Los Angeles Times 11/26/2020

B8 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2020 LATIMES.COM/SPORTS

NFL

The Chargers’ slide
toward the bottom of the
NFL standings claimed its
first victim Wednesday
when special teams coordi-
nator George Stewartwas
removed from his job.
A 61-year-old longtime
assistant, Stewart was reas-
signed and given the title of
senior analyst, coach An-
thony Lynnsaid.
Keith Burns and Chris
Caminiti will oversee the
Chargers’ special teams for
the remaining six games, ac-
cording to Lynn.
“We couldn’t keep going
the way we were going,”
Lynn said. “So I decided to
make that change. ... I think
it’s for the best. Stew and I
both agreed to do this. It’s
what I thought was best for
the team or I wouldn’t have
done it.”
The Chargers have strug-
gled on special teams while
going 3-7. They’ve been
called for numerous penal-
ties and had three punts
blocked over the last five
games.
In the first quarter of a
29-21 loss at Miami on Nov.
15 , Ty Long had a punt
blocked and Quenton
Meeks was called for offsides
on a field-goal attempt, ex-
tending a drive and leading
to a Dolphins touchdown.
“It’s something I thought
long and hard about before I
did it,” Lynn said. “We just
made the decision to do it
this morning. But it was
something I put a lot of
thought into.”
Stewart is in his fourth
season with the Chargers.
An offensive lineman as a
player, he went into coach-
ing in 1983 as a graduate as-
sistant at Arkansas.
He also worked at Minne-
sota and Notre Dame before
joining the staff of the Pitts-
burgh Steelers in 1989. Stew-
art has been in the NFL ever
since, his stops including
Tampa Bay, San Francisco,
Atlanta and Minnesota.
“You’re talking about a
confidant,” Lynn said.
“You’re talking about a guy
that taught me a lot about
the game, especially in the
special-teams area, a guy
that’s always had my back.
So it was extremely hard to
do it.”
Burns had been Stew-
art’s assistant. He was a
standout special-teams
player for Denver, where he
and Lynn were teammates.
Caminiti entered this
season with the title of sen-
ior coaching assistant. In his
second year with the Char-
gers, he previously was on
the staff at UCLA.
On Sunday, the Chargers
play at Buffalo, leaders in
the AFC East. The Bills had
won three in a row before los-
ing at Arizona on Nov. 15 on a
Hail Mary in the final sec-
onds. They were off last
weekend.
The Chargers just ended
a three-game losing streak

with a victory over the New

York Jets. Before that, they

had lost seven of eight after a

win in their season opener.

Potentially on their way

to a second consecutive last-

place finish in the AFC West,

the Chargers have the ap-

pearance of a team that

could undergo sweeping

changes over the next sev-

eral weeks.

Despite their 3-7 record,

the Chargers have found a

possible long-term solution

at quarterback in rookie

Justin Herbert. Any person-

nel moves over the next few

months will be made with

Herbert’s development

among the top priorities.

Ekeler back

at practice

Running back Austin

Ekeler returned to practice

Wednesday as he continues

to work his way back from

the injured reserve list.

Ekeler has been out since

Week 4 because of a ham-

string strain.

Lynn said it was too early

to know whether Ekeler

would be available to play

against Buffalo, but the

Chargers are expected to be

cautious with him.

Veteran Kalen Ballage

has emerged as the team’s

primary running back, but

he was limited in practice

because of ankle and calf is-

sues.

Cornerback Chris Har-

ris Jr.appears ready to re-

turn from the broken foot he

suffered in Week 3.

“He’s going to get some

serious reps,” Lynn said,

“and we’re going to see ex-

actly where he’s at.”

Without Harris, the

Chargers have been incon-

sistent in their secondary,

which has been victimized

repeatedly, particularly af-

ter halftime.

His potential return

comes after cornerback

Casey Hayward suffered a

groin injury against the Jets.

The veteran did not practice

Wednesday.

The Chargers are prepar-

ing to face a Bills team that

ranks fourth in the league in

yards passing. Quarterback

Josh Allenis averaging 287

yards per game and has

completed 68% of his at-

tempts.

He is eighth — one spot

behind Herbert — in the

NFL with 21 touchdown

passes. His rating of 103.2 is

ninth, also one spot behind

Herbert.

Etc.

Defensive end Melvin In-

gram(knee) did not prac-

tice. His backup, Uchenna

Nwosu, has a shoulder in-

jury and is expected to miss

multiple weeks. Right tackle

Bryan Bulaga(knee) was on

the Chargers’ injury report

but did practice.... Herbert

won the FedEx Air NFL

Player of the Week award on

Wednesday after throwing

for a season-high 366 yards

against the Jets.

