The Los Angeles Chargers are coming off one of the most disappointing losses in recent franchise history, and the most disappointing in the Jim Harbaugh era. This loss came at the hand of the hobbled Houston Texans, giving the Chargers a playoff loss due to their suffocating defense and playmaking duo of C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins.
Dealing with a playoff loss that was so one-sided can be difficult, especially when the Chargers were favored to win this matchup.
As fans, we watch our teams with the intent of enjoying the next few hours of our lives and returning home with something to remember or something to speak about. I clock into my job and hope to tell my peers how great the game was, rejoicing in the fun memories that were displayed in front of me. Unfortunately, this does not happen often.
The Chargers my entire life have not really provided this enjoyment often, and the loss to Texans is a stifling reminder of the team I chose to root for. Thus, over the years, I have developed a guide to deal with heartbreaking losses like this one.
Writers’ Guide To Deal With Heartbreaking Chargers Playoff Loss
Step 1 – Remove Yourself: Cleanse Your Social Media
First things first; remove yourself from the toxins that are social media. I am guilty of “doom-scrolling” and continuously going down Twitter looking for others’ opinions on the same topics that I am seething with disappointment.
Fans will be miserable after a playoff loss like this one, and reading the opinions of 100s of fans screaming for the heads of x player or x coach will influence your mood.
I usually come out more angry or sad than I was initially, as social media is a cesspool of hatred. Especially Twitter. A cleanse is needed.
I have never been the type to deactivate accounts or to completely delete apps off my phone as I use these apps for genuine social connections for everyday life, news, and entertainment.
My life revolves around this sport, so it is difficult to have a “full-cleanse.” However, simply ignoring anything with “Chargers” in the frame, unfollowing certain accounts and removing myself from watching content that talks about the loss is the best way to keep my mind off this Chargers playoff loss and previous losses like this.
Simply put, removing the apps or not using them is the most effective way of not allowing the pain of the Chargers playoff loss to affect your mental health, however, it is more than feasible to still use the apps and get similar results. Allow yourself to be separated from the sport you love dearly. The excitement will come back… just get to step three.
Recommendations/What I am Doing:
- Limiting my time on social media
- Not looking for any football-related media, especially Chargers-related media
- Generally spending less time online
Step 2 – Life is More Than Ball: Enjoy Other Hobbies
Once you have cleansed yourself of the realm of hatred that is social media, start enjoying other non-football-related activities. If you’re like me, this is easier said than done. Football Journalism is my job, as I teach, write for LWOS, and consume football journalism. Football is the passion, and journalism is the vessel that gets the content to me.
It may seem bleak, as every avenue involves the sport in some way: I want to go outside and get some exercise, and chances are playing football with my friends is at the top of my list. Maybe I should play some video games… Madden still gets my dollar every year and is sitting there waiting for me to load up franchise mode.
This is where you need to push yourself outside your comfort zone. Football is home for me and many others. Everything I do revolves around the sport, and I am sure if you are reading this, you are in a similar boat.
Pick up that hobby that you have been on the bubble of doing, watch that show that has been on your list for years, listen to those albums every is saying to listen too, go try that restaurant in town, pick up that video game and let it take over your life. There are so many things to do outside of football, and it surprised me that I can find enjoyment outside of the sport that I revolve my life around.
Recommendations/What I am Doing:
- Hobby: Another passion of mine is computer hardware. I have been working on computers and learning the world of smartphones!
- Show: For adult audiences, Baby Reindeer is one of the most gut-wrenching shows I have ever watched. For more tame audiences, I loved myself some Better Call Saul.
- Albums: I love music and can listen to any genre. My current obsession is “Slide” by George Clanton. An alternative, Indie, Electronica type of album.
- Restaurant: I am lucky to live in Southern California where there is a wealth of restaurants. If you live in a state that has CAVA, do yourself a favor and give it a shot!
- Video Games: I am notoriously stubborn with my video game choices, however, Hogwarts Legacy has been a fun, absorbent video game to help cleanse myself of the Chargers.
Step 3 – Cope and Create Excitement: Spam Mock Drafts and Chargers Off-Season Scenarios
Once you have given yourself enough time to heal from the fresh wounds that is the Chargers playoff loss, it is time to let yourself get excited again. Time is the world’s greatest healer, and every sports fan every year should know this.
Begin looking up contracts, seeing who you’d cut and who’d you retain for market value. Listen to podcasts speaking about upcoming free agent fits, watch film on underrated players to add, start loading up those mock draft simulators and begin drafting these players to your hypothetical team. Create *your* Chargers roster, whatever it takes to create that excitement once again.
My personal approach is to use Madden Franchise mode as my vessel to create my Chargers roster and play with it for the coming years. I challenge myself in the mode by restricting myself and creating settings to ensure it is as realistic as I can get it. This approach is much more fun than simply screwing over the CPU and building a super team in 15 minutes.
I love using PFF’s mock draft simulator and constantly spamming it to see what players would fit this team in each round. This coupled with watching film and analysis of upcoming draft prospects, creates a world of excitement and knowledge.
By the time you reach this step, you are ready to open up the can of worms that is the real Chargers Off-Season. The tip of the cycle, the start of cautious optimism.
Recommendations/What I am Doing:
- Writing this article to push my thoughts out
- Researching draft prospects
- Looking into mock drafts/using simulators
Outro: Reach out & Use the Resources Available
In about a year, you will likely find yourself reading this article once again, as that is simply the life of a Chargers fan. Accept it, using the tools I have given to you and enjoy the sport that you love.
Please feel free to reach out to me on Twitter, @NateGosney if you need someone to talk to, or if this article had some sort of impact on you!
Main Photo: Troy Taormina – USA Today Sports
The post Writers’ Guide To Deal With Heartbreaking Chargers Playoff Loss appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.