The Chargers defense was again, for the fifth straight game this season, the better unit compared to the offense. Linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips played his best game as a pro, nearly getting a game grade in 90.0+ “elite” territory.
What happened to the Chargers in the fourth quarter was pretty unbelievable, but you know what might be harder to believe? Fullback Scott Matlock, fresh off injured reserve, finished with the offense’s highest individual grade.
What a world we live in.
The best defensive player this week is an undrafted free agent who just became an eighth-year starter while the best offensive player is a defensive tackle-turned-fullback who was drafted in the sixth round.
Welcome to the 2026 Chargers experience.
Alright, let’s take a look at this week’s grades.
FB Scott Matlock – 77.7
TE Hayden Rucci – 77.1
OT Travis Burke – 73.6
WR Tre’ Harris – 69.8
TE Charlie Kolar – 66.0
Welcome back, Scott Matlock!
After returning from IR and making his season debut, Matlock provided the Chargers’ highest scoring offense. He excelled as an extra pass protector (his 82.5 grade led the team) while also earning a run block grade of 70.2 (5th best). His best play of the day came on Kimani Vidal’s 42-yard touchdown run where Matlock hauled himself down the field to throw a key block past receiver Theo Wease.
Of the four rookie offensive linemen who started Sunday’s game, Burke performed the best and was graded as the offense’s third-best player. Unfortunately he allowed one sack and finished with a porous pass block grade (39.7) but outstanding in the run game (84.2).
Harris’ injury hurt the Chargers’ run game after he was forced out of the game. Before going down, he had the team’s third-best run block grade at 81.6.
QB Justin Herbert – 41.8
OG/T Logan Taylor – 44.0
TE Oronde Gadsden II – 44.7
AND Cole Strange – 50.1
C Jake Slaughter – 51.6
Taylor was the worst rated rookie offensive lineman against the Broncos. The Chargers surprisingly guarded Taylor as he played more tackle in the preseason, in addition to putting Harkey at right tackle after he played primarily at guard in August. Either way, it was a rough outing for Taylor who finished with a 31.9 in pass pro.
Many of the tight ends were used as extra pass protectors and somehow Gadsden finished with an actual 0.0 in that category.
No wonder Herbert is the worst on offense. His pick was ugly and his production was one of the worst he’s had in his career on top of another losing streak.
LB Del’Shawn Phillips – 89.9
EDGE Akheem Mesidor – 89.6
EDGE Bud Dupree – 85.4
LB Daiyan Henley – 75.4
S Elijah Molden – 69.9
Earlier Monday morning, Phillips had an elite 90.0 game grade. After checking again while typing this, it changed to an 89.9. I don’t know where the change came from, but Phillips deserved his first elite game at linebacker even with the loss. He has run defense and tackle grades above 80.0 and the team’s second-highest coverage grade at 77.3. All while playing the second most snaps among defenders.
Mesidor got the Chargers’ lone sack of Bo Nix and later helped force a fumble when he hogtied Nix before Tuli Tuipulotu fumbled the ball.
Henley has his bags as a coverage player, earning a team-high 85.1 grade. His 79.4 in tackling is also second best.
S Genesis Smith – 35.5
LB Marlowe Wax – 36.5
DT Nick Barrett – 44.8
DT Teair Tart – 47.9
S Tony Jefferson – 49.5
It continues to be an up-and-down rookie season for Smith. Just two games after being the highest-rated player in all of Week Three, Smith finished Sunday’s game with the lowest rating on the entire team. His 36.7 coverage grade was the worst on the defense by a wide margin and he was blamed for letting Courtland Sutton go untouched and uncovered for the Broncos’ fourth quarter touchdown.
Jefferson’s 49.5 in coverage was the next-worst coverage grade on the team. The roughing the passer calling on him (shouldn’t have been flagged) also dropped his grade a bit this week. Otherwise, Unc is pretty solid with grades above 63.0 in run defense, tackling, and pass rush.