EL SEGUNDO — Coach Jim Harbaugh quoted human rights icon Nelson Mandela after the Chargers’ 17-15 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on “Monday Night Football.” Harbaugh then referenced Gen. George Patton, Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager and renowned aviatrix Amelia Earhart on Wednesday.
What the heck was he talking about?
Was he grasping for words to describe a game the Chargers could have, should have and would have won if not for a long list of what-ifs that could have turned the game into an exercise in frustration? Or was he simply trying to entertain reporters with a series of unconventional answers?
Most likely, it was a combination of both.
But let’s go back to the Mandela quote: “I don’t lose. I win or I learn.”
Mandela, a South African anti-apartheid activist, spoke eloquently during his lifelong fight for human rights. There’s scant evidence that he knew of or cared about the many intricacies of the NFL. What was clear from his words was that he didn’t accept defeat without gaining something from it.
As for the others, well, Harbaugh used Patton as a symbol for the Chargers’ ground game. Harbaugh used Yeager and Earhart as symbols for the Chargers’ passing game. He attempted to use the three American heroes of a bygone era to explain how he could go with what was working, either running or passing.
Each aspect worked well and each struggled in the Chargers’ loss against the Cardinals. Overall, they had 395 yards of offense, including a season-high 349 passing yards from quarterback Justin Herbert. But they failed to score a touchdown, and they haven’t scored a second-half touchdown since Week 1.
So, what did Harbaugh learn from watching and re-watching the game film?
“It’s understandable that you would be singing with the choir with the would have, could have, could have, if this, if that,” he said. “It took watching it three or four times, on all sides of the ball, to turn the handbook to ‘we were better, we were better, we got better.’ There were a lot of great plays. We made plays.
“You know, we played good. There were a lot of positives.”
Through six games of the season, however, there remains a huge gap between the accomplishments of the Chargers’ offense and defense. Their ho-hum offense is averaging 17.7 points per game, tied for 25th-best in the 32-team league. Their stingy defense is giving up 13.8 points, best in the league.
In time, after some back and forth on the Chargers’ ground game, which is averaging 116.3 yards per game, tied for 18th in the NFL, Harbaugh admitted it could have been more productive while gaining only 59 yards on 22 carries for a lackluster average of 2.7 yards per attempt against the Cardinals’ defense.
“Left a lot of meat on the bone,” Harbaugh said.
BOSA UPDATE
Outside linebacker Joey Bosa didn’t practice last week and didn’t play for the third consecutive game because of a hip injury. Bosa was hurt on the first play of the Chargers’ 20-10 loss Sept. 22 to the Pittsburgh Steelers and was ruled out of the next three games, including Monday’s loss to Arizona.
However, Bosa was listed as a limited participant for Wednesday’s practice, the first step in a possible return to the lineup for the Chargers’ game Sunday against the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium. Bosa has played only three games this season, nine in 2023 and five in 2022 because of injuries.
INJURIES (PART 2)
Wide receivers Derius Davis (hamstring), Quentin Johnston (ankle) and Ladd McConkey (hip) and tight ends Will Dissly (shoulder) and Hayden Hurst (groin) sat out practice because of injuries. Wide receiver DJ Chark (groin) was listed as a limited participant. He has yet to make his 2024 debut.
