It appeared through three quarters that it was another ugly Eagles performance, with the Chargers marching into the end zone courtesy of an Omari Hampton four-yard touchdown reception from Justin Herbert and subsequent five Jalen Hurts turnovers.
In between all of those events, the Eagles and Chargers on Monday night football was like a game mixed together in that fruit juicer that DeVonta Smith is so fond of.
Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Eagles squandered big-play opportunities and quality offensive possessions featuring AJ Brown, Saquon Barkley, and Dallas Goedert, but did come within 13–9 through three quarters.As the fourth quarter began , the Eagles ran a hurry-up and a fake Tush Push to take the lead 16–13. Following another Hurts interception, the Eagles’ defense responded once again, but the Chargers ultimately tied the game at 16–16. With less than three minutes left in the game up 16–13 — Jalen Hurt lofted a perfect pass to AJ Brown at the back of the end zone that was dropped.
Los Angeles then tied the game at the end of the 4th quarter. Philadelphia also squandered a near-complete defensive performance featuring seven sacks on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and three takeaways of their own. Then, in overtime , the Chargers took the ball first and kicked a go-ahead field goal.
The Eagles responded by connecting on big plays on the next drive, featuring connections from Hurts to Devonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and AJ Brown. On 1st and 10 inside the Chargers 20 — Hurts faked a handoff and was intercepted at the one-yard line by Los Angeles Safety Tony Jefferson.
The Chargers defend home turf against a booming Indianapolis Colts offense
Roughly a quarter of the way into the season, the Chargers are clearly one of the most banged-up and bruised teams in the league. Numerous injuries to offensive and defensive pieces have definitely slowed down the early-season momentum that put the rest of the league on notice, though Herbert and co. still have plenty of fight left in them, and will do anything to come out on top, as we saw last week in the 29-27 win against the Miami Dolphins.
This week, the Bolts will see a visiting 5-1 Indianapolis Colts squad at SoFi Stadium, a team that has continued to dominate in their own right, boasting a fantastic spread offense featuring the newly revitalized QB Daniel Jones, the explosive RB Jonathan Taylor, and the emerging rookie TE, Tyler Warren.
But they are not without plenty of injuries of their own. Currently, on the Colts’ injury report are a plethora of core pieces that could be sidelined for Sunday’s match. These injuries include CB Kenny Moore II (questionable, Achilles), RB Tyler Goodson (questionable, groin), CB Charvarius Ward (out, concussion), WR Josh Downs (out, concussion), and CB Mike Hilton (out, shoulder).
With such a weakened secondary against the Chargers, Herbert should be able to get the chemistry rolling with the pass game, especially with one of the best trios of receivers in the league in Keenan Allen, Ladd McConkey, and Quentin Johnston.
The Chargers’ run game is where things get a bit shaky, since rookie RB Omarion Hampton will continue to sit out of the action. In the meantime, back-up RB Kimani Vidal has done a great job in his place, and is expected to orchestrate the run-heavy offense once more.
Aside from Hampton sitting out, the Chargers injury report includes G Jamaree Salyer (questionable, knee), OT Joe Alt (doubtful, ankle), G Trey Pipkins III (out, knee), RB Hassan Haskins (questionable, chest), CB Elijah Molden ((doubtful, thumb), WR Derius Davis (questionable, knee), LB Troy Dye (questionable, thumb), LB Khalil Mack (injury reserve, elbow), and LB Denzel Perryman (injury reserve, ankle). It will be yet another uphill battle demanding the very best efforts from the next man up.
Both teams are potentially missing secondary pieces, plus two strong-armed QBs in spread offenses, which equals a promising recipe for an extremely fun shootout. We should see a high-scoring game with back-and-forth big-time plays, and as a football fan, nothing could be more exciting to watch.
Both teams currently sit in the top spots in their respective divisions, and certainly plan to continue doing so. Will the Chargers improve to 5-2? Find out this Sunday at a matinee showing.
