COSTA MESA — Wide receiver Keenan Allen might be the most frustrated player about the Chargers’ slide since the 4-1 start.
He’s been at a loss for words after maddening losses and is constantly challenging his teammates to execute and make plays while also pointing the finger at himself.
Allen, the Chargers’ longest-tenured player, has struggled at times to avoid lumping the mistakes of years past with this year’s team, but he’s far from discouraged.
The Chargers (6-5) are playing meaningful football in December and he appreciates that opportunity.
“It’s wide open,” Allen said of the AFC West race. “The whole NFL is wide open. We have to just keep winning and executing. We’re still fighting for something.”
The Chargers are 2-4 in their past six games, but they still control the seventh and final playoff seed in the AFC with a road showdown Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals (7-4), currently the fifth seed.
Allen has had flashbacks this season of other tough-to-swallow losses from his nine years with the team, but he’s behind what Chargers coach Brandon Staley has built in his first season.
The Chargers’ 4-1 start is why they find themselves in a December playoff race for the first time since 2018. Even amid the rough 2-4 stretch, Allen has noticed the high potential of this year’s team during impressive offensive performances in wins against the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers.
But the Chargers’ strong start to the season will be lost if they don’t stack wins during the final six games of the regular season. Perhaps a 4-2 record down the stretch will be enough for the Chargers to secure a postseason berth. Anything less than a 10-7 record will likely mean the Chargers are focused solely on the NFL draft in early January.
“I told the team this morning in our team meeting that I think that we’ve established a good rhythm and routine,” Staley said. “We’ve established that, but it’s December 1 today, and then, now there’s another level. When you’re in the hunt, there’s another level of focus, there’s another gear that you have to get to. That’s what I’m talking about, the purpose of the week. When you’re in the hunt, you have to make those improvements, your margin for error is smaller, so your attention to detail, your focus, needs to be better. You can’t talk about it, you have to go do it.”
The Chargers’ gauntlet begins Sunday against the Bengals, followed by home games against the New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs, a road matchup against the Houston Texans, then a home game against the Denver Broncos and a regular-season finale in Las Vegas against the Raiders.
Based on their opponents’ records, the Chargers will need to beat the struggling Giants and Texans and split against the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos and Raiders. That sounds like the most reasonable 4-2 combination for the Chargers to enter the postseason, but these Chargers rarely make it predictable.
“Every game we play from here on out is going to be a big game,” Chargers safety Derwin James said. “We have to be ready.”
EKELER’S HEAVY WORKLOAD
Chargers running back Austin Ekeler has already set single-season career highs in rushing yards (604), carries (135) and total touchdowns (14).
He’s also on pace to shatter his career high for snaps in a season and that might not be a good thing for the Chargers. Ekeler had a career-high 599 offensive snaps in 2019. He’s at 507 offensive snaps through 11 games this season.
Ekeler has often encouraged a backfield committee because his 200-pound frame might not be able to withstand a heavy workload.
The Chargers are still waiting for one of their other running backs to emerge as a productive No. 2 option.
“It definitely starts catching up with you,” Ekeler said of the workload. “Just conversations that I’ve had with coaches, making sure my balance is good, making sure I’m not getting overused, so we can make it the entire route because that’s what it comes down to being available, especially now in this month.”
JOSEPH REMAINS SIDELINED
Defensive tackle Linval Joseph completed his 10-day quarantine on Thursday, but he wasn’t moved to the active roster and didn’t participate in practice.
Joseph, who is also dealing with a shoulder injury, was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list on Nov. 22 after testing positive.
Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (concussion) and safety Alohi Gilman (quadriceps) missed another day of practice. Left guard Matt Feiler (ankle) was a limited participant for a second consecutive day.