If the Los Angeles Chargers are able to put together a late-season run and advance far in the playoffs, a big reason will be what Derwin James Jr. did at halftime Thursday night.
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Here are some ways to find peaceWorking Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peaceAP News AlertsFrom destruction to deadly heat, Associated Press photographers capture climate change in 2024In Florida, the Miccosukee fight to protect the Everglades in the face of climate changeUS flu season is underway as cases surgeEurope offers clues for solving America's maternal mortality crisisApple complains Meta requests risk privacy in spat over EU efforts to widen access to iPhone techUS civil rights probe faults Philadelphia school district over handling of antisemitism reportsRusia bombardea Kiev en respuesta a ataque de Ucrania con misiles de EEUU hacia territorio rusoLos Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins, left, celebrates his touchdown with head coach Jim Harbaugh during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer catches the ball in the end zone for a two-point conversion during the second half an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. is tackled short of the goal line by Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Derius Davis celebrates with teammates after a touchdown reception during the second half an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert his pressured as he rolls out of the pocket during the second half an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins, left, celebrates his touchdown with head coach Jim Harbaugh during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins, left, celebrates his touchdown with head coach Jim Harbaugh during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer catches the ball in the end zone for a two-point conversion during the second half an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer catches the ball in the end zone for a two-point conversion during the second half an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. is tackled short of the goal line by Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. is tackled short of the goal line by Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Derius Davis celebrates with teammates after a touchdown reception during the second half an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Derius Davis celebrates with teammates after a touchdown reception during the second half an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert his pressured as he rolls out of the pocket during the second half an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert his pressured as he rolls out of the pocket during the second half an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. If the Los Angeles Chargers are able to put together a late-season run and advance far in the playoffs, a big reason will be what Derwin James Jr. did at halftime Thursday night. With the Chargers trailing the Denver Broncos 21-13 and playing their worst stretch of football this season, it was the seventh-year safety who addressed the team at halftime instead of coach Jim Harbaugh.“Derwin was great in the locker room at halftime,” Harbaugh said. “The energy was high right from the beginning and it never wavered.” James had many reasons to be miffed at halftime. The Chargers were outscored 48-13 in four quarters that included the second half against Tampa Bay and the first half against Denver. Even worse, the defense had a stretch where it had allowed scores on 13 of 18 drives and forced only two punts in seven quarters. “I feel like, as players, we need to take it upon ourselves. This is our team, too,” James said. “And I feel like, man, my message was simple. Man, it’s time for us to play ball. And I feel like, as a team, we just came out and did that. It was nothing rah, rah, rah. It was just: ‘It’s time to go, man. It’s time for us to play our best ball in December, January.’ I feel like we did that today.”Patriots coach Jerod Mayo says defensive tackle Christian Barmore’s return to health is top priorityThe Chargers got contributions from all three phases in the second half as they stopped a slide of three losses in four games. Justin Herbert and the offense scored on three of their first four possessions in the second half. They got production from the running game, which had become nonexistent since J.K. Dobbins’ knee injury, and Herbert made a great cross-body throw off his back foot to Derius Davis for a 19-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to put Los Angeles on top.“I feel like we showed that we can win in many different ways — whether it’s the defense, it’s the offense, special teams, in prime-time games — we’ve showed that and just want to keep that going,” James said. Los Angeles has a 97% probability of making the playoffs, according to the NFL, and holds the sixth seed in the AFC after beating Denver. That would likely mean a trip to Pittsburgh or Baltimore for the wild-card round, but it beats the alternative of heading to Kansas City or Buffalo as the seventh seed. The Chargers would lock down their second playoff trip in three years with losses Sunday by Indianapolis and Miami. Los Angeles is on the road the final two weeks but will be favored against New England and Las Vegas.According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Justin Herbert used play action on 17 of his 36 dropbacks against the Broncos, with the 47.2% rate being a career high. He was 12 of 15 for 155 yards and was sacked twice. Herbert is second in the league in passing yards on play action , trailing only Detroit’s Jared Goff going into Sunday’s games.After allowing only one touchdown on an opening drive in the first 12 games, the Chargers have given up two touchdowns and a field goal on the first possession in the last three games. Los Angeles also allowed touchdowns on the first three drives for the first time this season against the Broncos.RB Gus Edwards had a season-high 68 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. His 43-yard run during the fourth quarter put the Chargers back in Broncos’ territory and set the stage for Herbert’s 34-yard touchdown pass to Hassan Haskins, which extended Los Angeles’ lead to 34-24 and put the game out of reach.C Bradley Bozeman allowed a season-high six quarterback pressures and also struggled in run blocking. The Chargers weren’t able to get much on runs up the middle until Edwards’ 43-yard gain in the fourth quarter.S Marcus Maye and LB Denzel Perryman were injured in the first half and did not return. RB J.K. Dobbins and S Alohi Gilman will be eligible to come off injured reserve next week.12 — Fourth-quarter or overtime comeback wins by Herbert, which is the third most in the league since 2020. 40 — Yards needed by Ladd McConkey to become the first Chargers rookie receiver with 1,000 yards since Keenan Allen in 2013.The Chargers get a mini bye before heading to Foxborough, Massachusetts, for the second straight year to face the Patriots.Reedy is a sports writer based in Los Angeles for The Associated Press. He has worked for the AP since 2015.
Justin Herbert Derwin James Jr. Los Angeles Chargers Gus Edwards Denver Broncos Denzel Perryman Hassan Haskins Keenan Allen Cameron Dicker Bradley Bozeman Jared Goff Marcus Maye J.K. Dobbins Buffalo NFL NFL Football Sports Derius Davis Alohi Gilman Los Angeles Ladd Mcconkey
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