The offensive line is going to be a focal point for the Los Angeles Chargers for the next few weeks. The Chargers lost Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater for the entire season after he suffered a torn patellar tendon during training camp. In Week 4, offensive tackle Joe Alt suffered a high-ankle sprain that will keep him sidelined for several weeks.
Those injuries are concerning for a Chargers offensive line that has allowed star quarterback Justin Herbert to be sacked 12 times this season, the ninth-most sacks given up in the league through the first four weeks. Keeping Herbert upright and healthy is a priority if Los Angeles wants to stay atop the competitive AFC West.
Per Daniel Popper of The Athletic, offensive coordinator Greg Roman told the media on Thursday that Herbert is taking too many hits early in the season. He thinks the offensive line needs to play better, but also thinks Herbert needs to adjust his style so he doesn’t absorb so many blows.
“Absolutely not. He’s getting hit too much, too many unnecessary hits,” Roman said of Herbert. “There’s gonna be some. But not that many. And he can help that, too. But it starts with everybody.”
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There’s only so much the Chargers can do to protect Herbert with a patchwork offensive line. 2022 sixth-round pick Austin Deculus, who has made one career start back in 2023, earned reps with the first team on Thursday with Alt not participating in practice. Offensive guard Mekhi Becton is still in the concussion protocol, though he did some individual drills.
Herbert is going to have to choose his time to play hero ball until the offensive line can prove they’re able to give the Pro Bowl quarterback time to hold onto the ball and wait for a talented receiver corps to bust coverage. Roman will need to rely on a strong running scheme and dial up some quick passes to help protect Herbert.
With their impressive 27-21 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, Los Angeles has shown they can be a threat to win the AFC. But they’ll only go as far as a healthy Herbert can take them.
Herbert and company face the New York Giants in a classic west coast versus east coast clash
Los Angeles ChargersCredit: Los Angeles Chargers
As one of the few undefeated teams left standing in the NFL, the Chargers have been playing their very best football since the move back to Los Angeles.
QB Justin Herbert has been wheelin’ and dealin’ like never before thanks to an all-star cast surrounding him. In week 3, the Bolts were able to muster up a tough-earned victory against the Denver Broncos thanks to a clutch field goal from kicker Cameron Dicker to end the game. With the team sitting atop the AFC West, we can expect the same level of intensity this Sunday as the Chargers square off against the New York Giants.
The Giants are currently in an interesting spot. On one hand, they have one of the brightest receiver talents in the league with sophomore WR Malik Nabers. He is so talented, in fact, that many speculate that he’s one good quarterback away from laying down routine stat lines similar to other elite receivers such as Ceedee Lamb and Justin Jefferson.
Their rookie RB, Cam Skattebo, is also quickly gaining mass recognition with his ferocious running style, reminiscent of what we saw with prime RB Ezekiel Elliot during his time with the Dallas Cowboys. He runs hard and tackles even harder.
But on the other hand, the Giants face a glaring quarterback issue. For the past 3 games of the season, veteran QB Russell Wilson has been the starter at that position, though the results have been less than favorable. Earlier this week, head coach Brian Daboll made the surprising announcement that the team would continue forward with rookie QB Jaxon Dart at the helm, which left many shocked by such a drastic bombshell so early in the season.
Dart was selected 25th overall in this year’s draft, and with how colorful a reputation that passionate New York sports fans are known to have, he certainly has some big shoes to fill.
Typically, rookie QBs spend their first year in the league sitting behind veteran QBs to absorb and learn as much as they can about playing the position at the highest level in the world, which can be a sensitive transition for some. Historically, more often than not, rookie QBs who are thrown into the fire end up losing their confidence because of the sheer difference in athleticism and talent they face in the NFL versus in college. But sometimes QBs do need a couple of years as a starter to fully develop their skills in this league, with Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers as a prime example.
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With all that said, the Chargers, specifically their defense, shouldn’t face too many issues when applying pressure to Dart when he’s in the pocket. If things go as expected, the Chargers should cruise through this one easily, though crazier things have happened. The team must never allow Dart to warm up and start connecting on throws because, at the end of the day, this is his first NFL start, so there are a lot of unknown variables at play here. Will Dart succumb to the pressure of Derwin James? Or is he the real deal—someone that can succeed right off the bat as a rookie, like we saw with QB Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders last season?
