Chargers Week 17 Surge or Static: Bolts youth outplayed that of the Chiefs

In a game where both teams were forced to play a litany of backups and third-string players, it was good to see the youth on the Chargers walk away victorious over those of the Chiefs. From the starting quarterback to the fourth-string tight end, these players balled out.

For the final time, here are your Surge or Static players from the final week of the regular season.

Surge

QB Justin Herbert
Week 17 stats: 22-of-31 passing for 302 yards and three touchdowns, nine rushing yards, rushing touchdown

At one point in Sunday’s game, I completely lost count of just how many more records Herbert broke. As far as I can remember off the top of my head, there was the total touchdowns record for a rookie (36), the rookie record for games with multiple touchdowns (10), and the most completions by a rookie quarterback (396).

His year being done is definitely a huge bummer for the fan base, but win or lose, it was always an exciting time watching the rookie work each and every Sunday.

Will Herbert go on to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year honor? It’s crazy to think that in the same year Herbert breaks all these records, there’s another player — the Vikings’ Justin Jefferson — who ends up breaking rookie records at his position, as well.

Here’s to hoping this isn’t another Derwin James-Darius Leonard situation. The fan base deserve to celebrate the ORoY!

WR Mike Williams
Week 17 stats: Six receptions for 108 receiving yards and a touchdown

Williams had one of his best performances of the 2020 season by catching a season-high six passes for 108 yards, good for the second-most in a game on the year. Like we’ve all come to expect, Williams showed extremely strong hands and the usual contested catch ability we’ve come to love.

It was a strong performance that hopefully helps Williams land a new contract with the Chargers, or another team. Either way, the Bolts have at least one more strong impression to acknowledge when deciding his fate with the franchise.

TEs Stephen Anderson and Donald Parham
Week 17 stats: Combined six receptions for 89 receiving yards, one touchdown

The Chargers were lucky to have both Anderson and Parham on the team this year. It was looking Henry would finally play all 16 games in a season for the first time in this career, but COVID had other plans. In his place, the team’s third and fourth-string tight ends performed admirably. Over the past two games, they combined for 12 receptions for 184 yards and a touchdown.

Specifically, Anderson caught and ran like a man among boys while Parham showed he can create some consistent separation at the intermediate level. Both also provided plenty of yards after the catch, which is huge these days in the NFL. They both earned to be a part of this team in 2021.

Static

WR Jalen Guyton
Week 17 stats: Zero receptions on four targets, one drop

Two weeks removed from the best performance of his young career, Guyton was probably coming into this game feeling pretty stellar, especially when he knew he was set to face a host of backup corners on the Chiefs. However, his final outing of the 2020 season consisted of several goose eggs in the box score, including an ugly drop that will leave fans wondering what could have been in regards to Herbert breaking Andrew Luck’s rookie record for passing yards in a season.

Guyton played above expectations and should be remembered for just that. This one game shouldn’t hang over his entire body of work in 2020, but it certainly was an anti-climatic ending.

CB Tevaughn Campbell
Week 17 stats: Allowed four receptions on six targets for 30 yards and a touchdown

Campbell was forced into a starting role with Casey Hayward out with injury. He struggled in coverage against Chiefs receiver Byron Pringle and looked no better than what we could really expect from a corner who started season on the practice squad.

The old coaching staff loved Campbell and saw a guy who worked his butt off to get better over the season but I’m not so sure the new one will feel the same way. Either way, he didn’t put the best performance on tape to be evaluated by the new staff. The former CFL player may be stuck at square one this offseason.