Add another impressive Chargers performance to the list in 2024.
The Bolts rolled past Cleveland on their way to a 27-10 win, a game in which Jim Harbaugh's squad controlled the whole way through.
With six sacks and three interceptions on defense and seven plays of 20-plus yards on offense, the Chargers continued to show progression in all facets.
It was one of the more impressive performances of the Week 9 slate, as CBS Sports' John Breech made the Bolts one of the four teams with at least an ‘A grade’ performance.
The CBS Sports writer was more than inspired from what the Chargers were able to do Sunday against the Browns and he believes they have pushed themselves into a prime spot in the AFC playoff picture.
Breech wrote:
The Chargers offense took a licking from Myles Garrett in this game, but it kept on ticking. Justin Herbert got sacked six times, including three by Garrett, but he didn't let that faze him. Despite being under constant pressure, Herbert made several big plays, including a 66-yard TD to Quentin Johnston in the second quarter that essentially iced the game. That put the Chargers up 13-3 and with the way their defense was playing, that was more than enough. Tuli Tuipulotu (2.5 sacks) led a unit that sacked Jameis Winston six times. That pressure led to three interceptions by Winston in the second half. The Chargers feel like a team that could certainly end up stealing a wild-card spot this year.
Get an inside look at the postgame celebration from the Bolts 27-10 win over the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field.
As Breech mentioned, Johnston’s big play in the first half gave the Bolts control of the game and it was one of the many difference-making plays he made in the afternoon.
The second-year receiver had the best game of his young career so far with four receptions for 118 yards and the long touchdown.
His performance was Bleacher Report's NFL Staff's big takeaway from the game for the Bolts, as Johnston showed what a healthy version of himself could impact for the offense in the push for the playoffs.
They wrote:
Johnston's return was a very welcome one for the Chargers. The budding second-year star missed the last two games with an ankle injury, but he was fully healthy against the Browns and helped spark L.A.'s highest-scoring game of the season.
The Chargers offense is a different animal with Johnston (4 catches, 118 yards, 1 TD) and Ladd McConkey (5 catches, 64 yards) both healthy… Johnston is poised to play a huge role for the Chargers over the second half of the season.
On the defensive side there were a number of standouts as well, but Pro Football Focus' Ben Cooper tabbed safety Derwin James, Jr., who had a top showing.
Cooper wrote:
Derwin James Jr. allowed one catch for three yards on four targets into his coverage. He broke up one pass and picked off another in what should be his highest-graded performance of the season.
He put up the third-best coverage grade (84.3) and fourth-highest overall defense grade (85.7) among all safeties heading into Monday Night Football.
It put together another dominant defensive performance for the NFL's best scoring defense at the halfway point of the season that has yet to allow a team to score over 20 points.