CHARGERS REPORT

Special teams

get new coaches

By Jeff Miller

The Thanksgiving night
game between Baltimore
and the Pittsburgh Steelers
was switched to Sunday be-
cause of coronavirus issues
with the Ravens.
The NFL announced the
move Wednesday, placing
the game at 10:15 a.m. PST
on NBC. It had been sched-
uled for NBC’s prime-time
telecast on Thanksgiving.
Baltimore placed outside
linebacker Pernell McPhee
on the reserve/COVID-19,
joining running backs Mark
Ingram and J.K. Dobbins
and defensive tackle Bran-
don Williams. The Ravens
were doing team work virtu-
ally.
“We appreciate the NFL
for its diligence in working
closely with us to ensure the
well-being of players,
coaches and staff from both
the Baltimore Ravens and
Pittsburgh Steelers organi-
zations,” the Ravens said in
a statement.
“Protecting the health
and safety of each team, in
addition to our communities
at large, is of utmost impor-

tance. We will continue to

follow guidance from the

NFL and its medical ex-

perts, as we focus on safely

resuming preparations for

Sunday’s game.”

The Ravens will trade

one short week for another.

They are scheduled to play

Dallas on Dec. 3, a Thursday.

Etc.

Dallas Cowboys strength

coach Markus Paul died

Wednesday, a day after be-

ing taken to the hospital

after experiencing a medical

emergency at the team’s

facility. He was 54. The team

said the cause of death was

pending. ... The Jacksonville

Jaguars will go with quarter-

back Mike Glennon against

Cleveland, giving the NFL

journeyman his first start in

more than three years. ... In-

dianapolis Colts quarter-

back Philip Rivers has been

held out of practice this

week because of a sore right

big toe, but he expects to

start Sunday against Ten-

nessee. Rivers has started

234 consecutive games. Only

10 players in league history

have equaled or surpassed

that mark.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Ravens-Steelers game

is moved to Sunday

associated press

A few weeks ago, Aaron

Donald appeared on pace to

challenge for a third NFL de-

fensive player of the year

award.

He still might achieve the

feat — Donald is regarded as

one of the NFL’s most domi-

nating and disruptive forces

— but he is preparing for

Sunday’s game against the

San Francisco 49ers in the

wake of being shut out, if not

shut down, in Monday’s vic-

tory over the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers.

Donald finished the 27-24

win with no sacks, tackles or

quarterback hits on Tom

Brady. In the previous game,

a 23-16 victory over the Seat-

tle Seahawks, he had no

tackles and two quarterback

hits on Russell Wilson.

Asked if he had ever gone

two games without a tackle,

Donald answered without

pausing.

“Never — ever — until this

year,” he told reporters dur-

ing a videoconference, “so

there’s a first for every-

thing.”

Donald has made the Pro

Bowl in each of his six NFL

seasons. He was the league’s

defensive player of the year

in 2017 and 2018, and he has

amassed 81 sacks, including

nine this season.

Donald is part of a team

that is 7-3 and in first place in

the NFC West. So he is not

complaining, especially with

teammates playing well.

“It’s nothing that I’m

mad about,” he said. “If I was

out there playing bad I’d be

more disappointed than

that.”

Donald said he does not

look at a statistics sheet af-

ter games.

“I know, playing the

game, if I didn’t make a

damn tackle, so it’s like, ‘Oh

... I got to at least try to get

one tackle,’ ” he said, adding,

“You want to make the pro-

duction but we’re winning,

I’m still doing my job, still

feel like I’m playing at a high

level.”

Rams defensive coordi-

nator Brandon Staley said

Donald’s statistics are an

anomaly.

Donald is as disruptive as

ever, has “definitely been

part of the party” in rushing

defense and frees others to

make plays because he com-

mands so much attention

from the offense, Staley said.

Staley compared Donald

to former Lakers center

Shaquille O’Neal, who often

did not get the benefit of foul

calls because of his size and

strength.

Staley lamented the lack

of holding penalties against

opponents trying to block

Donald.

“This guy, I think people

take for granted how good he

is,” Staley said, “and we need

to make sure that people are

seeing the game the way

they need to.”

Donald often makes his

case to officials.

“All the damn time,” he

said laughing. “I talk to them

like, ‘You got to see that

holding call.’ They say they

don’t see it. I’m like, ‘Man,

guy’s got me around my

neck, grabbed and pulled

my shirt. I just beat a guy

with a clean look.’ But it’s all

right. Hopefully, I’m going to

get one sooner or later.”

