The Chargers had their worst defensive day under first-year coordinator Jesse Minter. The tackle was the worst we’ve seen this season and when the Bolts needed a stop most, they couldn’t find one. Once they took the ball away, but immediately gave it back.

The Chargers’ best played like that. It was another classic hero play from Justin Herbert. But zero touchdowns scored is a quick way to get on the wrong side of the scoreboard, no matter how many yards you throw.

This one will hurt. I’m sure this woke up the entire franchise. Time to move on and turn their focus to the saints coming to town this weekend.

Let’s go ahead and dive in to see if there’s anything notable that the team could hang its hat on.

Offence

Best (min. 20 snaps played)

QB Justin Herbert – 89.7
WR Josh Palmer – 80.3
OT Joe Alt-76.2
TE Will Dissly-74.6
OG Zion Johnson – 71.6

It was a miraculous play from Herbert as he threw to a makeshift skill group. It’s no surprise that he was the best player in attack.

Palmer showed the kind of talent that led many to believe he would become the team’s bona fide WR1 entering the 2024 season. He made tough catches that were crucial in giving the Chargers a chance to win Monday night.

Each member of the Chargers’ offensive line gave up multiple pressures to the Cardinals, but Alt managed to stay at the top of the pack with a run and pass-block grade each above 70.0, including a run-block grade of 87.6.

Worst

TE Eric Tomlinson – 45.8
WR Ladd McConkey – 47.9
OG Trey Pipkins – 56.2
OT Rashawn Slater – 59.3
C Bradley Bozeman – 61.0

Pipkins was the only Chargers player to allow a sack against the Cardinals. Slater had the lowest run block grade for the Chargers at 39.2, while Bozeman had the lowest pass block grade at 28.2.

McConkey caught five of his seven targets, but the two he didn’t catch were recorded as drops. That led the team against the Cardinals. This was by far the rookie’s worst game mark of the season.

Defense

Best

EDGE Khalil Mack – 92.1
LB Denzel Perryman – 76.4
DT Poona Ford-72.2
S Derwin James – 72.0
DT Otito Ogbonia – 70.3

What else is new? Mack was the team’s best defender with an elite level of play to boot. Despite not recording a sack, he also posted an elite pass rush grade of 91.9 and led the team with four pressures.

Ford’s run defense grade of 72.4 was second on the team behind Mack’s 76.2.

Derwin James led all players in coverage grade with 72.3. He allowed one completion on one target for one yard.

Despite the overall team performance in that area, Ogbonnia bounced back with a strong showing against the series where he recorded a grade of 72.0.

Worst

EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu – 29.0
LB Junior Colson – 29.2
S Alohi Gilman – 35.7
EDGE Bud Dupree – 43.1
CB Cam Hart – 44.3

This was perhaps the worst tackling game in recent memory for the Chargers.

Tuipulotu missed four tackles on five attempts. That’s a quick missed tackle rate of 80 percent. Colson was tied with him at the bottom, but his overall grade dropped with a coverage of 29.6. He allowed two receptions on two targets for 26 yards. He also took a bad angle on Kyler Murray’s touchdown scramble.

Gilman was one of five Chargers to finish the day with a tackling grade below 30.0. He missed three tackles and had the second-worst defensive rating Monday night. Cam Hart’s night looked pretty solid, but he allowed four receptions on seven targets for 44 yards, including 22 yards after the catch.