The Chargers are 10-4 after Sunday’s 16-13 thrilling win over the Chiefs.
Here are five takeaways from Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference.
It was a classic late-season, physical battle Sunday in Kansas City.
And it was Chargers who came out on top by displaying their physicality in all phases.
Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh came away pleased with the way the team imposed itself Monday after rewatching the film.
After all, it is December football.
“I thought our team did a really good job in that regard,” Harbaugh said. “In all three phases, it was one of those December games, division game.”
He later added: “Great team win. So many contributed and played at a really high level. Clutch performances. Very, very strong men. Very tough men.”
The physicality was apparent in all facets of the game as it wore on.
The Chargers limited the Chiefs to just 239 yards on Sunday, Kansas City’s lowest total of the season and fewest yards in a game since Week 9 of the 2021 season.
That included limiting the Chiefs ground game to 49 yards on 21 attempts in what was dominant play on the line of scrimmage.
“Da’Shawn Hand had a dominant game, so did Teair Tart,” Harbaugh said. “Teair is playing his best football, Da’Shawn is playing great. Our guys up front did a great job controlling the run game. That was a great run wall.”
It was no different in the pass defense either.
The Bolts coverage unit was physical down the field, coming away with a pair of interceptions — one by Daiyan Henley and the game-sealer by Derwin James, Jr.
“The playmakers were incredible,” Harbaugh said. “Daiyan Henley, incredible game by him, spying the quarterback, all over the field, makes an interception like a DB.
“Derwin James, all over the field,” Harbaugh added. “The way Jesse moved him from position to position, put him in positions to be successful. He played amazing … down-in and down-out, setting the tone and playing great, great, football.”
The offensive unit was much of the same, with Justin Herbert’s timely throws and churning out the tough yards on the ground with Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal.
Even amid the injuries that have hit the offensive unit, the overarching mentality on the offensive side of the ball has been on display no matter who steps in.
“The guys that have stepped in, we haven’t altered the game plan… I see that from our guys,” Harbaugh said.
He later added: “There’s just a mentality there, you think of yourself as a starter and you prepare for yourself to be in there. It’s an opportunity, ‘Let me get my chance.’ We’ve seen that unfold this year in very, very good way. Guys stepping up.”
There was a lot to like about what the group displayed in Kansas City.
“Everybody fighting for their playoff lives,” Harbaugh said. “Huge challenge and I thought our guys acquitted themselves very well.”