Los Angeles Chargers: Positive and negative takeaways from Week 3
By Jason Reed
![LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: Adrian Phillips #31 of the Los Angeles Chargers stands with his teammates before taking the field to warm up prior to the start of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: Adrian Phillips #31 of the Los Angeles Chargers stands with his teammates before taking the field to warm up prior to the start of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/0fe78ce05427881fa1a96e47a4629bdb26bd276e4668cf87370abe84974f920c.jpg)
Positve takeaways:
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Mike Williams is living up to the hype
One week after securing his first career touchdown reception against the Buffalo Bills, Mike Williams again had a big impact in the Los Angeles Chargers’ passing attack.
Williams was targeted as many times as Keenan Allen (seven), making four catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns. He was the team’s best receiver on Sunday and proved that he could be one-half of one of the best 1-2 receiving punches alongside Allen.
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The Los Angeles Chargers offensive line is better than expected
The Los Angeles Chargers offensive line was going to be tested in Week 3 against the best pass-rushing defensive line in the NFL. The Chargers’ O-line has been questioned after an underwhelming first two weeks and quarterback Philip Rivers was expected to be under fire.
However, Rivers was sacked just two times and hit just five times by the Los Angeles Rams defensive line. While a lot of this was due to Rivers’ quick release and pocket presence, the Chargers offensive line did much better than anticipated.
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Derwin James continues to excel
Derwin James hauled in his first career interception in a huge spot. The Chargers were trailing 14-6 in the first quarter when James picked off Jared Goff‘s pass in the end zone on third and five from the Chargers’ 10-yard line.
The only problem was that James tried running it out of the end zone, which resulted in the Chargers taking the ball over at the one-yard line and lead to one of the negative takeaways that we will discuss.
However, James got the first interception out of the way, had another pass deflection and again led the team in solo tackles. All in a day’s work for the rookie.