While the 2024 season has already been full of ups and downs for the Los Angeles Chargers, the team’s performances have remained relatively consistent.
It is evident through seven weeks that star quarterback Justin Herbert has no true number one receiver. While rookie Ladd McConkey has had a solid start to his first NFL campaign, leading the team in receiving yards so far, his best game yielded just 63 yards — far from star-type numbers.
With the departures of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams this past offseason, it is impossible to imagine the Chargers will not be in the market for a wide receiver before the November 5 trade deadline. As rumors swirl regarding Rams star receiver Cooper Kupp and other weapons around the league, Herbert must be pounding the table for the Chargers to make a splashy move on offense.
Despite the low-scoring loss, Herbert played a clean game on Monday, completing 27 of his 39 passes for 349 yards. This time around it was tight end Will Dissly who led the team in receiving yards, hauling in eight of his 11 targets for 81 yards. Similarly to weeks past, a plethora of skill position players received targets, as nine Chargers caught a ball.
J.K. Dobbins was unable to replicate his efficient day versus Denver last week, carrying the ball 14 times for just 40 yards. L.A. finished with just 59 rushing yards as a team, a season low, an especially damning figure for a coaching staff that prides itself on its ability to run the ball.
The Chargers’ opening offensive drive was a precursor for what was to come for Los Angeles. From just across midfield, Herbert found newly activated receiver Jalen Reagor wide open on the left sideline for a 41-yard bomb, seemingly setting up L.A. with an early red zone opportunity. However, before Reagor could get down or out of bounds, Cardinals cornerback Starling Thomas V managed to punch the football out of Reagor’s hand, who fumbled it into the endzone for a touchback.
Reagor, a practice squad player until Monday after being signed in September, has been unable to find his footing with a team. The fifth-year speedster’s deep catch was his lone reception of the day, as L.A. desperately looks for receiving options.
This was the closest L.A. would come to a touchdown, as for the first time this year the team failed to find the endzone for an entire game. Kicker Cam Dicker was L.A.’s lone scorer, nailing all five of his field goal attempts.
On the bright side, for the third straight week, the Chargers defense forced a turnover on its opponents opening drive. Only this time, they would give it right back. Defensive tackle Teair Tart intercepted Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray off a pass Khalil Mack tipped pass. As Tart returned the pick, Cardinals receiver Michael Wilson punched the football out of Tart’s hands and recovered the football for Arizona.
Although the unit started with that early blunder, the Chargers defense impressed yet again. While it failed to sack the elusive Murray and had no answers for the Cardinals’ rushing attack, Jesse Minter’s group continues to impress where it matters most: the scoreboard.
Los Angeles’ defense has held all six of its opponents to 20 or fewer points this season, with the Pittsburgh Steelers being the only team to break out of the teens with 20 in Week 3.
The defense held Murray and his pass catchers in check, as the former Heisman Trophy winner completed 14 of his 26 pass attempts for 145 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Tight end Trey McBride and running back James Conner would lead Arizona with 51 receiving yards a piece.
It was the Cardinals’ ground attack that put them over the edge in this matchup, totaling 181 as a team. Conner led the way with 19 carries for 101 yards, while Murray added 64 more himself, including a 44-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to put Arizona on top.
Los Angeles would respond to Murray’s scamper with two field goals, before kicking off to Arizona with 1:54 left and a 15-14 lead. An unnecessary roughness penalty and a 33-yard catch-and-run by Conner would be the key plays to set up Chad Ryland’s go-ahead 32-yard field goal as time expired.
The 3-3 Chargers will host the 2-5 New Orleans Saints next week in what feels like a must-win game for both teams’ playoff hopes. L.A. cannot afford to lose winnable games at home in a tight AFC wildcard race, and a 2-6 record would all but end New Orleans’ season.