2024 Week 7: Chargers 15, Cardinals 17
What an awful game to watch, this was the opposite of the Bengals-Ravens game a few weeks ago, this game stunk. The Chargers (3-3) should have won but they fumbled three times in the first half, allowing the Cardinals to keep it close.
The Cardinals are now (3-4) in the super close NFC West, both of these teams are boring offensively, the Cardinals are bad all around and hide behind their RB while the Chargers have a great QB but hide behind their bad RB. I think Conner played better than Dobbins which is why the Cards came out on top. That and the fumbles.
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QB Report:
- For the first time all season Justin Herbert (27/39 for 349 yards 0TD/0INT) was finally allowed to spread his wings, and he absolutely killed it. Herbert threw for 350 yards with WRs not fit for the NFL (excluding McConkey), imagine what he could do if any regime he had leaned into this extremely talented player… all of my preseason Harbaugh-Herbert concerns became a reality. Passing 39 times in a game is not at all what Harbaugh wants, if he could he’d run the ball every single play, despite their sad run game.
- Kyler Murray (14/26 for 145 yards, 1TD/1 INT) just looks bad, simple as that. He throws weak, lofting passes, and missed receivers, and the numbers he has week-in and week-out tell the same exact story. The only thing that somewhat saves him from a fantasy POV is he runs well, but in terms of NFL QB play he’s among the worst… has been for years now. Kyler is a known Call of Duty fan, he appeared in one of their ads not too long ago and was referenced in a different commercial. Here’s the kicker, the new Call of Duty game just came out on Friday the 25th and there are years of correlation of Kyler’s numbers dropping when CoD releases a new game. Somehow he’s going to get worse.
RB Report:
I want to talk about both of these awful run games but I do it every week. All of their opponents know that these offenses will run every opportunity they get so that’s all the defenses care about.
WR Report:
- Oh did the Cardinals play? Let’s see what amazing game rookie sensation and best talent in the 2024 draft Marvin Harrison Jr. (3-21-0/6) had! Wait you’re telling me he only had 3 catches for 21 yards? That must be because of a really good Charger defense, what about his other games this year? Hang on… Marv is only averaging 2.8 catches, 42.8 yards, and 0.57TDs per game? AND he’s catching less than 50% of his targets?! How could this be, did the big football media companies lie to me?
- The rest of the Cardinals group is being killed off by Kyler’s ineptitude, the only one that’s working is Trey McBride (5-51-0/7) who is the only player Kyler throws to with purpose/intention.
- Ladd McConkey (5-46-0/7) looks so good, and I was right about Herbert being one of the best matches for him, now to get rid of that pesky head coach of theirs. Ladd got most of his work late in the game as the Chargers became more desperate and needed to throw the ball to stay in it.
- The fact that Jalen Reagor (1-41-0/1, Fumble) was still employed before this game is shocking, and it’s mind-boggling he wasn’t fired the second the plane landed in LAX… he fumbled a TD away (whether it be that play or the ensuing goal-to-go) through the endzone which gave Arizona possession
D/ST Report:
- Just one note, and it’s anti-MHJ…LAC was putting a backup corner on Marv for a big part of this game and I don’t believe any of his catches or targets were against him. Not only is it a blight on Marv’s resume but also kudos to Cam Hart (7 tackles, 1 PD) for locking down Marv for the second time in his career — See Notre Dame v Ohio State last year.
image source: (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)