Chris Lim, ESPN
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — In Week 14 of last season, the Los Angeles Chargers found themselves in their home stadium surrounded by fans chanting for then-manager Brandon Staley to be fired in the midst of a disappointing season.
A little more than a year later, the Chargers saw what it felt like from the other side.
On Saturday, as Los Angeles defeated the New England Patriots 40-7 to clinch a playoff berth, the few New England fans left at Gillette Stadium wore a “Fire Mayo” in honor of Patriots coach Jerrod Mayo. ” started shouting. It was the second time this century that New England lost at home by more than 30 points.
Saturday’s win was the Chargers’ best performance of the season and perhaps the clearest example of how much this team has changed in one year under coach Jim Harbaugh.
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“It feels good to be able to play some meaningful football,” safety Derwin James said. “I remember sitting on my couch last year and just wishing and thinking, ‘What can I do differently this year so I don’t have the same thoughts?’ And to get us here. I’m just happy and proud of the players for their efforts.”
James sacked Patriots quarterback Drake Maye twice, bringing his season total to a career-best 5.5. This was one of the best matches. The defense shut down New England’s offense, which put up 21 points against one of the NFL’s best teams last weekend against the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots’ only touchdown on Saturday came in the second quarter when Maye connected with receiver Demario Douglas for a 36-yard score.
The Chargers’ defense pressured Maye all day, sacking him four times and forcing him on 11 of his 31 dropbacks (35%).
“Our team played a great game defensively,” Coach Harbaugh said.
The Chargers were nearly perfect offensively, posting a season-high in points with just two punts. Justin Herbert completed 26 of 38 for 281 passing yards and three touchdowns before being pulled along with all the starters early in the fourth quarter. Herbert also passed Peyton Manning for the most passing yards in his first five seasons in the NFL.
Herbert’s favorite target Saturday was rookie Rad McConkie, who caught eight passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns. McConkey’s big day helped him break the Chargers’ single-season rookie receptions and receiving yards records held by Keenan Allen.
The game, against the team the Chargers traded up to take him with the 34th pick in the draft, was one of the best games of McConkey’s first year. McConkie had more receiving yards on Saturday than Jaylin Polk (87 yards) and Javon Baker (0 yards), the two receivers the Patriots selected with the picks they acquired in draft-day deals.
“There’s no such thing as extra motivation,” McConkey said. “When I got drafted, I was excited to get drafted. … I’m where I’m supposed to be right now, so it’s a great moment.”
Last season, the Chargers won just five games, lost a number of good players, and looked like a team that was a year removed from playoff contention. However, the team expected a major turnaround by hiring Harbaugh, who was considered the first choice by many players.
“The players were praying and hoping that Jim would be the head coach,” linebacker Daiyan Henry said of the players’ mindset as they searched for a leader.
“We saw Jim as a winner. Even though he was in college, he was a winner in college. We also knew his history with the 49ers. He was a winner everywhere he went. We wanted that mentality and here he is. And he is exactly what we thought he would be.”
Other than a loud hug between Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortis, the celebration was somewhat muted in the locker room. Multiple Chargers said they are looking forward to seeing their team earn its 11th win next week and seal a playoff berth.
“We’ve got to have a chance to win a Super Bowl, and that’s what we’re trying to do right now,” running back JK Dobbins said.
“We don’t care what seed we are. We don’t care where we go,” James said. “We know we want to finish every game. It seems like 11 wins are better than 10 wins. And it doesn’t matter what seed we are. The end goal. I know I have to get through everyone. So I’m ready.”
Saturday’s win came at a cost for the Chargers, who lost wide receiver Joshua Palmer and safety Elijah Molden to injuries.
Palmer suffered a heel injury and was wearing a walking boot after the match. Molden broke his leg in a collision with James late in the contest and will miss the rest of the season, sources told ESPN.
Malden, who was dragged off the field, announced the season was over on Instagram, but did not provide details about the injury.
“Thank you God for putting me on this team in LA!” Malden’s post reads. “This was the most fun I’ve had playing this game since I was a kid. There’s going to be a lot more to come, but trust me on that! Bolts with 22 outs heading into the playoffs.”
The Chargers will play the Las Vegas Raiders next week to close out the regular season. If they win against the Raiders and lose to the Steelers, the Chargers can move up to the No. 5 seed in the AFC.
