Jim Harbaugh beforehand had stated he would by no means use the phrase “satisfied” when speaking about soccer.
In that case, the place did the first-year coach assume the Chargers had to enhance, particularly when contemplating the caliber of groups they’ll play over the following 5 weeks?
Harbaugh’s group had simply claimed a 27-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans at SoFi Stadium on Sunday to enhance to 6-3. They remained the one group within the NFL to carry every of its opponents to twenty factors or much less.
As a substitute of beginning to fear about Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals instantly, Harbaugh known as on his gamers to have fun their newest win, which was their fourth in 5 video games.
Harbaugh promised to take his personal recommendation.
“For me,” he stated, “it will be the next six hours. Those are gonna be good enjoyment. Somewhere around five, five-thirty, six hours, six-thirty mark, then it’ll just hit me that the Cincinnati Bengals are up next and we’re on to them.”
Harbaugh may as effectively take a reprieve whereas he can, because the upcoming stretch of video games ought to reveal whether or not the Chargers even have change into in a single day contenders underneath his watch or had been beneficiaries of a delicate early-season schedule.
The Chargers nonetheless haven’t gained a sport towards a group with a quarterback who ranks within the prime half of the league’s qualifying passers.
On Sunday, they beat Will Levis, one of many lowest-rated quarterbacks. Their different victories had been towards Gardner Minshew, Bryce Younger, Bo Nix, Spencer Rattler and Jameis Winston.
The quarterbacks they’ll face over the following 5 weeks: Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Kirk Cousins, Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield. The one considered one of them who doesn’t have a top-10 passer score is Mahomes, who’s, effectively, Mahomes.
“Like you said, some pretty good offenses, some pretty good quarterbacks,” linebacker Daiyan Henley stated.
Chargers Derwin James Jr. (3) and Tuli Tuipulotu (45) converge to deal with Titans operating again Tyjae Spears (2), who loses his helmet.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Instances)
The intention right here isn’t to counsel the transformations the Chargers have made underneath Harbaugh are a mirage. The change is actual.
“Y’all feel the culture, y’all feel the locker room,” security Derwin James Jr. stated. “It’s not just some made-up thing.”
The Chargers play with a physicality they didn’t beforehand have. A franchise identified for unraveling late in video games has made the second half theirs.
“I think it starts with OTAs,” quarterback Justin Herbert stated. “We call them the fourth-quarter finishers, after practice, after two hours out on the field, we’re going to go do some more drills, we’re going to go pull sleds, we’re going to go flip sleds. Guys kind of create that mental toughness.”
That power has translated into a whole buy-in on what Harbaugh is promoting. Concerning the upcoming five-game stretch, James stated, “Just keep doing what we’ve been doing, communicating with each other, man, and we’ll like what we see.”
Henley shared the same sense of optimism.
Chargers linebacker Bud Dupree (48) sacks Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) within the second half. Dupree had two of the Chargers’ seven sacks.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Instances)
“I think the biggest thing about it is preparation, not looking too far ahead, one day at a time and trying to execute, have a good week of practice so we can go out in the game and attack.”
The most recent win introduced the Chargers with extra causes to consider, as they sacked Levis seven instances in a sport wherein edge rushers Khalil Mack’s and Joey Bosa’s taking part in time was restricted due to accidents.
Then once more …
If Levis was capable of join with Calvin Ridley on a 41-yard move on the opening drive, what is going to Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase do towards them?
If the Titans had been capable of achieve 132 yards on the bottom, what number of will Derrick Henry and the Ravens get?
And, as a lot because the Chargers meant to diversify their offense, they continue to be helplessly depending on Herbert.
Of their first 9 video games, the Chargers have confirmed they will beat groups they need to beat. They’ve confirmed they gained’t beat themselves.
Over the following 5 weeks, they’ll study whether or not they are often greater than that.
