The coach is in an uncomfortable position. His quarterback hasn’t delivered the goods despite repeated chances to show he is capable of taking the next steps in his career. His defense, while strong at times, hasn’t been able to prevent his team from dropping into last place.
Chargers coach Brandon Staley?
Yes, but no.
The coach in question is the New England Patriots’ Bill Belichick.
The glory days are fading fast in New England, where the Patriots are 2-9 going into Sunday’s game against the Chargers, whose 4-7 record is far more surprising and unexpected. The Patriots weren’t expected to be playoff contenders this season, but the Chargers definitely were.
New England hasn’t had a season like this one since 2000, Belichick’s first with the Patriots after five middling seasons coaching the Cleveland Browns. Belichick’s first Patriots team went 5-11 and then went 11-5 the next season and won the first of six Super Bowl championships.
This season, the Patriots have hit bottom with a thud.
Or the Patriots would have reached the NFL’s cellar if not for the presence of the Arizona Cardinals (2-10) and the Carolina Panthers (1-10), two teams without anything resembling New England’s pedigree with Belichick roaming the sidelines during a remarkable run of success.
“Football is a tough game,” Staley said. “The NFL is a really tough league. You can have tough seasons. This probably isn’t Bill’s first tough season. He has been in the NFL his whole life. He’s seen it all. He’s definitely the standard in the coaching profession.
“He’s somebody I’ve studied a lot, learned a lot from. I’ve never worked with him, but he’s just been one of those guys that has been the best in our profession for a long time. You just respect his longevity and you respect the body of work. It speaks for itself. Nothing but respect for him.”
It certainly won’t prevent Stanley and the Chargers from trying to add to the misery index in Foxborough, Massachusetts, though. The Chargers have their own issues during a season that has failed to live up to expectations in too many ways to count, theirs and those of plenty of others.
The Chargers’ three-game losing streak, including last week’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens, has dropped them to the bottom of the AFC West standings. They must win their final six games to match last season’s 10-7 record, which sent them to the playoffs for the first time since the 2018 season.
It would seem to be a daunting task to rally for a playoff spot.
It would seem to be a challenge the Chargers have accepted.
“Like I’ve said, it’s definitely been tough,” Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. said. “Not the way anyone would have predicted, even myself, coming into the season. I’m in the moment, man. I’m not flinching. I’m going to keep going hard, keep going strong every day and do everything I can to help the team win.”
Unlike past weeks this season, James and the Chargers’ defense prepared to face not one, not two, but three possible starting quarterbacks. Belichick declined to name a starter, but reports from New England suggested it would not be 2021 first-round pick Mac Jones who gets the start Sunday.
Bailey Zappe and Malik Cunningham are the Patriots’ options if Jones doesn’t start. Jones has completed 224 of 345 passes for 2,120 yards with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He has been sacked 22 times and pulled from a game four times, including this past Sunday against the New York Giants.
The Chargers are taking nothing for granted against New England.
Why would they?
“I still feel like they have a great leader in Belichick over there,” James said. “Their team, I feel like, is connecting. They have a lot of guys out there that have a lot of experience. We have to be ready. You can’t take anyone lightly in this league. You have to come out ready to play on Sunday.”
CHARGERS (4-7) at PATRIOTS (2-9)
When: Sunday, 10 a.m.
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
TV/Radio: Ch. 2; 98.7 FM; 105.5 FM/94.3 FM (Spanish)