By Kenneth Miller, Publisher
The only thing that could have been worse for the Chargers after losing in overtime to the Titians in Nashville on Sunday was if the Rams would have pulled off the upset against rival San Francisco at SoFi Stadium to go 2-0.
While Brandon Staley and Bolts continue to squander the golden opportunity to win over fans in this town by competing for a Super Bowl, something the rebuilding Rams already have won, instead they tease us and break our hearts as they always have done.
This picture all begin to come into focus in that playoff disaster against Jacksonville, blowing a 27-0 lead to force Staley into some off season therapy of studying the NBA coach Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors to learn how to recover from such a debacle.
So far so bad for now bearded Staley whose defense allowed 466 yards passing in the home season opener against the undefeated Dolphins and then allowed Ryan Tannehill’s near perfect performance, completing 20/24 for 246 yards and a touchdown for a passer rating of 123.3.
At least Staley’s defense managed to get to Tannehill 5 times, but the week before never laid a mitt on Tua Tagovailoa.
Defense is supposed to be Staley’s expertise, it is why the Chargers hired him away from the Rams after a short stint as defensive coordinator.
In two games the Bolts defense has allowed 712 passing yards, an alarming number even if you were playing against Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes.
Prompting me to reflect back to Keenan Allen’s long since deleted tweet criticizing his baffled head coach tweeting “WTF are we doing.”
Well, for one we are wasting elite performances by our $262 million rifleman quarterback Justin Herbert who chunked the ball 41 times, completing 27 for 305 yards and two touchdowns, including 111 yards to Allen.
The Chargers have lost two games by 5 points, 36-34 to the Dolphins, and 27-24 to the Titians and are now in a must win situation against the desperate 0-2 Minnesota Vikings whose coach Kevin O’Connell, like Staley is also a disciple of Rams guru Sean McVay.
It is not an ideal position to be in for a coach who has been castigated by one of his own star players or a team that was anticipating a breakthrough campaign in a competitive sports market that includes the Lakers, Dodgers, Rams, Clippers, Angels and Kings.
After visiting the Vikings on Sept. 24, the Bolts come home to host rival Raiders, the Dallas Cowboys and then it’s off the Kansas City to face Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champions.
Staley and the Bolts are capable of winning all of these games, but equally prone to lose them all.
No more time for empty talk.
Put up or shut up!
