Chargers News: Chiefs, Taylor Swift Too Much For LA In 31-17 Matinee Loss
Your Los Angeles Chargers now sit at 2-4 after a brutal 31-17 loss at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7 Sunday.
Per Pro Football Focus, here's what this means for their playoff odds:
With their playoff probability now down to 13%, let's break down what happened in today's game, and where the Bolts go from here.
In the early second quarter, LA tied the game up 10-10 on a 49-yard Joshua Kelley touchdown, which was then followed by a six-yard Rashee Rice TD reception that gave Kansas City the lead.
The scoring didn't stop, as in the ensuing 90 seconds of gameplay, the Chargers marched down the field and tied it up with a seven-yard Gerald Everett TD reception.
The Chiefs got the final laugh before halftime, however, as Taylor Swift's boyfriend scored a 1-yard touchdown to give them a 24-17 lead heading into the break.
That advantage proved to be huge, as neither team scored until what was essentially a dagger of a touchdown reception by Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco with 3:30 to play in the 4th quarter.
Quarterback Justin Herbert had two interceptions down the stretch of the game, including one inside of the Kansas City 10 yard line when the Chargers trailed by one score. His second interception was after the Pacheco touchdown, so while the Chargers had little chance left at that point, his interception enabled the Chiefs to come out in victory formation and seal the win.
In terms of what went wrong, the interceptions are an easy thing to point to, but arguably the most alarming issue that has now become a trend, is the team's awful second-half offense.
Dec 4, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) carries the ball against Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones (55) and defensive tackle Kyle Peko (93) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
In two of the Chargers' last three games (Week 4 vs Raiders), they've been scoreless in the second-half. Prolific offenses, akin to what the Chargers are supposed to be, are typically better as games go on, as they make adjustments and improve play-calling in accordance with the defensive game plan being thrown at them.
LA also had a number of confusing play-calls down the stretch of the game, including a 3rd & 7 run to Joshua Kelley on the team's own 30-yard line, during a must-score situation late in the game.
It's hard to pinpoint exactly what went wrong for Los Angeles, as the club's defense held up well in the second half. The Chargers allowed the touchdown at the end of the game to Pacheco, but held KC scoreless beyond that.
The Chargers' offensive line has struggled tremendously, dating back to earlier games this season, but especially last week against the Cowboys. In Sunday's loss, Herbert was sacked 5 times, the most all season.
The injury to Mike Williams may also be a bigger issue than originally forecasted, as while Herbert has performed without him in the past, a worse offensive line necessitates better receiver play, as it's a challenge for Herbert to find receivers who struggle to get open while consistently under pressure.
Dec 11, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams (81) celebrates with wide receiver Joshua Palmer (5) after catching a 10-yard touchdown pass in the first half against the Miami Dolphins at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
In terms of where to go from here, there's frankly no definitive answer. The logical next step would probably be to move off of some of the older players along with head coach Brandon Staley, but with time left on his contract, it's unlikely that LA owner Dean Spanos chooses to do that, given his track record.
The Chargers aren't completely out of playoff contention, however, as per PFF, they still possess a 13% chance. That figure also assumes that other teams stay healthy and perform to their expectation, but as we've seen year over year across the league, that's not necessarily likely.
In the immediate-term, however, figuring out what is causing these offensive implosions in the second half of games should be at the top of the list of things for the Chargers to do. If it's Herbert's finger, the play-calling, the offensive line, or poor weapons, it's a must-fix as soon as possible, or that 13% figure may fall down to 0%.
Luckily for the Bolts, they take on the Bears at home next week. That game is obviously a must-win, but they should be heavily favored against a depleted, rebuilding squad.
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