2024 Week 15: Buccaneers 40, Chargers 17
The Chargers are collapsing and nobody wants to talk about it. This offense was built around the game and JK Dobbins going down left a massive hole that Edwards and Vidal haven’t been able to fill. What’s most criminal about it is that LAC has Justin Herbert sitting right in front of them and they refuse to lean on him unless forced to, and even then it looks/feels restricted. Maybe it’s due to a lack of talent in the WR group.
The Chargers (8-6) are on a bad run lately, starting the season (7-3) are have won just one game of their last 4 games, if they lose to Denver this week I assume people will take notice.
Tampa Bay (8-6) was feeling great after this win, Baker is fully healed and back to slinging it (finally), Atlanta just beat the Raiders so Kirk will stay at QB, and they have an easy schedule that could get them to 10 or even 11 wins… but then yesterday Michael Penix was named the starter, and things weren’t so great anymore. Cousins has been nothing short of terrible for terrible but Penix breathes new life into their dormant offense. ATL holds the tiebreaker over TB because they were swept in their 2 games earlier this season.
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QB Report:
- Justin Herbert (21/33 for 195 yards, 2 TDs/1 INT) played fine. It was a down week for him, but that’s going to happen. When it shouldn’t happen is against one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL. The Chargers just aren’t designed for shootouts. They’re designed for a close game where they burn as much clock as possible, just like Michigan football the last bunch of years when Harbaugh coached them.
- Baker Mayfield (22/27 for 288 yards, 4 TDs/1 INT, 2 rushes for 25 yards) reminded everyone why he was an MVP candidate in the first half of the season. The Bucs figured out their run game midseason, and are offensively a better version of what the Chargers are trying to be. Tampa is a great run team with a great passing attack and can rely on both depending on the matchup/flow of the game. LAC wants to have a great rushing attack (they haven’t all year) and use the pass as a last resort instead of accepting it as a way of attacking defenses. Baker has a license to throw, Herbert does not.
RB Report:
- Bucky Irving (15-117-0; 2 catches for -4 yards) once again led Tampa on the ground while Rachaad White (15-64-0; 2 catches for 17 yards, 1 TD) handled the passing game. They have a good split working right now so I see no reason for them to break it up. White also can’t help but find the endzone, scoring 9 TDs in their last 8 games. Rachaad White is the #19 RB in PPG, Bucky #21.
WR/TE Report:
- I’ve berated Jim Harbaugh a lot in this report, and it’s warranted, but the second-to-worst crime he’s committed, behind not letting Herbert play QB, is their desire to make Quentin Johnston (5-45-1/10) work. 10 targets to one of the league's worst receivers, a receiver with low catch rates and high drop rates. Some of these targets are because defenses aren’t afraid of him… even if he’s wide open odds are he won’t catch the pass. Defenses WANT the Chargers to avoid Ladd and throw to Johnston and they play into that every week.
- Chargers former QB now TE Stone Smartt (5-50-0/6) had a decent game and played more than I thought he would, but in a 23-point loss, you are going to throw the ball a decent amount. Smartt is a grinder and will continue to work on his craft but before you get excited, there’s a chance Will Dissly plays this week, wiping Smartt off the face of the earth.
- Jalen McMillan (5-75-1/6) had another touchdown this week, and an overall solid performance. I’m not going to fight it, if it’s working it’s working.
D/ST Report:
- Tampa has handled their easy schedule incredibly well, and I expect it to continue through the rest of the season. TB faces DAL, CAR, and NO to end the season, and have held 3 of their last 4 opponents to 17 or fewer points
image source: (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)