We’ll have a chance to find out if the Chargers’ pressure will turn Jaxson Dart into a diamond or into dust this Sunday.
In the second straight Sunday with a gut-wrenching loss, the Broncos fell three games to the back of the pack of the AFC West with a 23-20 loss to the Chargers. Here’s The Post’s report card from the loss.
OFFENSE — C-
Where to even begin? The Broncos’ first three drives Sunday went for three straight three-and-outs, a haunted house of penalties, ineffective run-blocking and personnel scattering on and off the field like lab rats. Up until a two-minute drill to end the first half, Denver had exactly 42 yards of offense. And then Sean Payton cast magic.
Bo Nix’s 52-yard touchdown bomb to Courtland Sutton on a fourth-and-2 opened the floodgates, and J.K. Dobbins got rolling in the second half after finishing with negative yardage in the first. But Denver bungled five — five — chances to extend their lead to two scores in the second half after taking resounding control of the game in the second half. The final one was a killer: Nix overthrowing Sutton streaking down the right sideline on a third-and-10 by a few fingertips. An image that’ll live in Broncos fans’ heads for a long time.
DEFENSE — B+
The demise of the Broncos’ pass-rush was greatly exaggerated.
Denver had three first-quarter sacks and never let up on Justin Herbert all day, even when the Chargers’ offense got going. It takes a significant amount of force to keep the 6-foot-6, 236-pound Herbert on the turf, and yet Dondrea Tillman popped him so hard in the fourth quarter that Herbert lay for a few beats after a third-down completion. The Chargers’ offensive line seemed to be simply waving feathers at the Broncos’ front in the second half, with Nik Bonitto blowing up star Los Angeles tackle Joe Alt all afternoon. But Herbert’s iron-clad frame kept firing, and the Chargers’ quarterback diced up the Broncos’ secondary on a couple of fourth-quarter drives to finish with 300 yards on the day.
SPECIAL TEAMS — B-
Darren Rizzi’s follow-up to a Week 2 disaster started with … more disaster. As the defense got off the field on the Chargers’ second drive of the day, outside linebacker Nik Bonitto somehow lined up in the neutral zone in punt coverage, giving the ball back on an offsides penalty. Punter Jeremy Crawshaw’s first boot fluttered outside the 20. Chargers punt returner Demario Davis reversed a second-quarter punt for 33 yards, too.
But Rizzi’s units pulled together nicely over the course of Sunday — and had a massive third-quarter swing on a strip-fumble by Jonah Elliss. Marvin Mims Jr. continued to feel out lanes in the return game, finishing with 56 yards on two punt returns, and Crawshaw had a banner day with a 47.1 average on seven punts.
COACHING — B
The Broncos’ late failings weren’t entirely on Sean Payton, who was trending towards an F here before unleashing fire and fury on the Chargers with the Nix-to-Sutton fake pitch at the end of the first half. He dialed up a beauty, too, on a third-and-long first-half play in which Nix simply fired too long to a wide-open Marvin Mims Jr. on a flea flicker. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph called some creative red-zone blitzes. And the Broncos had a chance to take the top off on that Sutton streak. Still, Payton is now 1-6 head-to-head against Jim Harbaugh. That’s gotta sting.
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Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts begins his sixth professional season carrying a mix of admiration and debate.
He is a Super Bowl champion, a Super Bowl MVP, and the unquestioned leader of one of the NFL’s most efficient offenses.
Yet his place among the league’s elite quarterbacks remains a polarizing subject. Some insist his impact extends far beyond statistics, while others point to modest passing totals compared with his peers.
As the 2025 season approaches, the conversation is no longer about whether Hurts belongs in the upper tier; it is about how his distinctive style compares to the gaudier numbers and accolades of rivals like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and Matthew Stafford.
Understanding Hurts requires viewing his production through a different lens, one shaped by team identity and situational dominance.
