There Are No Words

And yet I'll try to use some. I said last week that a loss to the Raiders would extinguish the Chargers' chance of doing anything significant this season and I'm sticking to it. It's not even the fact that they lost, but how badly they played for the second consecutive week at home. This wasn't a trap game. They lost badly in the opener and knew they needed this one. Now that they are down to scraps at guard and at many positions only three weeks into the season, I think they could play better on Sunday, score more than 20 points and still lose. I won't say that they have to be better since they couldn't be worse, but I wouldn't put anything past them now.

After losing to Kirk Cousins and a guy the Raiders put back on the practice squad after he caught two touchdowns, the Chargers have been a punchline on every show, podcast, or broadcast of any kind. They earned every bit of it. You can question Harbaugh, McDaniel, Hortiz, even Herbert. As you know, FAITHFUL READER, I am a Herbert stan. Some might say I'm an apologist. I hate hearing that he's checked out or will leave us. I refuse to admit the team would ever move on from him and I fully admit that might cause me to suspend or even cancel my fandom. Both games have followed the same script. Omarion Hampton runs well but his fumbles cost points and ultimately the game. Guys are dropping passes which leads to interceptions. Last week a drop literally did just that. The play where Gadsen broke up the throw to Thompson? Who felt confident that Thompson would even catch that after his egregious drop? The Chargers had 100 million dollars over the cap. Did the guards fit McDaniel's scheme because of their ability to block on the run or was Hortiz being cheap? Right now every signing is injured. McDaniel clearly wanted Cole Strange and he's awful. Penning will now have to step up for the guy who injured our starting center for the season. Tre Harris doesn't look as good as Matthew Golden thus far. The pick for Hampton seemed smart since they had no one who could break tackles on the roster. However, he has fumbled like LaDanian did his rookie season.

Johnston can't do anything and his hands are once again an issue. There is no one to trust if you are standing back in the pocket. Joker was available for a reason. His drop was awful and now he's on IR. Every time the offense pulls even or in the case of last game pulls ahead, the defense folds. Molden is never healthy and Cam Hart is being exposed. It's too late to do anything now, but who are the impact players on D? Henley has looked awful thus far but does O'Leary, like McDaniel, deserve the blame? We have 30 million dollars still and we're still dumpster diving. I get wanting to maximize the money we have with more players, especially with our injury history. But what about top tier guys who are not only talented but durable? Don't tell me that if they came to the Chargers they's automatically be injured.

There is no reason to believe they will win in Buffalo. I think they'll play better, but especially with the guys left, I can't imagine it will be enough. You couldn't stop Brissett and Cousins, so what is Josh Allen going to do? The run defense has gotten better, but Cook will be hitting the hole hard and always seems to keep their offense on schedule. Dalton Kincaid will be an issue since tight ends always seem to be.

I could say that the team is up against a wall and therefore are dangerous. But last week would have been the game to show that desperation. Unfortunately, I see them giving the Bills "a game," but still falling short. If they weren't 0-2 that would be ok. I hate saying this, but hate even more believing it. I can't see a way they get a win and turn this thing around. I'm well aware Houston was 0-3 and I remember the 1992 Chargers. I don't think they are going to get a top 5 pick, but I also don't think they will get into the postseason. That would make the entire year a failure.

Even if they weren't traveling to Seattle for the return of their Super Bowl MVP quarterback, I don't think they pull themselves out of an 0-3 hole. Every criticism of ownership, coaching, and players is valid right now. It's only going to get worse. I never say stuff like this. Even in the 1-15 season, I'd have hope each week. I wanted to believe there were enough pieces around Herbert, Ladd, Mack, and Derwin to take the next step. O'Leary is dropping Tuli into coverage and defending it. I'd love to be proven wrong when I write that this team is going to implode. I'm so often proven wrong when I state the opposite. However, they look as lifeless and clueless as they did in the McCoy era. Boy did I not need to see his face Sunday.

We'll touch base next week and see what's what.

IS JIC?

Ever?

RLW