La Chargers Younghoe Koo Misses Again

abril 06, 2022 Publicar un comentario

By Dave Thomas

With their move to the greater Los Angeles expanse complete, the Chargers opened their 2022 NFL regular season in a coming together confronting an old foe Monday evening, the AFC West rival Denver Broncos. By the fourth dimension the dust had cleared, the Chargers plant themselves in a familiar situation that is on the losing end.

A late field goal try past rookie placekicker Younghoe Koo was blocked, allowing the host Broncos to escape with a hard-fought 24-21 victory in the Mile High City.

Downwards 24-7 in the last 15 minutes of play, the Chargers rallied to pull within three points, giving them an opportunity to take the game into overtime.

Veteran quarterback Philip Rivers threw two of his three TD passes in the fourth quarter, but it still was not enough. Some questionable clock management on the final drive too made things tough on Los Angeles.

So, a calendar week to get over a tough loss earlier hosting their outset-ever game in Carson (Calif.) this coming Sunday, the Chargers will wait to rebound and get in the win cavalcade for new head coach Anthony Lynn.

Offense: (B-)

Although Rivers and the Bolts rallied in the final stanza, you can't get behind a corking defensive team on the road and expect to walk away with a win time and time once more. Los Angeles has had a habit in the past of either blowing leads or falling backside and coming up short in its rallies. As such, it is no wonder this is the only team in the AFC W to accept never won a Super Bowl.

Rivers finished his season-opening nighttime going 22-of-33 for 192 yards and three TDs against one interception. Travis Benjamin, Keenan Allen and Melvin Gordon each ended up with a TD reception. On the footing, running back Melvin Gordon had trouble establishing himself against ane of the better defenses in the league. Gordon ended his dark with 54 yards on xviii carries. If the Chargers are to make any waves in the AFC this yr, they will need to get more out of their running game.

Defense: (B-)

While giving up 24 points may not seem similar a bang-up defensive night, the Los Angeles defense did plenty to continue the Chargers in the game until the very end. Jatavis Brown paced the Chargers with 14 total tackles (11 solo), with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram each adding 1.v sacks, respectively. Given Denver's average play at the QB position since the retirement of Peyton Manning, one would have hoped the Chargers' defence would exist able to bottle up Trevor Siemian. As it turns out, the young quarterback threw for a pair of touchdowns (both to Bennie Fowler Three) and ran for another.

Special Teams: (C+)

Although the tape volume will show that Koo missed what would accept been a game-tying field goal with :05 remaining in the game, it was Denver'southward ability to get a good rush on the kick that proved the difference. Denver's Shelby Harris got plenty of a push button to partially cake the kicking, sending Los Angeles to defeat. In what proved to be the right telephone call, Denver Head Autobus Vance Joseph called a timeout just before Koo hit on his first field goal attempt of 44 yards. On the second try, it was Harris and the Denver defense force that changed the effect. On a side notation, the NFL really needs to look at this calling timeout just prior to a field goal attempt. While it is still the kicker'south responsibleness to make practiced on the kicking, how many teams end up losing considering the next attempt immediately afterward goes amiss?

Coaching: (C+)

With one-time Los Angeles head double-decker Mike McCoy now calling offensive plays for the rival Broncos, Lynn got his offset crack at coaching the Chargers in the regular flavor. Coming off of a 5-11 campaign a yr ago, the Chargers definitely look to go back to at least .500 or better in 2017. Although Denver blocking the last field goal endeavour is what ultimately did in the Bolts, Lynn looked a niggling indecisive in that final two-minute drill in when to end the clock and/or move the offense faster. For Charger fans, that will hopefully change moving forward.

With the season opener behind them, the Chargers set up for a pair of dwelling house games in their temporary abode of Carson.

Afterwards hosting Miami this coming Sunday, the Bolts will play host to AFC West rival Kansas Urban center to close out the month.

Although the loss to Denver is just a single setback, could information technology be a sign of things to come for a Chargers' franchise that almost always seems to have luck going against information technology?