The Chargers really had a shot at getting their first win of the season against the reigning Super Bowl champs. They really did. Even after two bad first half interceptions from Justin Herbert, it all came down to one final drive for the Chargers.
But alas, it wasn’t meant to be.
There was a lot of bad during Sunday’s loss. We’ve come to expect that throughout a very frustrating first month of the season. There was also some good that needs to be celebrated, but it’s unfortunate that it wasn’t enough to finally get this team over the hump.
Let’s talk about it.
Winners
QB Justin Herbert (Second Half)
It really was a tale of two halves for Herbert.
In the first half, he completed less than half his passes and did not break 40 passing yards. In the second half, he topped 150 yards and a touchdown, including a few clutch throws in the fourth quarter to Quentin Johnston and Tre’ Harris.
It also wasn’t a surprise that when the offense simplified itself and went into full two-minute mode, Herbert looked much more comfortable running the offense. From a down-to-down basis in the final 15 minutes, it truly looked like the Herbert of old. He looked COMFORTABLE. He looked POISED.
If Mike McDaniel and Jim Harbaugh do not make a note of that going forward, then shame on them because it was night and day.
EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu
On the second play of the entire game, Tuli picked off Sam Darnold to get the ball right back after Herbert’s opening play turnover. Tuli followed the running back to the sideline on a swing route and when Darnold pulled the trigger, the back slipped and was not in a position to contest at the catch point.
While Tuli did not record a sack, he helped bottle up the run game and created pressure to keep Darnold jittery in the pocket. His 91.6 overall game grade from PFF was also his highest grade of the young season.
EDGE Khalil Mack
Mack recorded his third sack of the season and is currently on pace to record his second double-digit sack season since being traded from the Bears during the Brandon Staley era.
In a very disapponting season thus far, especially for all the veterans that continue to put their bodies on the line and put off their eventual retirement, Mack has been an all-around difference-maker up front. If the postseason isn’t ever going to bounce his way, then he can at least pad his career stats on the way out the door.
Losers
QB Justin Herbert (First Half)
As mentioned above, Herbert’s first half was a far cry from his second half performance.
Herbert began the game with an ugly interception where he targeted tight end Oronde Gadsden over the middle. I gave Herbert the benefit of the doubt initially because it looked like linebacker Drake Thomas was covered in his line of sight by the offensive line before showing up just after Herbert pulled the trigger. However, a Seahakws safety was also right there to undercut the pass if Thomas did not make the play.
Either way you looked at that one, it was going to end up being a concerning decision.
Then there was the second interception.
This one looked even more concerning. After watching the replauy numerous times, there’s not reason Herbert should have thrown the pass. It was on a double slant concept and Herbert was looking to hit Ladd McConkey on the second slant. The thing is, linebacker Ernest Jones dropped back into the window of the slants and even with him sitting squarely in the passing window, Herbert threw it anyway. It could not have been an easier pick for Jones.
Herbert now has six interceptions in four games played this season.
DT Justin Eboigbe
Eboige has been a bright spot on this defense for most of the this young season but his decision to fall on top of Darnold after he slid was nearly more catastrophic than it ended up being.
With a few seconds left before the two-minute warning, Darnold was flushed from the pocket and headed towards the sideline. It was third down and the Chargers needed to get a stop to have enough time to put together a final drive to tie the game.
Darnold’s slide sealed the Chargers’ chances of getting the ball back to run a two-minute drill. However, Eboigbe didn’t just touch Darnold down, he fell entirely on his head. He was then flagged for unnecessary roughness and gave Seattle a fresh set of down.
The Seahawks ultimately did punt back to the Chargers with a little over 90 seconds left in the game so they had a shot nonetheless, but for Eboigbe to be that undisciplined and lack that awareness in the moment was a really bad look.
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