Saturday night was a catastrophe for the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Chargers held a 27-0 lead in the second quarter and a plus-five advantage in turnover differential for the game. Yet they found a way to historically collapse and lose 31-30 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC wild-card round. It was the third-largest comeback in NFL postseason history and the first time a team lost a playoff game with a plus-five turnover differential.
“I’m hurting for everybody in that locker room,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley told reporters after the game. “This is the toughest way that you can lose in the playoffs. Certainly, with the way we started the game, that’s the team that I know we’re capable of being. In the second half, we just didn’t finish the game.”
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The Chargers’ 27-point blown lead was the largest in franchise history. Los Angeles’ second-half debacle featured coverage break downs on defense, just eight rushing attempts for 20 yards, a missed 40-yard field goal and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty from Joey Bosa when he slammed his helmet to the ground after officials didn’t call what he thought was a false start. That penalty helped the Jaguars score on a two-point conversion.
When the Chargers onboarded outside linebacker Khalil Mack, cornerback J.C. Jackson, defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day and linebacker Kyle Van Noy this past offseason to a roster that had six returning Pro Bowlers from last season, the expectations weren’t to finish the season 10-7 and be bounced out on the first day of the playoffs.
Sure, the Chargers were decimated by injuries. Jackson suffered a season-end knee injury, left tackle Rashawn Slater went down in Week 3 to a biceps injury, Bosa missed most of the season because of groin injury and wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams were both in and out of the lineup due to injuries. But the Chargers still underachieved.
“It’s really tough because we think really highly of our team and that’s a special group of guys in that locker room. They deserve better,” Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said to the media. “You hate to see it go that way. I know that everyone in that locker room who comes back is gonna use this one for fuel for next year.”
The loss could mean changes to the Chargers coaching staff next season.
Staley, who is aggressive on fourth down, had a rough closing chapter to his second season and made many questionable decisions. He inexplicably played his starters for most of an inconsequential Week 18 game versus the Denver Broncos that had no bearing on playoff seeding. Williams suffered a back injury in the contest and was forced to miss the wild card round. Then, Staley and the Chargers endured an improbable playoff meltdown in Jacksonville.
Staley, who went 9-8 in his first season, has been instrumental in the Chargers’ culture building and helped lead the franchise to its first playoff berth since 2018, but the team’s disappointing end spawns questions about his future.
Furthermore, there’s speculation that Sean Payton would be interested in the Chargers head coaching job if the position became available. The Super Bowl-winning head coach has a residence in Southern California and coaching Herbert appeals to him, according to various people around the league. But Payton is still under contract with the New Orleans Saints. Will the Chargers and owner Dean Spanos be willing to give up draft capital to the Saints and pay Payton a lucrative contract to coach in Los Angeles?
If the Chargers want to take the next step, they might need a coach like Payton who has the credentials and a winning reputation.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on Twitter @TheTylerDragon.
