Bolts From The Blue
The Chargers survived a scare by the Titans 27-20 on Sunday. While the usual suspects performed and carried the team to victory, it was a pair of first-year Chargers that helped spur their team to victory.
Let’s go ahead and take a look at this week’s winners and losers from Week Nine.
EDGE Odafe Oweh
Oweh had his best game in a Chargers uniform against the Titans, recording a pair of sacks and finishing as the highest-graded player on the defense by Pro Football Focus. He’s been stellar in a rotational role for the Chargers which has been able to get the most out of his pass rush skills while limiting his snaps as a run defender. Great defenses always have three or more good to great pass rushers and the Chargers have found a great third in Oweh to pair with Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu.
WR Tre’ Harris
Harris only grabbed two passes against the Titans but his second catch was one of the biggest plays of the game as it came while the Chargers were looking to ice the game with the ball in their hands.
With 3:31 remaining in regulation, Herbert dropped back on third-and-three. He fired a pass to Harris on a curl route that he ran just short of the sticks. Despite two Titans defenders attempting to bring him down, Harris was able to fight and contort his body to give himself a chance at falling backwards over the line to gain. The rookie did just that has he fell back on top of a defender and inched the ball just past the first down mark.
From there, the Bolts ran the ball six consecutive times before utilizing the victory formation.
LB Denzel Perryman
I thought this was a down game from Perryman mainly due to the opportunities he had in front of him that he could not capitalize on. There was a specific two-play sequence during the second quarter where he couldn’t corral an interception that hit him dead in the chest and then he whiffed on a tackle for loss after coming untouched on a blitz.
Then, for some unknown reason, he was on his phone during halftime searching his name on X where he found one of my tweets highlighting the unfortunate two plays.
I don’t know about you, but this just seems…not good? Why are you on your phone in a game that wasn’t going too great? For motivation? Honestly I don’t think there is a good reason to be had. The Chargers ended up winning, but one of their most experienced veterans was doing something most youngsters wouldn’t dream of doing in a professional locker room.
OG Foster Sarell
For the second consecutive game, Sarell filled in for starter Mekhi Becton at right guard and allowed exactly six pressures on Herbert. It was more than half the total pressures allowed on the day total (11) and not a great sign for the future protection plan...
