The Chargers are back in prime time as they get ready to face off against the Arizona Cardinals.
Going into the game, both team have healthy-sized injury reports. The only player on the Chargers report listed as OUT for the game is Deane Leonard, while Joey Bosa, Hayden Hurst, and Quentin Johnston are DOUBTFUL, and DJ Chark Jr, Derius Davis, Dimi Fehoko, Kristian Fulton, Ladd McConkey, and Ja’Sir Taylor are QUESTIONABLE.
The Cardinals have Own Pappoe and Darius Robinson listed as OUT and a handful of QUESTIONABLE players. The biggest update though is that Marvin Harrison Jr. has no designation, as he’s expected to be full-go.
Leonard Placed on Injured Reserve, replacements signed to Active Roster
With Deane Leonard has not only been ruled out for the game, but he’s also been placed on the Injured Reserve, meaning it will be at least four games before we’ll see him again. In a corresponding move, CB’s Dicaprio Bootle and Shaun Wade have been signed to the active roster to full in for this banged up secondary room.
Will Chargers pass rush capitalize on a banged-up Cardinals offensive line?
The Cardinals have lost two starting offensive lineman to the injured reserve, a pretty dismal situation when facing a team with as strong of a pass rush ass Los Angeles. Will Hernandez was graded out as PFF’s 15th best guard at the time of his injury, and Jonah Williams was a big-money free agent acquisition this offseason for Arizona. Kyler Murray will have his work cut out for him extending plays and avoiding the pass rush.
PFF Betting Odds
Currently, the Chargers are only 1-point favorites in this game, with an over/under set at 44-points. For a Charger team that has suppressed opponents to less than 19 points per game, but has had scoring woes of it’s own, that seems like a high number.
Keep the conversation going below!
As always, get some chatter going in the comment section below everyone! Here’s to Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers pushing forward to another victory!
Just to counter some of the doom and gloom in here. I posted this today at another site:
It is helpful to remember that the players, coaches, and front office people on the opposing teams also want to win and get paid a lot to do so. That was a winnable game, and the Chargers should learn from their mistakes… but sometimes you also have to tip your hat to your opponent for making one or two more plays.
@alisterlloyd
LOL. I post a lot on a fantasy football site that I have frequented for more than 20 years. There are a few Chargers fans there. But this is now the place for serious Chargers conversation.
Just watched a bit of the all-22. On the first offensive snap, there were 10 Cardinals within 5 yards of the LOS. At the snap, all 10 were crashing the running lanes. To Herbert’s credit, it looked like he moved the team into a pass and completed an out for a first down.
The Cardinals were selling out to stop the run. While the Chargers were able to throw and move the ball, the playmakers were not able to shake a tackle and make the Cardinals pay. Roman needs to find a way to back defenses up. They are not going to be able to run when teams put 10 on the LOS.
The book for stopping the Greg Roman led Chargers offense is now written. Until the Chargers adjust, move against their tendencies, and find a way to get the ball to their playmakers in space, I expect teams to follow the blueprint and stack the LOS.
I’m disappointed to see all the overreactions here. So, Harbaugh is a wrong hire now after just 6 games into season one of rebuilding?? Obviously there have been some unrealistic expectations for year one of Harbaugh’s reign. For a moment I thought I clicked back on BFTB. I can’t overstate my disappointment.
This team is at .500 at 3-3 with three winnable games (Saints/Browns/Titans) coming up plus the Broncos/ Pats/Raiders to finish out the season. They could steal a win against the Bengals/ Ravens/ Falcons/ Chiefs/ Bucs to garner 10 wins for the season, which could be enough to make the playoffs. If not, year 2 is slated to have a playoff caliber squad, and year 3 is a strong run for the SB. Anything less, I would then be calling for someone’s head on a platter.
