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Nick Canepa grades the Chargers following Sunday’s 19-17 loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City:
Quarterbacks: B
Justin Herbert, with time to throw, was sacked on his first attempt and immediately drilled a pass to Josh Palmer, and then threw one of the worst passes of his career, missing a wide-open Palmer deep. Justin took a shot to the thigh and came out, for a play. But he came out firing after halftime and threw his first scoring pass in 11 quarters to actually give his side the lead. Still, he knows 17 points on the Chiefs in Kansas City isn’t usually going to do it.
Running backs: B-
With top back J.K. Dobbins on IR, it was up to Gus Edwards for a lot, but it was rookie and Kimani Vidal who did more early. Edwards capped an eight-minute drive to start the third quarter with a short TD run, their first offensive score in two weeks.
Receivers: B
Outstanding rookie Ladd McConkey was iffy all week with a shoulder and knee and turned up inactive in K.C., weakening a group that isn’t a major strength when he’s healthy. But Palmer, having a nothing year, helped pick things up and made big play after big play. Quentin Johnston actually did well, catching a TD pass to put them ahead. Stone Smart looks like a real tight end.
Offensive line: B
Zion Johnson had a nifty hold that damaged the first drive (and there weren’t many drives to damage). Played well enough to win.
Defensive line: B
They needed pressure to have a chance and they got pressure. The defense played plenty well enough.
Linebackers: B
Khalil Mack got an early sack, forcing a field goal and whacked Patrick Mahomes later. Then bookend Joey Bosa sacked Mahomes and later had a horrible offside that nullified an interception. Biggest play of the game. Daiyan Henley missed the tackle on Mahomes at the end.
Secondary: A-
Derwin James had a sack. Young corners Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still have been absolute finds. Hart had a blast on a receiver at the goal line. Ja’Sir Taylor whiffed on a potential third-down stop.
Special teams: D
For the first time in a while, coverage was a little shaky (opponents don’t get many return tries). Derius Davis had a 37-yard kickoff return. Cameron Dicker the Kicker kicked two field goals, but his bad kickoff in the fourth gave K.C. the ball on its own 40, which became a short cut to the shaky winning field goal.
Coaching: B
Jim Harbaugh had the right idea to beat the Chiefs, and that was to get after Mahomes and his suspect offensive tackles. There are few human beings with the luck to beat K.C. when you can’t manage more than 17 points. But he knows he can play with these guys.
Next opportunity — vs. Tampa Bay: B
The Bucs aren’t easy to play. But they also aren’t very good. Harbaugh’s kids enter a stretch where they can win games vs. beatable teams.
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