
LB Daiyan Henley
Henley has not only emerged as the Chargers’ best linebacker this season, but he’s been one of the best defenders in the AFC altogether. In the loss, he was all over the field with a team-high eight total tackles. Henley provided two pressures and was exceptional in coverage, which included a forced incompletion.
CB Kristian Fulton
Fulton continues to have a breakout season for Jesse Minter and the Chargers. The veteran helped lock up Kansas City’s wide receivers, as they finished with just 210 passing yards. In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, Fulton was the fourth-best corner in Week 14 in terms of limiting separation from opposing wideouts. With Asante Samuel Jr.’s injuries this season, Fulton’s emergence has been even more crucial.