That's not hyperbole, FAITHFUL READER. I am truly trying this season to savor the wins and temper the losses. Sunday Night was a good win against a sub par team. I am not shit talking anyone else's team. We all know how easily the Chargers could have turned the Bears' QB into a superstar. We didn't which is why tonight matters. I've written a lot over the years of the parallels between the Jets and Chargers. However, as much as people dump on the Jets, they are still more well-respected than the Chargers. With the Jets, there is at least some cache to being a long-suffering fan. With the Bolts, people assume they have no fans. I am probably the only Charger fan most people that meet me know. I would assume it's the same for most of you.
But this game has nothing to do with fans. After 52 years, I am still coming to grips with that. Daniel Popper's piece this morning mentioned that over the last two seasons, the Chargers are 1-9 against teams with a winning record. In 2020, when I got this cake, we beat KC and Cleveland. Those would be our "signature" wins. The inability to win the games that matters pre-date Bradon Staley. But he was hired to fix that and so far he certainly hasn't.
I remember at the end of the 2017 season, when the team posted the video of Anthony Lynn talking to the team and telling him how proud he was of them. A lot of people commented how we had a"leader of men" and how fortunate we were to have him. The following season, when the team went off to London, I remember him talking about the group gelling overseas. When they were met by Charger fans, people were surprised. We beat the Titans on the final play and they kept on winning. I remember when they went to Seattle, Lynn saying something about what a good opportunity it was for the team to prove itself. I laughed to myself, but they won even though Caleb Sturgis kept missing extra points and Michael Davis was getting destroyed in the secondary. God, I even remember after we lost at Minnesota and Adrian Peterson ran all over us, leaving our record at 5-5. Philip Rivers said we had everything in front of us and that we could still go on a run. I didn't believe him and they did.
The reality is that even though KC hasn't remotely played their best football, they only have two losses. The Jets have been resilient and beaten the Eagles and Giants when one play would have put them away. We will get their best shot. I totally understand why no one would expect the Chargers to win. They aren't saying that because Josh Palmer, Mike Williams or anyone else are out. They aren't saying that because of Herbert's finger. They are saying that because the only thing the Chargers have been known for of late is shitting all over themselves when it matters. We can point to Miami, Tennessee, Dallas, and KC and say that Herbert had chances to lead the team into a tie or win. That's fair. He'd be the first two say he could have done more. But the Jets or any other team would love to have him and would probably have done more with him so far. That's the problem. All four losses, shouldn't have been left for him to try to salvage. I don't need to rattle off all the mistakes that preceded those drives.
If the game wasn't on a Monday Night, I'd probably be there right now. I implore anyone who is to stay safe. NFL games in every stadium have gotten a lot more dangerous over the years. People just want to get into fights and Jet fans are no exception.
But the Chargers have a lot to prove, especially to anyone who roots for them. I just saw Herm Edwards post that the Jets have found ways to win and the Chargers have done the opposite. It really was the 2004 playoff game he coached that began the narrative that we had the talent but not the stomach or smarts. I guess you could say that the Air Coryell teams had that label (look up what other teams said about them at the time) and The Athletics's piece on that era that came out last week brought up all the blow they did. That piece was the first time I heard that they were coked up during the Freezer Bowl, however,
If the Bolts did more in the present, we'd be talking about the past less. This is the team we are stuck with this season. Linsley isn't coming back and probably won't play again. Palmer is out for 4 weeks at least. I think anyone would agree that there is enough talent that they should have played better thus far. The defense played fast and loose last week even though they gave up a bomb on the first play of the game. The Jets have a better running game and receivers than the Bears. Zach Wilson may not be their long term answer, but he's made the plays that matter at the end of the game.
The Chargers inability to run still seems to be the other huge problem along with the defense. I know we all want Herbert to throw all the time, but I don't think most lines can protect a QB dropping back on every play. I guess if they played our defense, they might.
The three straight running plays in KC seemed stupid, but I understand the desire to give Herbert a running game. Last week was the first time we saw Quentin Johnston do anything at all. He had some nice runs after catch last week, though you could see how raw he still is. Herbert tried to find him on a fade and he only put one hand up. He's got some college habits to unlearn. It's not realistic for him to become Mike Williams in one season. I remember being at the Jets game in 2017 and seeing how bad Williams looked. 2018, he caught a TD in Buffalo that I also saw and he was off.
What can we expect from Guyton? Herbert clearly has his comfort with certain players. But we know what happens when he gets too focused on Keenan.
Look, this season everyone talked about the playoff loss at Jacksonville. Looking back, the Jaguars have become a good team. Fuck, Trevor Lawrence and the Mannings will be ripping us during the game. Jacksonville was one play away from not making it into the posteason last year and now they lead their division. They might have Mike McCoy as their QB coach, but they aren't dumb enough to give him a HC job. No one that the Chargers have hired and fired EVER got a job again. Think about that. Bobby Ross was the last HC to end up with another job after he left the Chargers. That's because we haven't hired someone of value.
Ok, I am spending a lot more time in the past than I wanted to. The reality is that the Chargers need to play for once like a team that wants it more. If they lose, they aren't making the playoffs. It is just that simple. These four games may decide if they get in, but a loss tonight makes it all moot. They aren't coming back from 3-5. They would have a lot to still prove with a win.
It's about 3 hours to kickoff. The posts of Aaron Rodgers walking are already starting. After tonight, that's not our problem. Darrelle Revis gets his HOF jacket at half. After tonight, that's not our problem. At his point, I'm just telling you all the stuff that is popping into my head. No Charger fan who actually watches this team has faith in Staley. I can't imagine the players do either. When you watch All In, it doesn't seem like the team is listening to what he and Kellen Moore are saying. I don't know maybe, that's just their awkward whiteness. But it's the results, or lack thereof that would really decide if they "buy in." We all wonder why Chenna, Kyzir, Tranquill, Van Noy, all get let go. Clearly, Staley and Telesco have some say on who stays. Every coach that leaves doesn't get a job, as I pointed out, but every player that is let go goes on to better things. That speaks volumes.
The Chargers have put themselves in this position. They have to win or start thinking about draft position. They wouldn't say that with a loss, but it's the truth. You don't see too many teams with a "do or die" game before Election Day. That's what happens when you go 3-4. I know I haven't left any great insight for you, but you don't really need it. In about six hours, you'll know if this team will stay relevant for another week. Do or die hasn't been their strong suit, whether it be in Vegas in 2021 or Jacksonville in 2022. The only thing that would surprise me tonight would be the Chargers for at least one week not being the Chargers. Seems like not too much to ask for, right? Right?
JIC,
RLW