I’m pissed off that we lost and some of the game’s key moments were anger inducing (Raegor fumble, Tart fumble, flags down the stretch) but I’m not remotely concerned about the long-term outlook for this team under Harbaugh, Roman and Minter. Roman is the guy who is most on notice, but even for him, I’m not close to wanting an OC change. 6 games does not a season make.
Harbaugh has made some questionable game management decisions and I wonder just how much “toughness" he’s brought to date but I haven’t called for his head. Now Roman? Yeah, I’m quickly losing patience with him. Our offensive production is atrocious. Some is absolutely attributable to the roster but not all of it.
Now that I realize we’re not to question dear leader, I guess I’ll keep my Charger discussions to myself. So long.
@buck-melanoma
Buck. I didn’t mean it like that, brother. I only voiced my own disappointment based on my opinion, which does not make yours or anyone’s here wrong or unreasonable. I’m not whatsoever instigating a different standard for Harbaugh on how we should view him in our comments. I just thought the knocks on him were too premature. Like Alister has mentioned; it’s all in good love and by the nature of an open forum.
A couple weeks ago, my brother and his family visited us in San Diego from Alister’s hometown, Melbourne, Australia where most of my family lives. This one particular brother of mine always had a strong opinion regarding our (U.S.) political system, about a certain political party, and a certain presidential candidate. He couldn’t wait to discuss his political viewpoints. I’m an engineer, not a politician; I don’t lose my lunch or sleep over political matters while my political influence is infinitesimal especially as a resident of California. After feeling annoyed by my brother’s unrestrained political tendencies over family gatherings, I finally asked him privately not to do it again, but made the mistake of asking him why he cared so much if he does not pay any U.S. taxes. He didn’t speak to me for 2 days until we hugged each other on a golf course.
While little of my story is analogous to our disagreements here, the part my brother and I hugged it out and moved on as brothers is the point I hope to convey here. I have six brothers, and often we don’t agree on stuff but we’re still brothers. I feel the same about everyone here in the StormCloud family, and wish not to be insensitive to anyone. If I have offended anyone, I sincerely apologize.
I don’t see anyone, at least not here, looking to ditch Harbaugh. The guy I see being (IMO justifiably) questioned is Roman. The roster is what it is. You run what ya brung, not what you wish you had.
Honestly, my only issue with Harbaugh so far is some of his clock/game management.
We’re good, brother. I’m the one outta sorts. I’ve lost 2 friends unexpectedlyrics in 2 weeks….both younger than me. It’s sad and unsettling but no need to bring it here. I apologize too.
Thanks Al. One was music family….a really great guy that I’d just spent an evening with. The other was the husband of one of my wife’s childhood friends. Now she’s in this fucked up club with me. It’s dredged up a lot of emotions that I’m obviously struggling with. 😕
Thx man. I feel really bad for his wife. She watched what I’ve been thru losing Pam. I hate that now it’s her turn.
At the game very disappointed. The team got deflated as soon as Reagor got stripped of the ball. Put that guy back on the streets no need to give him another chance 4th team as a first round pick he is not it.
Also, what about a few more screens it seems the one to the TE has worked in the past few games but no Run, Run, Run. Terrible game plan 2.7 yards a carry is worthless.
Team lacks speed in the skill offensive spots. I would have liked to see several long passes even if they fell incomplete or got picked off. Many times WR’s draw penalties on those plays but Roman doesn’t seem to try them. Roman needs to go, his game plans seem to be very predictable and in his offense guys can’t get schemed open and it shows.
But a lot of this mess is still from the Telesco era. Go back and look at all the whiff on draft picks.
Encouraged as Dicker is awesome, the young DB’s are getting experience as well as the young LB’s.
I don’t know the CAP space for next year but hope Free Agents can be found to fill some of the heavily need positions.
And finally don’t get me started on the OL, it was beyond horrible on running plays. Slater and Zion couldn’t open any holes for 2 first round picks they need to play much better. But it is hard when it appears the Roman O everyone knows what is coming.
Geez horrible game.
