RUN GAME KEY TO PLAYOFFS
They still aren’t averaging as many rushing yards per game as Derrick Henry did before he got hurt.
And the Chargers are only one yard ahead of the weekly pace being set by Jonathan Taylor, the NFL’s leading rusher.
But, over the past several weeks, they’ve become much more effective running the ball, something that could prove significant in Las Vegas on Sunday night when the Chargers play for their postseason lives.
“We truly have the threat of running the football now,” coach Brandon Staley said Monday. “You can’t just say, ‘Hey, this team has got people out there that would suggest they’re going to run it and then they’re going to throw it.’ ”
Of the Chargers’ top five rushing games this season, four have come since they were off during Week 7. They are averaging 134 yards on the ground — 25 above their season average — over their last four games.
They’ve moved up to 20th in the league, which still ranks in the bottom half but
at least offers a counter to quarterback Justin Herbert and a passing attack that is among the NFL’s top five.
“What we wanted to be able to do is not live in that high-volume-throw world all the time,” Staley said.
In their first meeting against the Raiders, during Week 4, the Chargers finished with 168 yards — their second-best output of the season — in 34 carries. Austin Ekeler ran for 117 of those yards, a career high.
The Chargers opened a 21-0 halftime lead on that Monday night at SoFi Stadium before winning 28-14. The ground game helped them to a nine-minute advantage in time of possession while they ran 19 more plays than Las Vegas did.
A similar showing this weekend at Allegiant Stadium could thrust the Chargers into the postseason.
The winner of this AFC West showdown advances to face one of the conference’s top seeds.
Ekeler likened the evolution of the team’s running game to “a work of art” after the Chargers beat Denver over the weekend 34-13. He gave credit to the offensive line and assistant coaches and noted the time everyone has invested.
“It’s just getting more familiar with how our guys are blocking different schemes,” Ekeler said. “It’s really helped slow the game down mentally for us, just playing together as long as we’ve been playing now.”
After Ekeler, veteran Justin Jackson has given the Chargers the second running back option they had been lacking for much of the season. Four of Jackson’s five most-productive games have come since the start of December.
A major run-game story for the Chargers entering Week 18 is the health of center Corey Linsley, who missed most of the game against Denver after his back tightened up.
With the Pro Bowl player out, the Chargers struggled on the ground against the
Broncos, Staley calling it “a bloody day” but noting that his offense did manage to rush 35 times.
On Monday, Staley called Linsley’s injury “a game isolation incident” and said he believed the veteran would be able to practice this week. The Chargers return to the field Wednesday.
“Cory is a hell of a center,” Ekeler said. “He definitely is the focal point of our run game. … He’s the leader out there of the O-linemen, gets everything going.”
Linsley’s availability Sunday could be a major factor in whether or not the Chargers are able to extend their season.
Notable
The Chargers activated edge rusher/linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. off the COVID-19 reserve list Monday. With Drue Tranquill dealing with an ankle injury, Murray’s return against Las Vegas could be pivotal.
Veteran tight end Jared Cook remains the only Charger on the COVID list. Staley said Cook should be able to rejoin the team this week.