Hurts’ Style and Statistical Footprint
PHOTO: Casey Murphy/Unsplash
Hurts has yet to record a 4,000-yard passing season, but that limitation is deceptive. His 2022 campaign produced 3,701 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and another 760 yards rushing with 13 scores. Those numbers positioned him as a dual-threat whose efficiency mattered more than sheer volume.
In 2023, he logged 3,858 passing yards and 23 touchdowns, complemented by 15 rushing scores. The kind of production reflects how Philadelphia leans on him near the goal line.
Entering 2025, Hurts has compiled two Pro Bowl selections, a second-team All-Pro, and a championship resume. His success is often measured less by box scores and more by game control, especially late in contests when the Eagles close leads with his legs. For bettors and analysts alike, monitoring Jalen Hurts prop bets provides insight into how sportsbooks weigh his hybrid role.
Mahomes: The Benchmark of Modern Quarterbacking
Any comparison of elite quarterbacks begins with Patrick Mahomes. Since assuming the starting role in 2018, Mahomes has posted seasons of 5,097 and 5,250 passing yards, alongside a staggering 50-touchdown campaign.
His career includes three Super Bowl victories, multiple MVPs, and six Pro Bowl appearances. The Chiefs’ seven-year run of success makes him the undisputed standard, one regularly featured across NFL prop insights.
When measured against Mahomes, Hurts appears conservative in yardage and passing output. Yet Hurts owns a head-to-head playoff win against Kansas City, an achievement few can claim.
The distinction highlights a central tension: Mahomes dazzles with sustained statistical dominance, while Hurts wins through adaptability and balance. Both approaches have achieved victories in the NFL, but one appeals to highlight reels, the other to clock management and situational mastery.
Allen’s Power and Playoff Frustrations
Josh Allen represents another contrasting model. His 2020 and 2021 seasons produced 4,544 and 4,407 passing yards, respectively, along with 36-plus touchdown campaigns. Add in nearly 800 rushing yards in 2021, and Allen epitomizes raw physical capability.
His first MVP in 2024 validated years of near misses, but Buffalo has yet to clear its playoff hurdles. Here, Hurts stands taller: Philadelphia captured a championship during his run, while Buffalo continues searching.
Allen’s highs outpace Hurts statistically, yet his turnovers, 23 in 2019, 27 in 2022, underscore risks tied to his aggressive style. Hurts, by comparison, turns the ball over less often despite heavy rushing usage. The comparison suggests Hurts may not match Allen’s ceiling in raw production, but he offers steadier efficiency in critical moments.
Jackson’s Unique Dominance
Lamar Jackson reshaped Baltimore’s offense when he became the starter, producing an electrifying 1,206 rushing yards in 2019 alongside 36 passing touchdowns. His two MVPs by 2024 signal recognition of this unique style, but postseason frustrations mirror Buffalo’s.
Jackson has four Pro Bowls and three All-Pro nods, yet no Super Bowl appearance. Hurts, by contrast, already owns the ring Jackson chases.
Statistically, Jackson’s rushing totals exceed Hurts with 1,005 yards in 2020 versus Hurts’ 784 in 2021. That said, Hurts’ blend of efficiency and postseason success provides a counterweight. Each has transformed expectations for quarterback mobility, but Hurts’ Super Bowl triumph grants him a credential that changes legacy conversations.
Burrow’s Precision and Resilience
Joe Burrow embodies pocket precision. His 2021 and 2022 seasons included 4,611 and 4,475 passing yards, while his 2024 campaign reached 4,918 yards with 43 touchdowns. Injuries, however, have disrupted his trajectory, limiting his ability to sustain momentum.
Burrow’s Bengals reached a Super Bowl but fell short, leaving his resume defined by potential rather than hardware. Hurts, in contrast, combines slightly lower statistical output with a healthier run of postseason availability.
Where Burrow commands admiration for accuracy and composure, Hurts earns credit for durability and adaptability in varied game scripts. The two often intersect in conversations about leadership: Burrow’s calm precision versus Hurts’ quiet command. Both inspire teammates, but only Hurts has parlayed that influence into a championship so far.