Kyle Shanahan, coach of

the 49ers, said Wednesday

that Donald is so strong,

“I’m sure there’s times guys

are grabbing on to him and

it’s hard for even a ref to no-

tice because he’s still ripping

away from it.”

But has Shanahan seen

any drop-off in Donald’s per-

formance?

“Absolutely not,” he said

during a conference call with

Los Angeles reporters. “I

wish, but no I haven’t.”

During a 24-16 October

win over the Rams at Levi’s

Stadium, the 49ers limited

Donald to two tackles and

one quarterback hit. Donald

said the Rams would bring

more energy Sunday at SoFi

Stadium.

“We ain’t going to come

out flat,” he said. “We’re go-

ing to play how we’ve been

playing. If anything we going

to be a little more up for this

game just because we know

when we played last time

that we wasn’t at our best,

and there was little chatter

after the game about certain

things.

“So they get to meet with

us again, and we’ve get to

show ’em how we play.”

Etc.

Coach Sean McVay said

he would be surprised if in-

side linebacker Micah Kiser

(knee) plays against the

49ers. Troy Reeder would

start in place of Kiser, the

Rams’ leading tackler.

Reeder started in place of

Kiser in an Oct. 11 victory

against Washington and re-

corded a team-best 11 tack-

les and amassed three sacks.

...Tight end Tyler Higbee is

nursing an elbow injury, per

the Rams’ injury report. ...

The Rams designated out-

side linebacker Obo Oko-

ronkwo (elbow) to return

from injured reserve.... Sta-

ley said defensive end Derek

Rivers, claimed off waivers

from the New England Patri-

ots, will provide depth on de-

fense and special teams.

Donald not excited about this first

AARON DONALD, shown against the Giants in October, says that his lack of

tackles is nothing he’s mad about because the defense is playing well.

Kyusung GongAssociated Press

By Gary Klein

Rams star has zero

tackles in last two

games but says it’s no

reason to worry.

HOU

(3-7)

at DET

(4-6)

Today, 9:30 a.m.

Texans 24, Lions 20

TV: Channel 2.

Line: Texans by 3. O/U: 511 ⁄ 2.

The Texans are talented on offense, and

both defenses are terrible. The Lions are

banged up, and this Thursday game

comes at a particularly bad time.

DeShaun Watson makes the difference.

WA S

(3-7)

at DAL

(3-7)

Today, 1:30 p.m.

Cowboys 27, Washington 23

TV: Channel 11.

Line: Cowboys by 3. O/U: 46.

The Cowboys were embarrassed by

Washington last month but are playing

better and are determined to stave off a

sweep. They’ll give the ball to Ezekiel

Elliott and keep that pass rush honest.

BAL

(6-4)

at PIT

(10-0)

Sunday, 10:15 a.m.

Steelers 28, Ravens 20

TV: Channel 4.

Line: Steelers by 5^1 ⁄ 2. O/U: 441 ⁄ 2.

This is a desperate, must-win game for

the Ravens, but so was Sunday, and they

lost to Tennessee. Even with Gus Ed-

wards running the ball well, Pittsburgh

wins this by a wider-than-usual margin.

LV

(6-4)

at ATL

(3-7)

Sunday, 10 a.m.

Raiders 28, Falcons 17

TV: None. DirecTV: 705.

Line: Raiders by 3. O/U: 551 ⁄ 2.

The Raiders did everything they could to

sweep the Chiefs, and they almost did.

With the way Derek Carr is playing, they

should tear up the Falcons. Atlanta was

just shut down by New Orleans.

LAC

(3-7)

at BUF

(7-3)

Sunday, 10 a.m.

Bills 31, Chargers 23

TV: Channel 2. DirecTV: 706.

Line: Bills by 5^1 ⁄ 2. O/U: 531 ⁄ 2.

The Bills are legitimate contenders and

rested after a week off. The Chargers

have the likely offensive rookie of the year

in Justin Herbert, but still struggle to

play as a team.

TEN

(7-3)

atIND

(7-3)

Sunday, 10 a.m.

Colts 31, Titans 27

TV: None. DirecTV: 707.

Line: Colts by 3. O/U: 51.

This Colts defense is for real, and Philip

Rivers is settling in with the Indianapolis

offense. The Colts won this game by 17

points earlier this month. This time it will

be closer, but still go with Indy.

CLE

(7-3)

at JAC

(1-9)

Sunday, 10 a.m.

