Chargers' persistent offensive line issues threaten to derail their season
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is sacked by Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins during the first half of the Chargers' 20-16 loss Saturday at SoFi Stadium.(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)Justin Herbert could glimpse at the Chargers' See the lighting, Feel the thunder" branding above the field-level suites as his offensive linemen pulled him up on the SoFi Stadium turf.
Herbert certainly felt the thunder against the Texans. The NFL's top defense recorded 26 pressures as it swarmed through the Chargers' offensive line en route to a 20-16 win Saturday.
And Herbert saw the lightning, best represented by second-string defensive end Derek Barnett's back-to-back sacks to halt the Chargers' first drive of the second half.
The latter of Barnett's takedowns - part of the Texans' five sacks and eight tackles for loss - came when he spun past Bobby Hart and brought down Herbert for a seven-yard loss.
I mean, it's just football," Hart said when asked if he was dwelling on Barnett's pair of sacks or losing a one-on-one against Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter in the first quarter that left Herbert grimacing and favoring his surgically repaired left hand.
Hart added: "People make plays - defenders, guys, catch the ball. Quarterbacks might have some throws that you want back. It's just a part of the football game."
Coach Jim Harbaugh said he pulled Hart in the third quarter because the 31-year-old was having trouble getting in the rhythm."
Austin Deculus replaced Hart and Trevor Penning temporarily replaced Mekhi Becton Jr. at right guard for a drive, creating the Chargers' 24th offensive line combination of the season. But in a game previewing the quality of defenses the Chargers could face in the postseason, the offensive line - hit hard by the losses of Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt to injury - struggled to adequately protect Herbert.
Just too many mistakes," right tackle Trey Pipkins III said. Whatever it was - sacks and untimely situations - we started really slow."
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert walks on the field during the second half of a 20-16 loss to the Houston Texans at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)The Chargers trailed 14-3 at halftime, punting in each of its first four drives. Herbert, who had 236 passing yards along with a touchdown and an interception, capitalized on Houston penalties and standout plays to extend drives.
Late in the third quarter, Texans defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins burst past left guard Zion Johnson, and then swiftly ran by center Bradley Bozeman in help protection and grabbed Herbert by the waist. Instead of falling to the ground for the sack - a potential sixth overall - Herbert connected with wide receiver Quentin Johnston for the first down.
Moments later, rookie running back Omarion Hampton scored on a five-yard run to make it a four-point game. Outside of the touchdown run, the Chargers' run game was close to non-existent. Herbert had a team-leading 37 rushing yards, 28 coming on a single run.
Hampton had just 29 yards on 14 carries for a career-low 2.1 yards per carry. The Texans' downhill attack gave up just 74 rushing yards, the second fewest Houston has given up this season.
Read more:Chargers' AFC West title hopes shattered in frustrating loss to Texans
We just shot ourselves in the foot," said Johnson, who along with Bozeman has appeared in all of the Chargers' line combinations. It starts with us up front. We've got to protect [Herbert] better. We got to execute better in the run game. There's too many missed opportunities."
The Texans revealed the extent of the Chargers' offensive line weaknesses. With the wild-card playoffs two weeks away, will they be able to figure out their protection issues?
Learn from it," Harbaugh said. Some of the things that happened today, clean up, and use those to be better tomorrow."
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.