Herbert and Stafford: Statistical Brilliance and Longevity
Justin Herbert burst onto the scene with 4,336 passing yards as a rookie and later eclipsed 5,000 in 2021. Yet his Chargers remain playoff underachievers, undone by collapses such as blowing a 27-point lead.
His statistics, including multiple 30-touchdown campaigns, present an intriguing counter to Hurts’ balanced approach. But Herbert lacks postseason validation, leaving Hurts with a stronger legacy despite smaller yardage totals.
Matthew Stafford, meanwhile, represents longevity. He exceeded 5,000 passing yards in 2011 and captured a Super Bowl with the Rams in 2021, but his career has been uneven, marked by injuries and losing records. Compared to Stafford, Hurts already matches the championship milestone but adds rushing dynamism that Stafford never possessed.
Why Hurts’ Value Defies Conventional Metrics
The debate over Hurts’ ranking often turns to numbers he may never achieve. Philadelphia’s offense prioritizes time of possession, rushing efficiency, and situational execution over gaudy passing stats. That approach ensures Hurts’ success will always appear muted beside Mahomes’ fireworks or Allen’s arm strength.
Yet context matters: Hurts has led his team to 14 wins in 2022 and captured the ultimate prize in 2024. He enters 2025 as the NFL’s 11th-highest-paid quarterback, a paradox given his accomplishments.
The value he brings lies not in eclipsing 5,000 yards but in embodying a system designed to win when it matters most.
For Philadelphia, and perhaps for the league’s evolving understanding of quarterback play, Hurts may represent the future standard: efficiency, leadership, and adaptability over spectacle.
After speculation that the Eagles would be paying their WR2 next after agreeing to a 3-year $66M extension with Jordan Mailata just two weeks ago. News finally broke on Monday that not only would DeVonta Smith’s 5th year be picked up, but it also came with a nifty 3-year extension.
The Eagles will now have the following players on the offense under contract through 2026:
QB Jalen Hurts
QB Kenny Pickett
WR A.J. Brown
WR DeVonta Smith
RB Saquon Barkley
LT Jordan Mailata
LG Landon Dickerson
OL Tyler Steen
RT Lane Johnson
Not a bad thing to have 8 offensive starters under contract for the next 3 seasons!
But how did the Eagles get all these top tier players under contract without being well over the cap? (like the Saints have been for years)
Ahead Of The League
This is now back to back off-seasons where Howie Roseman and co. have been able to extend franchise cornerstone players before the other 31 teams in the league came to terms with their counterparts.
QB Frenzy
Starting with Jalen Hurts on April 17th 2023. A 5 year, $255M contract was signed ahead of the following quarterbacks
Joe Burrow – 5 years, $275M signed on September 7th 2023
Justin Herbert – 5 years, $262.5M signed on July 25th 2023
Lamar Jackson – 5 years, $260M signed on April 27th 2023
Offensive Line Mania
Not only did the Eagles get away with drafting Jordan Mailata in the 7th round of the 2018 draft. They’ve now extended him. Twice! While doing so, the Eagles have gotten ahead by signing Mailata to a 3 year, $66M deal. Now under contract until 2029.
There weren’t many Offensive Tackles looking to be signed this off-season, but getting an extra 3 years from Mailata at $22M was perfect value giving some previously signed OT’s including:
Laremy Tunsil – 3 year, $75M signed on March 19th 2023
Andrew Thomas – 5 year, $117.5M signed on July 26th 2023
However, this was the perfect market to get the Left Tackle signed for those extra years. Because the following will be due for a 5th year option and probable extensions in the next year.
Penei Sewell – drafted 7th overall 2021
Rashawn Slater – drafted 11th overall 2021
Ronnie Stanley – 5 year, $98.75M signed in 2020
Setting The WR Market
And that’s exactly how the Eagles have set the WR market with DeVonta Smith’s new deal.
Had the Eagles not worked as quickly as possible on this deal. They would’ve been at risk of the following Receivers potentially getting record breaking deals done first.
Since we don’t have contract money for these other receivers, let’s keep it simple and compare Yards/TDs.
