https://chargerswire.usatoday.com/2023/10/24/chargers-chiefs-winners-losers-joshua-palmer-justin-herbert/

Alex Insdorf
October 24, 2023 4:58 pm PT

The Chargers took their second straight loss out of the bye week to fall
to 2-4 after they let a potential win over the Chiefs slip away again.
For most of the game, they were within one possession. They went
scoreless in the second half.

The loss turns Sunday Night Football’s primetime matchup at home vs.
Chicago into a must-win situation for LA. But before diving into that
one, let’s talk about who stood out in the Chiefs game.

Stud: WR Joshua Palmer

By any metric, Joshua Palmer had the best game of his career on Sunday.
Five receptions for 133 yards with multiple explosive plays is
undoubtedly something not many were expecting. But in the last two weeks
since the BYE, Palmer has looked much more comfortable in the WR2 role
than in the immediate absence of Mike Williams.

Palmer posted the highest yards per route run and PFF offensive grade of
his career. After having 160 yards in his first four games, he has 193
yards in his last two. The routes look crisper, and Palmer looks more
confident going up for balls near the boundary in a Williams-esque way.

He and Keenan Allen are now Justin Herbert’s two most trusted targets,
aside from Austin Ekeler.

Dud: HC Brandon Staley

It’s impossible to talk about the Kansas City game without discussing
the defensive game plan in the first half. Travis Kelce went for over
100 yards in the first two quarters as the Chargers sat in soft zone for
most of the first half. Michael Davis and Derwin James both acknowledged
that it was what the Chargers intended to do coming into the game.

The Chargers experienced many of the same problems they did against
Dallas. Michael Davis was dropped so far back that receivers ran simple
out routes or curls for easy first downs. The entire first half was
effectively Kelce running to the spot and turning around.

Two things made the initial game plan particularly frustrating. In
Brandon Staley’s lone win against the Chiefs in 2021, he ran man
coverage 67% of the time per TruMedia. All of Staley’s other successful
games generally had them hover at or about 50%. The Chargers’ most
successful plays in this game, including Asante Samuel Jr.’s
interception and several of their 3rd down stops in the second half,
came from playing more physical pressing coverage at the line.

Staley acknowledged that while the team adjusted better in the second
half, the “damage” was done in the first. Even the second half still had
oddities, including a 3rd and 15 conversion where Patrick Mahomes picked
up a conversion with his legs because the defense played prevent.

Stud: LT Rashawn Slater

Dealing with an ankle injury, Rashawn Slater was not his usual self in
the last two games. He led the team in individual pressures allowed in
each contest with ten combined pressures.

Against Kansas City, it was back to business as usual. Slater allowed
just two pressures with a higher pass-blocking efficiency score. He was
critical in pinning defender Michael Danna on the outside to spring
Joshua Kelley’s 49-yard sprint to the end zone.

Slater being back to his standard form would be a big win for an
offensive line that is reeling.

Dud: S Derwin James

Ultimately, Staley’s defensive game plan in the first half is tied to
how any performance in the secondary is viewed. That being said, Derwin
James was expected to be the main guy responsible for Kelce. The ankle
injury likely played a part in things, but James didn’t seem quite like
his usual aggressive self until late in the game.

The Chargers’ safety allowed his highest NFL passer rating of the season
when Patrick Mahomes targeted him. His PFF coverage grade was his lowest
of the season.

Stud: RB Joshua Kelley

75 yards on seven carries with a long touchdown sprint was a good
bounce-back game for Kelley. The former UCLA product had just 79 yards
in his last three games. His pace from the season’s first two weeks had
slowed. If he can return to the complementary back production seen with
Austin Ekeler in Week 1, the Chargers will be in a good position from
now on.

Dud: QB Justin Herbert

Justin Herbert led the offense well in the first half, but the second
half was unusually poor form from him. The Chargers’ quarterback threw
two interceptions while completing 43% of his passes. Herbert threw for
his lowest passer rating of the season.

The offensive line certainly did have an impact, as Herbert is still
getting pressured at a decent clip over the last month. It’s also hard
not to think the broken finger is causing him some discomfort still. The
Chargers’ quarterback mentioned that his splint was ripped off midgame
and had to be put back on.

Going against Mahomes, Herbert had to be dialed in at a higher level
than he was. Staring down his targets has become an issue in recent
weeks and some batted balls at the line, a similar issue he had in 2022.