The Chargers’ perfectly imperfect 2023 season continued with a 24-17 victory Sunday over the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium. Here’s what we learned, what we heard and what comes next after their second consecutive nerve-jangling victory evened their record at 2-2:
GOOD TEAM, BAD TEAM
What are we to make of the Chargers?
One minute, everything clicks and they speed along like a well-oiled machine.
The next minute, it all seems to fall apart with spare parts all over the place.
So, what have we learned?
The Chargers’ 2-2 record is probably an accurate reflection of their play so far.
They lost their season-opener 36-34 to the Miami Dolphins, torched for 466 passing yards by Tua Tagovailoa. They lost 27-24 in overtime to the Tennessee Titans in Week 2, unable to move the ball in OT. They beat the Minnesota Vikings 28-24, thanks to two goal-line stands in Week 3.
Then there was an up and down victory in Week 4 over the Raiders (1-3). For every positive action, there seemed to be a negative reaction.
The good Chargers built a 24-7 lead by halftime. The bad Chargers were scoreless in the second half. The good Chargers mixed the pass and the run effectively and seemed poised to run away with the game in the first half. The bad Chargers barely moved the ball in the second half.
The good Chargers sacked rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell seven times, including a team-record six by Khalil Mack. The bad Chargers were backed up to the goal line for the second straight Sunday. The good Chargers held the line against Josh Jacobs. The bad Chargers needed a bail-out interception to win.
“We could be 4-0,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said Sunday. “We could easily be 4-0. Some people could say that we could be 1-3. Right now, we’re 2-2. That’s where we are. We’re a 2-2 football team and we’re a team that is improving. We’ve improved in every game this season.”
What he didn’t say was that the Chargers also could be 0-4.
Looking back, quarterback Justin Herbert said the Chargers refused to be defined by their 0-2 record after losing to the Dolphins and Titans, and taking plenty of heat after each defeat. He offered a strong defense of their professionalism in the wake of their losses to start the season.
“To be honest, I never felt like we were off track,” he said. “If two games are going to affect our next 15 or so, you’re not going to be very good. I thought our team did a great job of looking at the film, being rational and understanding we have a lot of football left. Everything is still in front of us. I thought our answer to those two losses was great. Everyone came to practice. They gave their best effort. It’s a group of professionals out there. I really appreciate that locker room.”
HEROES AND GOATS
The Chargers defeated the Vikings with Herbert throwing for a career-high 405 yards, connecting with Keenan Allen a franchise-record 18 times for 215 yards. The Chargers defeated the Raiders with Herbert throwing for career lows of 167 yards, 13 completions and 24 attempts.
Staley, who also oversees the defense, failed to devise an adequate plan to stop or at least slow down Tagovailoa and the Dolphins, although he’s probably off the hook after Miami proved to be tough to stop or slow down for anyone until the Buffalo Bills delivered a 48-20 beatdown on Sunday.
Staley’s willingness to go for it on fourth down late in games and deep in his own territory is a difficult concept to grasp, especially since they failed late against Minnesota and again late against Las Vegas. Interceptions by Kenneth Murray Jr. against the Vikings and Asante Samuel Jr. against the Raiders bailed him out.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
The Chargers have a bye this week, as good a time as any to pause and reflect on what’s so far been a very newsy opening month of the season. It’s also a good opportunity to look ahead and see what comes next, starting with a matchup with the Dallas Cowboys (3-1) in Week 6.
Three top defensive players – edge rusher Joey Bosa and safeties Alohi Gilman and Derwin James Jr. – couldn’t play against the Raiders because of injuries. Each player could use the extra week off to rest, rehabilitate and recover from their ailments before taking the field again.
In addition, the Chargers also played against Las Vegas without running back Austin Ekeler, center Corey Linsley and wide receiver Mike Williams. Ekeler is expected back for the game against the Cowboys, but Linsley’s heart ailment is concerning because the specifics are unknown. Williams is out for the season.
Herbert’s injured left middle finger, damaged when he caught it on a Raiders’ face mask after throwing a third-quarter interception Sunday, also is worrisome. He joked that it was just a flesh wound, but the protective padding and glove he wore to finish the game were not a laughing matter.
So, where do the Chargers go from here? Who knows?
The next four games are a mixed bag. The Cowboys (Oct. 16 at SoFi Stadium) have proved to be a contender. The Kansas City Chiefs (Oct. 22 at Arrowhead Stadium) are defending Super Bowl champs. The Chicago Bears (Oct. 29 at SoFi) are 0-4. The New York Jets (Nov. 6 at MetLife Stadium) are 1-3.