DeVonta Smith – 50GP, 3,178 Rec Yards, 19 TD. signed a 3 year, $75M deal.
Justin Jefferson – 60GP, 5,899 Rec Yards, 30 TD. On a 5th year option for $19.74M
Ja’Marr Chase – 45GP, 3,717 Rec Yards, 29 TD.
Tee Higgins – 53GP, 3,684 Rec Yards, 24TD. On a $21.8M Franchise Tag
CeeDee Lamb – 61GP, 5,145 Rec Yards, 32TD. On a 5th year option for $17.99M
With DeVonta Smith’s extension checked off the offseason to-do list. The next big milestone will be the draft. Just one week away.
INDIANAPOLIS — The Los Angeles Chargers tried to keep their postgame playoff celebration private.
No such luck. After shaking hands and walking off the field in Indianapolis, players jogged through a tunnel to blaring music, high-fives and hugs and headed into a first-time locker room scene for many of these Chargers — a playoff party.
Austin Ekeler scored on two 1-yard runs and Los Angeles clinched its first postseason berth since 2018, intercepting Nick Foles three times to beat the overmatched Colts 20-3 on Monday night.
“We’re in it, now let’s go win it!” one player screamed before reporters were allowed into the locker room.
The bash included second-year coach Brandon Staley handing a game ball to owner Dean Spanos, whose organization earned its second playoff spot since 2014, a little less than a year after a brutal overtime loss at Las Vegas in last season’s finale game kept LA out of the postseason.
Justin Herbert threw for 235 yards and Cameron Dicker made two short field goals for the Chargers (9-6), who won their third straight after getting the help they needed this weekend from Las Vegas, Miami, New England and the New York Jets. When all four lost, the Chargers simply needed a win to clinch a playoff spot, and they did their part.
“It’s been a while,” receiver Keenan Allen said after catching 11 passes for 104 yards, his sixth straight 100-yard game on the road. “The playoffs are never guaranteed, so when you get in, it feels good. Now the season starts.”
Indy (4-10-1) lost its fifth straight under interim coach Jeff Saturday, though this was a more ho-hum defeat than the previous two, when it gave up 33 fourth-quarter points to Dallas and blew a 33-0 halftime lead at Minnesota.
Foles, making his first Colts start, squandered two first-quarter scoring chances by throwing picks, wound up getting sacked seven times and went 0 for 10 on third down.
As usual, though, Indy’s third starting quarterback of the season was only part of the problem.
“We started out, thought we had some shots early but obviously the turnovers hurt you and dissuade you to keep doing it,” Saturday said. “We ran the ball well, but when it’s second-and-14, it’s hard to catch back up. I thought we ran the ball effectively but couldn’t stick with it.”
Herbert also struggled early until Ekeler scored the first points of the game with his short TD run midway through the second quarter.
The Colts took advantage of two personal foul calls that led to the ejection of Pro Bowl safety Derwin James to drive for their only score of the game, a 46-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin.
But that was it for the Colts. Dicker’s two kicks made it 13-3, and Ekeler’s second scoring run sealed the victory.
Ekeler had 18 carries for 67 yards, became the fourth player in 15 years to score at least 15 TDs in back-to-back seasons and needs one more catch to post the sixth 100-catch season by a running back in league history.
While Herbert went 24 of 31 and his three-game streak of 300-yard games ended, the numbers didn’t matter. The win did.
“It was tough to lose to the Raiders at the end (last year),” Herbert said. “The guys in that locker room deserve this. So it’ll be exciting to have that opportunity.”
Foles was 17 of 29 for 143 yards and threw his final interception in the third quarter. The Super Bowl MVP after the 2017 season with Philadelphia was sacked seven times in his first NFL start since Dec. 26, 2021, with Chicago.
FUTURE PLANS
The Colts have already fired offensive coordinator Marcus Brady and coach Frank Reich and have benched quarterback Matt Ryan twice. Ryan was inactive behind Foles and backup Sam Ehlinger on Monday night.
Team owner Jim Irsay addressed the future of his organization during an interview that aired on ESPN’s pregame show. Irsay said Saturday will be a candidate to keep the job next season.
