Chargers takeaways: How big of a missed opportunity is loss to the Ravens?

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is swarmed by the Baltimore Ravens defense late in the game Monday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

In the thick of a playoff race, the Chargers have the attention of four prime-time games in six weeks. Now it’s a matter of what they can do in the spotlight.

A 30-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday pumped the brakes on the team’s rapid rise under coach Jim Harbaugh. Instead of loud music and joyous laughter, the team’s locker room was mostly silent as players emptied their lockers, got dressed and shuffled out as quickly as possible.

With one of the loudest home crowds of the season at SoFi Stadium, the loss felt like a missed opportunity for the Chargers (7-4) to capitalize on the growing interest around Harbaugh’s rebuild. But with a short week to prepare for a road game against the Atlanta Falcons, Justin Herbert insists it’s just the beginning of a new opportunity.

“These are the games that you want to be playing in November and December,” the star quarterback said, “and hopefully in January as well.”

Read more: Chargers drop the ball on offense and defense in second half as Ravens prevail

Here are four things we learned from the loss:

J.K. Dobbins injured

Harbaugh did not have an immediate update on the knee injury that sidelined J.K. Dobbins for the second half. The former Ravens running back who suffered a gruesome knee injury in 2021 was standing on the sideline during the second half while wearing a gray sweatsuit with no visible brace or supports.

Dobbins last appeared on the field on a run up the middle with 5:09 remaining in the second quarter when he got stopped for no gain on a play that was negated because of a holding penalty. He ducked into the injury tent after the drive.

“J.K. is a dynamic back,” left guard Zion Johnson said. “Losing him definitely hurt.”

Dobbins and fellow former Ravens running back Gus Edwards were a bright spot for the Chargers early as they combined for 26…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/chargers-takeaways-big-missed-opportunity-150351139.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2024-11-26 15:03:00

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