I was having trouble streaming bc I don’t have ESPN+, so I’m far from having broken down game film. Seems the number one problem for the Chargers is the IOL play. There were some lapses on defense, some bogus calls/non-calls, a notable lack of reliable pass catchers (though Dissley had a nice night). But against a league-bottom rush defense, Dobbins and co. should have been able to find open lanes. Herbert should have had a clean pocket. They should have been in better down and distance situations all night. Some of this falls on Roman, but Zion, Bozeman, and Pipkins need to play better. I don’t see much changing mid-season, so we may see another game or two like this before season’s end. And that’s a bummer.
Bozeman’s play is below average and it’s affecting both guards.
I’m not interested in pushing any panic buttons yet and nobody needs to be fired. This was a roster that was left bare by Telesco’s mismanagement. Bozeman was a one-year stop gap who is not totally working out (unlike Dobbins, Fulton, Ford, Tart). Pipkins is a mediocre dude at a new position. Zion, one hopes, could play better with a more solid center. The receiver position may improve with Chark, but we shall see. McConkey looks good, but I don’t think he’s been put in the best positions for his skill set yet.
Perhaps there will be a trade in the coming weeks, but a decade of Telesco (and a still-tenuous cap situation) makes me less than optimistic. If they do make a move, I hope it’s for a center. Or that Salyer or Jaimes finds a phone booth to pull on their Superman suits.
This was a shit loss, no doubt, but any calls for blowing up the whole project are wildly premature.
Quite a bit of overreacting going on in here.
https://chargerswire.usatoday.com/lists/chargers-cardinals-takeaways-justin-herbert-marvin-harrison/
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5862777/2024/10/22/chargers-cardinals-loss-officiating-harbaugh-herbert/
Wasn’t Harbaugh hired so we stopped losing games like this to bad teams? I mean how many years are we going to have to watch the Chargers play down to their competition? If this is what it’s going to be then maybe we should have kept Staley. At least the losses came with an exciting offense. Watching this shit is like being water boarded for 3 hours. I know this team isn’t a finished product roster wise, but this team is light years away from competing with the Chiefs, Bills or Ravens. Where has the “bully mentality” gone? Seems like it only shows up against the bad teams and not against any team that punches back like the Cards did tonight. For a team that wants to be physical and dominate the trenches it sure seems like they wilt when the other team hits first.
I think Hortiz has done a good job turning over the roster, but if this TE centric offense is what they want to run, why the fuck didn’t we draft or sign a pass catching TE? I think the rest of the year will be a complete grind finishing with 8 or 9 wins. Even the shitty Cards figured out that if you stop Dobbins you only have to cover 10 yards b/c there are no weapons or chunk plays beating you over the top. It’s probably the least explosive offense in the league. Why the fuck did we pay Herbert if they want him to be Trent Dilfer? And if Dobbins goes down, forget it. The other team might play prevent all game. Who would scare them? Kick a FG with 3 mins left I should have bet my mortgage the Cards were winning with a FG. Herbert should have just gone to the locker room after Dicker kicked it. Different Coach, different GM, different DC, same fucking results.
Definitely a couple of horrific calls at the end….one no call, one ticky tack. But those really aren’t the issue. The issue is Harbaugh’s gushing about Herbert’s talent doesn’t align with what we’re seeing on the offensive side of the ball. And you’re right, EV….they’re NOT answering back when they get punched in the mouth. This culture change is horseshit at this juncture. Minter is the only guy walking that talk.
Roman ain’t it. Question is should LAC move on from him now or wait until the off season? Either way it seems like LAC loses in this scenario because it means that either another year is wasted for Herbert or Herbert has to learn another playbook yet again.
Fuck these refs, that was horrendous officiating! Between this game and the Broncos game, what is going on? Is it the gambling, is gambling impacting the integrity of officiating NFL? I’m really questioning not only the officiating during Chargers game’s but other prime time games as well. Just seems like the refs have a hand in keeping games close and suspenseful during high viewership games. Don’t even get me started on the unfair bias towards the Chiefs!