“I will go into it open-minded, and I will be looking for the best direction for us to win,” Irsay said. “Jeff I believe is an outstanding candidate so, obviously, he’s competitive for that. Chris Ballard will be our general manager and the quarterback, it’s very much up in the air right now on what direction we’ll be going.”
SHORT RETURN
James returned after missing two games with a quadriceps injury, but he didn’t even make it through the first half.
Two plays after being called for a facemask when Michael Pittman Jr.’s helmet came off, James was flagged for hitting a defenseless receiver with the crown of the helmet and was ejected with 5:18 to play. The hit sent Colts receiver Ashton Dulin to the locker room, and Dulin was eventually ruled out with a concussion.
Staley said James also entered the concussion protocol, adding that the helmet-to-helmet hit was unintentional.
“He made an aggressive play but he didn’t intentionally go for the helmet,” Staley said.
UP NEXT
Chargers: Return home to face the Rams in Sunday’s Battle of Los Angeles.
Colts: Close out their road schedule with a New Year’s Day trip to the New York Giants.
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INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Justin Herbert threw for 367 yards and a touchdown and a short-handed Chargers defense got the best of the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa as Los Angeles beat Miami 23-17 on Sunday night.
The Chargers (7-6) moved into position for the final AFC playoff berth, ahead of the New York Jets. Their hold though would be short lived if New England beats Arizona on Monday night.
“It was an incredible team win,” coach Brandon Staley said. “Defensively we answered all the challenges in the game that we had to face.
“Justin was fantastic and definitely led the way for our team. He made a lot of winning plays and really made good decisions throughout the game.”
Herbert — the sixth overall pick in 2020, one behind Tagovailoa — completed a career-high 39 passes on 51 attempts for his 21st 300-yard game. He became the first NFL quarterback to throw for 13,000 yards in his first three seasons.
“There were a lot of good things from all three phases. The defense did an incredible job,” Herbert said.
Tyreek Hill scored two touchdowns for the Dolphins, one of them on an improbable recovery of Jeff Wilson Jr.’s fumble that Hill took 57 yards to the end zone. But Tagovailoa had his worst game as an NFL starter, completing 10 of 28 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown as the Dolphins (8-5) lost their second straight.
“They played to what they’re good at, and we just didn’t execute,” Tagovailoa said. “It was very disappointing for us to go out there as an offense and show what we showed. That’s not to our standard.”
The Chargers held Miami to 219 yards despite not having safety Derwin James, cornerback Bryce Callahan and defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day because of injuries. The Dolphins came in with the league’s top-ranked pass offense.
LA’s offense was buoyed by the return of Mike Williams, who had missed four of the last five games with a high ankle sprain. Williams had six catches for 116 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown while getting both feet in bounds near the back of the end zone to extend the Chargers’ lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter.
Austin Ekeler, who finished with 104 scrimmage yards, had a 1-yard run off left tackle with 18 seconds left in the quarter to extend the lead to 17-7.
Keenan Allen added 12 receptions for 92 yards.
Cameron Dicker kicked three field goals, including one from 29-yards that gave the Chargers a 23-14 advantage with 2:40 remaining. Dicker’s kick capped a 17-play, 79-yard drive that took 8:39 off the clock.
Hill finished with four catches for 81 yards, including a 60-yard TD in the third quarter on Tagovailoa’s best throw of the night, and became the Dolphins’ single-season leader in receiving yards. Chargers cornerback Michael Davis slipped in coverage at the LA 40, allowing Hill to make an easy catch and saunter untouched to the end zone to get Miami within 17-14.
Miami’s Jason Sanders booted a 55-yard field goal with 1:10 remaining, but Los Angeles recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
“That’s hard to take. There’s a lot of investment, and it’s not good enough,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “I thought the defense played well enough for us to win. There’s stuff we can clean up, for sure. There’s a multitude of things.”
SCOOP AND SCORE
The Dolphins had 5 net yards and one first down on their first three possessions before finally getting on the scoreboard, thanks to Hill.
