Los Angeles Chargers: Best and worst of Week 1 vs. Chiefs
By Tyler Schoon
Best: Derwin James
It wasn’t a perfect game, but there’s a lot to like about this kid. At least something looked good on defense.
James had three total tackles, a sack, and a very impressive pass defended in the end zone on a long ball. No. 33, when around the football, is a physical tackler and plays the ball well in the air. He can only get better from here, and you bet he’ll be looking for his first career interception against Nathan Peterman in Week 2.
Worst: Gus Bradley
I can’t pretend to know more about NFL defenses and schemes than defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, but something has to be better than what he came up with covering Tyreek Hill. It’s not that he made catches, as all talented players usually find a way to get their hands on the football. But allowing the most obvious game-breaking weapon on the opposing team to average 24.1 yards per catch on wide open receptions is outrageous.
Best: Philip Rivers
Yes, he threw a pick; no one knows where he was going with that one. But having committed six ugly interceptions and plenty of near-picks against the Chiefs last year, he looked much better this week. If not for half a dozen inexcusable drops by his wide receivers, Rivers may have had another hundred yards and a touchdown.
Finishing 34-of-51 for 424 yards, three touchdowns and an interception is the kind of stat line that wins you games. Kudos to No. 17 for mostly fixing his game and playing efficient football against a defense that regularly gives him trouble.
Worst: “What if’s”
Oh, there’s a long list after this game. The Chargers are notorious for leaving a lot of “what if’s” on the field. Here are a few:
- What if the Chargers’ receivers caught some of those long balls?
- What if Jones had not been the returner on both kickoffs and punts?
- What if the Chargers got Keenan Allen more involved early on?
- What if Sturgis made the kick to bring the score within seven?
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What if…they won? But they didn’t, and it stings. Despite what a close score says, this one was dominated early and often by the Chiefs. The Chargers need to regroup, shuffle the depth chart, and prepare for a Week 2 showdown with the Buffalo Bills.
At least the defense gets to bully Nathan Peterman for 60 minutes next week.