The good, the bad, the ugly from Chargers’ loss to Vikings
The Chargers fell to the Vikings, 27-20, in Week 10 of the 2021 season.
To recap, here is a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly from Los Angeles’ loss to Minnesota:
The good
Offensive line
The Chargers might not have had success on the offensive side of the ball, but the one sure thing is the line is not to blame for their abysmal showing. While the group did benefit from quick passes at times, the unit allowed just five pressures on the day. Another positive to note, Storm Norton allowed just one pressure for the second consecutive week.
Pass rush
Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen had their way. The majority of it falls on the secondary. Nonetheless, Kirk Cousins was still in the face of pressure throughout the game, particularly from Joey Bosa and Uchenna Nwosu. They combined for 17 pressures.
Run defense
It has been quite some time since this has found its way under this category. The Chargers made the point to put more bodies in the box to stop the run. As a result, the Vikings were held to 3.1 yards per carry on 33 attempts. The team’s tackling still needs to be cleaned up, nonetheless. Far from shored up, but encouraging signs.
The bad
Campbell was showing growth on a weekly basis, but he took a step back on Sunday. With Campbell lined up against Jefferson for the majority of the afternoon, Cousins went to the wideout early and often. He finished with nine catches on 11 targets for 143 yards.
Punt coverage
The Chargers’ punt coverage return unit has primarily consisted of rookies, and the lack of veteran experience was evident, especially after the loss of Ryan Smith. The Vikings exploited the youth, averaging 23 yards per punt, with a long of 45 yards.
Penalties
The Chargers were dinged for seven infractions for a total of 52 yards. The team has dealt with consistency in this area, and it has come back to bite them. Los Angeles must be more disciplined.
The ugly
Offensive output
The Chargers had their best offensive outing a week before against the Eagles, but they took a step back in Week 10. While they had their moments, it was not good enough to sustain drives for a long duration.
Quarterback Justin Herbert was far from perfect, as he only threw for 195 yards and had an interception. However, that all ties into missed throws, dropped passes, pass protection breakdowns, and play calls that forced him to come short of the sticks.
Defensive execution
The Chargers were able to get off the field in the first half, as the Vikings converted just one of their six third downs. However, it was a complete 360 in the last two quarters. Los Angeles allowed 4-of-6 conversions on third down.
One of the two stops was on 3rd-and-20 on the final drive, but an 18-yard completion to Thielen put Dalvin Cook in the perfect position to close out the game. The team was without Michael Davis and Nasir Adderley, which led to the big plays given up in coverage.
Between the two uglies, it resulted in Minnesota owning the time of possession, 36:15 to 23:45. In order to win games, the Bolts need to be better in both facets.