On second-and-4 from the Miami 41, Wilson fumbled while tackled by Chargers safety Alohi Gilman during a 6-yard gain. There was a scramble for the loose ball until Hill picked it up, changed direction and quickly sprinted to his right and up the sideline.
Hill became the only player in the Super Bowl era to score TDs via receiving, rushing, kick return, punt return and fumble return.
RECORD BOOK
Ekeler finished with eight receptions for 59 yards. His third catch moved him past Kansas City’s Kimble Anders (369) for the most by an undrafted running back in the common draft era. Ekeler now has 375 receptions in his six-year career.
INJURIES
Dolphins: Wilson suffered an ankle injury during the second quarter. Safety Eric Rowe had a hamstring injury in the third quarter.
UP NEXT
Dolphins: At Buffalo next Saturday night.
Chargers: Host Tennessee next Sunday.
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COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Justin Herbert stood at the podium Friday answering questions about his rib injury and his recovery. Whether the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback will be able to perform in the pocket on Sunday remains to be seen.
Herbert was listed as questionable on the injury report after not participating in practice. Herbert sustain fractured rib cartilage after taking a hard hit from Kansas City defensive lineman Michael Danna during the fourth quarter of last Thursday night’s game against the Chiefs.
Herbert was limited on Wednesday and went through most of his usual workload on Thursday as the Bolts prepare to host the Jacksonville Jaguars in a matchup of 1-1 squads. Herbert said he felt good going through Thursday’s practice, and that the plan is for plenty of rest before he goes through warmups before Sunday’s game.
“They feel good. Thank you,” Herbert said when asked how his ribs felt. “There have definitely been improvements. … Thankfully, we have a couple days left before we play. We don’t play today, and so that’s up to us, our team, to make the best decision so that we are ready to go on Sunday.”
Herbert will wear a rib protector but could also receive an injection to deal with the pain. He has made 34 consecutive regular-season starts, seventh among active quarterbacks.
Coach Brandon Staley said Chase Daniel would start if Herbert could not go. The 13-year veteran has six career starts, most recently in 2019 for the Chicago Bears.
This is Herbert’s first significant injury since being the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. He broke his femur as a junior in high school in 2014 and then had a broken collarbone three years later at Oregon.
Staley said Herbert looked good during Thursday’s practice, where he did all the throws on routes he would normally do during a game.
“He’s tough. He doesn’t feel great, by any means, but he was able to go out there and throw the football,” Staley said. “I think a lot of it was seeing his response to each throw — then, obviously, after practice, and then this morning. We’re just going to keep knowing more as we go.”
The determining factor on if Herbert will play will likely come down to his comfort level.
Herbert was 7 of 11 for 79 yards after the injury, despite one play where he was in physical distress and threw the ball away on third-and-1 when he could have run for a first down. That stretch included a fourth-down bullet to DeAndre Carter for 35 yards to the Kansas City 8-yard line and then connecting with Joshua Palmer on fourth-and-goal for a 7-yard TD.
“Looking back at it, I probably could have ran for the three or four yards to get the first down. I think that’s something that during the game, I felt like that was the best decision to make,” Herbert said about that sequence. “In hindsight, I probably could have changed that, but to have those guys out there, and especially to have Dre (Carter) on the next play go out and make a play like that — I just had to put it out there and he went and ran across the field and caught it. I’m thankful that one worked out.”
Herbert’s performance on that drive drew praise from everyone, including outside linebacker Joey Bosa, who has played with his share of injuries in his seven years.
“He’s just a great competitor and he’s a great leader. He’s trying to be more of that leader. He just leads by example, obviously,” Bosa said. “Being out there and can’t even hold his arm up, but he’s out there, makes a bad throw and then the next throw, makes one of the most ridiculous passes on fourth down. That was unbelievable.”
The Chargers have a number of injured players. Center Corey Linsley (knee) and cornerback JC Jackson (ankle) are doubtful while wide receiver Keenan Allen (hamstring), offensive tackle Trey Pipkins (foot) and tight end Donald Parham (hamstring) are questionable.
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