Please no more Prime Time games. Keep this horseshit offense on Sunday at 1PM so I can at least watch other competent offenses on Red Zone.
Roman can go fuck himself. As long as he’s the OC this will be a .500 team. How the fuck do you have Herbert and you don’t score a TD? Harbaugh finally got a taste of Charger football.
The no call on the DPI was bullshit . At least defensive holding.
It feels like the perfect summary for our luck. They pick up a flag on our third down, and then throw one on us late on the other team’s.
It’s just so freggin tiring.
That said, the offense embarrassed themselves tonight.
They did. Just pathetic. I am getting off the Roman train after tonight.
If this is the offense they wanted to run why didn’t we get a better pass catching TE
I’ve seen this movie before. Go up 1 and lose it on a FG
Yep. Need a turnover. A d spy Murray.
You need a TD here not a FG.
Unfortunately.
So predictable. All you had to do was scout the last game with Hassan.
Roman terrible call.
Dont run here. Throw.
God how good would Bowers look in this offense?
Stop running. Let Herbert get in a rhythm.
This is the time for play action. Watch them crowd the line. Go deep or at least medium.
They need to keep stretching the field. Cards still crowding all the short stuff.
Yes but you have to try. Reagor, McConckey, Rice. Somebody.
Roman again completely using zero screen game
Thank you.
Throw it down the field. Please.
Unless something radically changes on O turn out the lights.
So we’re 2 scores down. 🙃
Good one because it is so true.
Ugh
WTF would you even call that route? To make the FG 3 yards shorter?
Dicker gets Roman’s check too.
That was an awful three plays from the 11.
Another fucking FG.
Punch this fucker in
About time Roman!!!
Throw it deep. Once. Someone.
Why is EVERY run to the left?
Yes but you have to try once in awhile. This is the blueprint to beat this team. Stop the run and force Herbert to beat you with a B team set of WRs.
This offense sucks. Every pass play is under 10 yards and the runs are HB dives into the C ass. The fumbled pick and Reggie’s fumble will haunt us. That’s at least 10 points lost.
Alright defense!!!!
Fuck it, let Minter call the offense too. lol
Pfffttt
Fuck Bozeman.
What will the Pats take for Henry?
I love the Henry idea, but I think Njoku is more realistic. Maye has had immediate chemistry with Henry so I doubt they want to ship him.
Browns are desperate.
JFC….that underthrown and still get the PI.
The play by play announcer said “it looks like a penalty on the defense" because of Reagor pointing that direction.
Thank God he didn’t call the touchdown when Reagor motioned for it 4 yards short
Hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think Roman is the guy to run a championship offense.
You may be right but I hope you are wrong.
They are getting out-physicalled so far. Not good.
How about a few crossers to McConckey?
Maybe that’s it.
Definitely would love to see more from him. And apparently Palmer is out now, right as he was clicking. Uhg.
Offense very disappointing so far. They can’t run against the 29th run D. Herbert who has more time to throw than he knows what to do with it can’t seem to get the ball down the field. Is no one open? Cards definitely came to this game with more energy. Not encouraging so far.
Yeah that is a huge problem. Herbert has time. He almost seems uncomfortable with that much time.
Yes.
That Reagor fumble on the 2 will come back to haunt us.
Let’s hope not.
This offense, at least right now lacks any explosive ability. Once Dobbins gets shut down it looks like a HS offense
OK, 6.
Sheesh.
Dicker should get Bosa’s check.
3 fucking points.
We gotta start getting some chunk plays and scoring TD. Can’t keep having these drives that creep down the field and end up w/FG. Letting the Cards hang around.
Man, I’m impressed with Simi stepping up though. But we definitely need to step it up on offense.
Even so, I’m having a great time watching this defense week in and week out. It’s a beautiful thing.
This first quarter looks like a Lynn game with the turnovers. This team needs WR. I’m tired of watching Fehoko and Reagor getting meaningful snaps