The Los Angeles Chargers are handling defeat for the first time in over a month. They lost to the Baltimore Ravens 30-23 on Monday night to drop to 7-4 on the season. That ended a four-game winning streak, and as coach Jim Harbaugh said after the game, the Chargers will be looking to “regroup.”
“We know what kind of team we are and what we’re capable of,” Harbaugh said.
Let’s dive into a few topics with some of your questions.
You ask. I answer.
It’s the mailbag.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Note: Submitted questions have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Do you think if we make the playoffs as the sixth or seventh seed and then lose in the wild-card round, the season is a success? And if we miss the playoffs, the season is a failure? — @tuiterdelpiter
This season has already been a success for the Chargers. For me, gauging success in Year 1 of Harbaugh was never going to be about results. Instead, I was looking at the process. Harbaugh’s primary job was shifting the culture of an entire organization. He is a master at this specific thing. He has done it at multiple stops at various levels of football. And in my opinion, he has achieved this with the Chargers. How the rest of the season goes will not change what Harbaugh has already built in his first nine months.
The players are bought into the Harbaugh identity. His approach is hard — and maybe even impossible — to replicate because he is such a unique individual. He is unapologetically himself, and that authenticity breeds camaraderie and togetherness. A head coach’s primary job is to get players pulling in one direction with all their might. That has happened week after week with the Chargers. They are prepared for every game. They bring consistent effort. Harbaugh’s culture has unified this team in a way we have not seen since, probably, the early years of Anthony Lynn.
GO DEEPER
Inside the Harbaugh coaching universe: ‘You just want to be attached to that’
And so the foundation has been laid. That was the most important part of this season. The Chargers have been in every game they have played. Winning certainly helps reinforce the message, and the Cincinnati Bengals game, in particular, instilled confidence in some of the players who have dealt with Chargers collapses in the past.
I would also add that general manager Joe Hortiz has really proved his team-building approach. He has a good feel for how to build depth. The Chargers have gotten key contributions from some of these depth additions: rookie corners Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart, defensive lineman Teair Tart, edge rusher Bud Dupree, safety Elijah Molden. The list goes on. This has been a proof-of-concept season for Hortiz, and that bodes well for this regime, regardless of what happens the rest of the season.
With all that being said, I would be shocked if the Chargers do not make the playoffs. The Athletic’s Austin Mock gives them an 83 percent chance of qualifying for the postseason. I think they need to get to 10 wins to be safely in as a wild card. They have two winnable games to close the season against the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders. A big development this season has been how the Chargers handle business against inferior opponents. That has not always been the case around here. They need to find one more win over the next four games: at the Atlanta Falcons, at the Kansas City Chiefs, vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and vs. the Denver Broncos.
The culture change is already cemented. A playoff appearance would turn this into a best-case-scenario debut season for Harbaugh and Hortiz.
What’s the situation with DJ Chark? — @iRod_97
Chark was having an excellent training camp. He looked like he was going to adequately fill a role on the outside for the Chargers. Then, on Aug. 19, he injured his hip during a camp practice trying to make a catch along the sideline. Chark started the season on injured reserve. What was initially a hip injury turned into more of a groin injury during the rehab process. Chark was activated off IR on Nov. 2, but he has not yet returned to the field in any meaningful capacity. He was inactive in Week 9 against the Cleveland Browns. He played one offensive snap against the Tennessee Titans in Week 10. He has been a healthy scratch in the past two games.
Harbaugh and his staff have liked the play of the receivers ahead of Chark on the depth chart, including the starting three of Ladd McConkey, Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston. In a Greg Roman offense, the receivers have to be willing to block. And all three seem to have really bought into that component of the position. McConkey has emerged as Justin Herbert’s No. 1 receiver. Johnston had a rough game against the Ravens, including a crucial third-down drop in the second half. Still, he has been improved and far more productive in his second season. Palmer remains a solid all-around player.
Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox.
Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox.
Sign Up
The Chargers have been keeping Jalen Reagor active on game days over Chark since Chark was activated off IR. Reagor has done some good things, including on special teams. After fumbling on his first catch of the season, a 41-yarder against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7, Reagor came back with a big play in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints to help put that game away.
But it’s clear now that the Chargers need some more juice at receiver, especially after Monday’s step back for Johnston. They need a ball-winner on the outside who can make plays in 50-50 situations down the field. There is no consistent threat on the outside to take attention away from McConkey, who operates most often in the slot. Chark has that in his skill set. The time has come for the Chargers to get Chark active in the offense. Harbaugh said Wednesday it is “possible” Chark will be active Sunday at the Falcons.
“The opportunity is there,” Harbaugh said. “I really like what I see, and like every week, there’s an opportunity. The opportunity is guaranteed, and DJ has the license and the ability to take advantage of that opportunity.”
Could DJ Chark finally get an opportunity with the Chargers offense? (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
If the season ended today, which position does the team need to prioritize in the early rounds of the NFL Draft? — @omarmagana00
The three biggest positions of need, in my opinion:
1. Center
2. Receiver
3. Tight end
Center Bradley Bozeman has been a fine stop-gap. He has strengths and weaknesses. The Chargers knew that when they signed him in free agency. Those strengths and weaknesses have shown up throughout the season. The Chargers need to find a long-term answer at center in the draft.
The receiver need is obvious. The Chargers have limited options this season as we head toward December. Chark could give them something on the outside if he can crack the lineup. But the Chargers need to find a difference-maker on the outside. If they can pair that type of receiver with McConkey, they might be on to something.
Tight end Will Dissly has been a great signing. He has been way better than I expected in the passing game. And he has given the Chargers exactly what they were looking for as an inline blocker. Still, he is best served in that No. 2 tight end role, primarily blocking while adding a sprinkle of production in the passing game. The Chargers need a receiving tight end who can consistently attack down the seam and over the middle of the field. Dissly has dropped a few key passes this season.
Then, of course, the Chargers could look to add some talent at premium defensive positions early in the draft. Edge rusher is on that list. Khalil Mack is in the final year of his deal. Joey Bosa has no guaranteed money left on his deal, so he is a potential cap casualty. Bosa is slated for a $36.4 million cap hit in 2025. The Chargers could also target cornerback. They have gotten some good football from Kristian Fulton. But I still see them lacking a true No. 1 corner. Asante Samuel Jr., who remains on IR, is in the final year of his rookie deal.
GO DEEPER
Chargers’ loss to Ravens shows just how much work Jim Harbaugh still has to do
How do the next games look if J.K. Dobbins can’t play? — @alex_lima_13
Dobbins is dealing with a knee injury he suffered against the Ravens. Harbaugh said Wednesday that Dobbins is expected to “miss some time,” starting this week against the Falcons. This is a huge loss. Dobbins has been far and away the Chargers’ best back this season.
The Chargers seem close to breaking through in the running game. I see signs on tape. They are also 10th in rushing success rate over the past three weeks, according to TruMedia. The Chargers just have not gotten a ton of opportunities to run it over the past two weeks, and some of that is related to Roman’s play calling. They had only seven designed rushes in the second half against the Bengals. They had only three designed rushes in the second half against the Ravens. The Chargers were running the ball effectively in the first half against the Ravens, though, before Dobbins’ second-quarter injury.
Dobbins’ missing time could stunt what has been some noticeable improvement. Gus Edwards, who was inactive for four games earlier this season with an ankle injury, would likely be next in line. But giving rookie Kimani Vidal a true look would be a wise move. Hassan Haskins is a really good special teams player, but he doesn’t bring much to the table as a runner.
(Top photo of Justin Herbert and Jim Harbaugh: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
