I said if they lost in Green Bay, that would be the end of the season and I haven't moved off that stance. Last week was just more dirt on the coffin. Sure, the defense played better without Bosa and Davis benched. But hanging around until the end and not winning has sadly become their thing. The fact that Justin Tucker missed a field goal made the inevitable loss that much sadder. It was very reminiscent of the extra point try that went wide in the opener against Miami. As I keep saying, I hate feeling this pessimistic about this team but there is no other way to feel about them.
If they had beaten the Ravens, it still wouldn't have mattered. Yes, Baltimore might have the best team in the AFC. But hanging around with any team isn't a good thing and isn't a sign that you yourself are good. I truly would rather us go back to a 1-15 team that gets blown out in most games than what we have right now.
Thanks to the Shaw brothers, buds from Horace Greeley HS, for hosting me that weekend. Rudy "El Cargador" Flores was also there. If you've ever gone to a road game, you've probably run into him. I guess you can see from my expression that I'm skeptical about our chances even before kickoff in Green Bay. Again, it's been that kind of year. Unlike the old days, at least I don't put all my hopes and dreams into a trip that involves the Chargers and was able to at least enjoy the weekend.
But I am not going to lie and say this doesn't hurt. I truly believe Staley will be fired on Black Monday, but that we will have wasted another season in the process. I can't get into whether Sean Payton would or wouldn't have fixed our problems. The reality is that Staley isn't getting results. I also have no doubt that most of our players would be playing better with a different coach. That includes playing for another team. The Jet game was our last glimmer of hope and they've shat it away over three games.
In most years, I would have bought tickets for tomorrow and be in Foxboro. Thanks to my amazing wife's birthday being tomorrow, I am spared such a fate. The Ravens game really sums up where this team is at. Keenan is the only guy open and having a career year, fumble notwithstanding. Ekeler is slow and dialing it in, with another fumble. Johnston is just horrendous. It's scary that Derwin James has only been in the NFL since 2018. He looks ancient. Of course, Staley's scheme is hardly playing to his strengths. But watching him watch as Zay Flowers scored that TD was just sad.
It's not just that Telesco passed on Flowers, but that the guy he picked has been so awful should also be the last straw. There have been times where it seems guys are open and Herbert zeroes in on one, but mostly he's been left with a "WR room" that's comically bad. Even forgetting that Williams was needlessly hurt in a game that meant nothing in Denver (and I doubt I ever will), they had to know that he wouldn't play a full season. They drafted a guy that is raw and a project at best.
The offensive line is probably the most glaring weakness, however. Linsley has missed a bunch of games since signing with the Chargers. Obviously, heart condition is nothing to play around with. Clapp is better than Sarell, who had to see the field last year. But Pipkins has regressed big time, Johnson has been awful, and Slater has been hurt. It was nice to see the line talk about their toughness in that "All In" episode, but that's not what we've seen on the field. Even before Tucker missed that kick, I Tweeted out that the protection never holds up when Herbert needs it. We saw it against Miami, Dallas, and Green Bay. We saw it again on Sunday night. I admit that I won't blame Herbert for much. He can't be "elite" when he doesn't lead the team to game-winning drives in the five shots he's had. But the team lets him down and it's been the same story all year.
That sums it up. It's been the same story all year. It's gotta change. My fear is that the next guy will just find a whole new way to come up short. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, I guess.
JIC,
RLW
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