Browns 27, Jaguars 13

TV: None. DirecTV: 708.

Line: Browns by 6^1 ⁄ 2. O/U: 49.

Browns aren’t scoring a ton of points, but

have their formula running the ball, and

they will force-feed the Jaguars. Cleve-

land would love to have a healthy Myles

Garrett but will get by without him.

MIA

(6-4)

atNYJ

(0-10)

Sunday, 10 a.m.

Dolphins 28, Jets 17

TV: None. DirecTV: 709.

Line: Dolphins by 7. O/U: 441 ⁄ 2.

Benched in the fourth quarter Sunday,

Tua Tagovailoa has been ultra-conserva-

tive. Will the coaches cut him loose a bit?

Regardless, Miami still has its rollicking

defense, and, hey, we’re talking Jets.

NYG

(3-7)

at CIN

(2-7-1)

Sunday, 10 a.m.

Giants 24, Bengals 13

TV: None. DirecTV: 710.

Line: Giants by 6. O/U: 421 ⁄ 2.

The Giants have a bad record, but their

coach has them playing hard, and they’re

typically within one score down the

stretch. The Bengals are reeling after

losing rookie quarterback Joe Burrow.

CAR

(4-7)

atMIN

(4-6)

Sunday, 10 a.m.

Vikings 28, Panthers 23

TV: None. DirecTV: 71 1.

Line: Vikings by 3^1 ⁄ 2. O/U: 50.

The Panthers snapped a five-game los-

ing streak with a good win over Detroit,

but they’re still battered. Still, their

defense is awful, and Dalvin Cook should

have a big day. Will Adam Thielen play?

ARI

(6-4)

at NE

(4-6)

Sunday, 10 a.m.

Cardinals 24, Patriots 21

TV: None. DirecTV: 712.

Line: Cardinals by 2^1 ⁄ 2. O/U: 491 ⁄ 2.

Patriots will take something from that

Arizona-Seattle tape and likely will blitz

Kyler Murray like crazy. Arizona doesn’t

tend to play well in the Eastern time

zone, either, but its defense does enough.

NO

(8-2)

atDEN

(4-6)

Sunday, 1:05 p.m.

Saints 24, Broncos 17

TV: None. DirecTV: 713.

Line: Saints by 6. O/U: 431 ⁄ 2.

Beating Miami gave the Broncos a heal-

thy confidence boost, but the Saints will

bring them back to earth. Taysom Hill

shows he’s more than a one-hit wonder,

and the Saints keep it rolling on the road.

SF

(4-6)

at LAR

(7-3)

Sunday, 1:05 p.m.

Rams 27, 49ers 23

TV: Channel 11. DirecTV: 714.

Line: Rams by 7. O/U: 451 ⁄ 2.

Even in their banged-up state, the 49ers

beat the Rams earlier this season. That

won’t happen twice, as the Rams find a

way, although it probably won’t be pretty.

Jared Goff does enough to win.

KC

(9-1)

at TB

(7-4)

Sunday, 1:25 p.m.

Buccaneers 33, Chiefs 31

TV: Channel 2. DirecTV: 715.

Line: Chiefs by 3^1 ⁄ 2. O/U: 56.

Both offenses are loaded with weapons.

Whereas the Buccaneers have the GOAT

in Tom Brady, the Chiefs have the future

GOAT in Patrick Mahomes. Tampa Bay

has the defensive edge, though.

CHI

(5-5)

at GB

(7-3)

Sunday, 5:20 p.m.

Packers 28, Bears 17

TV: Channel 4.

Line: Packers by 8^1 ⁄ 2. O/U: 45.

The Bears are horrible on offense and

can’t keep pace with Aaron Rodgers. The

Packers are feeling the heat after an

overtime loss to Indianapolis. They’re

going to have to step up, and will.

SEA

(7-3)

at PHI

(3-6-1)

Monday, 5:15 p.m.

Seahawks 31, Eagles 21

TV:ESPN.

Line:Seahawks by 5. O/U:50.

As bad as Seattle’s defense is, if they are

going to blitz more, as they did against

Arizona, they’re going to force turnovers.

Philadelphia is a shadow of its normal

self. Seattle should get the job done.

FARMER’S PICKS

The Times’ NFL writer, Sam Farmer, examines this week’s matchups. Lines according to Pregame.com (O/U =

over/under). Last week’s record 7-7 (.500); season 109-51-1 (.681). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer

predicted, the record against the spread would have been 5-9 (.357); season 85-71-5(.545). Times Pacific.