The Chargers 2024 highlight reel was a lengthy one.
The Bolts posted an 11-6 record and made the playoffs in Year 1 under Jim Harbaugh, and there were plenty of big plays along the way.
Omar Navarro and Eric Smith of Chargers.com recently whittled down the extensive list of top plays to just 10, a tougher feat then we originally thought.
Without further ado, here is a list of the Chargers Top 10 plays in chronological order.
Week 2 at Panthers: J.K. Dobbins somersaults for a score
Dobbins announced his comeback tour in Week 1 with 135 rushing yards against the Raiders, but his punctuated his return from injury with this acrobatic flip into the end zone in Carolina. Dobbins' 43-yard touchdown marked his third rush of 40-plus yards early in the season.
Week 8 vs. Saints: Justin Herbert ignites Chargers
How special was this play? For one, it emphatically announced that 'Football Justin' is indeed a real thing. Herbert had been playing through a severe high ankle sprain in the weeks before this. Seeing him take off and run galvanized the Bolts past the Saints and also kicked off a four-game win streak.
Week 8 vs. Saints: Ladd McConkey announces his presence
The Chargers rookie receiver had already scored two touchdowns heading into Week 8. But his first of two scores against the Saints — a 60-yarder that turned out to be his longest regular-season touchdown — turned heads in a big way. Herbert showed he trusted the rookie by throwing it to him while covered, and McConkey dazzled the rest of the way down the field.
Week 10 vs. Bengals: Dobbins seals win against Cincinnati
The Chargers had watched a 21-point lead slip away in a battle of AFC playoff hopefuls. But Dobbins made sure the Chargers walked out of SoFi Stadium with a win as he scampered for the game-winning touchdown with just seconds remaining. Looking back, this was one of the Bolts biggest wins of the entire season.
Week 13 at Falcons: Tarheeb Still's pick-6 burns Atlanta
We've reached the halfway point of our list and it's time for the defense to shine. Still, a rookie fifth-round pick, highlighted a stellar day for the Bolts defense with a pick-6 in Atlanta off Kirk Cousins. On a day when the Bolts offense didn't score a touchdown, Still's score ended up being the difference in a 17-13 win.
Week 13 at Falcons: Derwin James, Jr. ends it vs. Kirk Cousins
James put together an All-Pro season and once again solidified himself as one of the game's top defensive players. And in a season full of highlights, James' lone pick of the year sealed a win against the Falcons and set off a wild celebration on the Bolts sideline.
Week 16 vs. Broncos: Cameron Dicker's historic fair catch kick
A fair catch kick?! Yep. A unique scenario unfolded in Week 16 when Dicker drilled a 57-yard fair catch kick against the Broncos. Harbaugh said it was "his favorite rule in football" and Dicker's kick gave the Bolts a boost as the Chargers eventually rallied past Denver in primetime. Add in the fact that Dicker later got to meet Ray Wersching — who made the NFL's last successful fair catch free kick — and the story got even better.
Week 16 vs. Broncos: Herbert's dime to Derius Davis
In a season where Herbert made one insane throw after another, this one against Denver stands out among the rest. Herbert rolled to his left and dropped a dime on the run to Derius Davis, who promptly hauled in his first NFL receiving touchdown. Herbert's coaches and teammates were in awe of this throw, one that only a few people on the entire planet can make.
Week 16 vs. Broncos: Joshua Palmer's 2-point catch
Bradley Bozeman reaction said it all. Palmer reached up with his right hand and tipped the ball to himself while corralling the catch and keeping both feet in bounds. Palmer's catch was his second amazing 2-point grab on the season and helped the Chargers secure their ninth win of the year.
Week 18 at Raiders: Quentin Johnston's 1-handed catch
Johnston had a handful of eye-popping plays in Year 2, including a catch over the middle in Kansas City, that showcased his growth and improvement. But this catch against the Raiders highlighted a career day in which Johnston set personal bests with 13 catches for 186 yards. If Johnston can take another step in Year 3, the Bolts offense should be even better in 2025.
