The Los Angeles Chargers were given every opportunity to come out victorious against the Buffalo Bills, eventually falling 27-17. Despite great performances across the board by Chargers taking snaps, it was coaching that continued to regress this now 3-8 squad.
Anthony Lynn
I do my best to not speak in the first-person but feel it necessary at this point in time. Listening to Anthony Lynn during the post-game press conference was not just underwhelming, it was embarrassing. He sounded lost and out of place. The questions posed by The Athletic’s Daniel Popper seemed like a task too difficult to overcome for the fourth year head coach. He was incapable of coming up with logical explanations for his blunders.
It has been pointed out time and again that the Chargers fail to lock games up time and again. Under Lynn, the team has lost seven one-possession games in 2020. Time management, play-calling, discipline. Just to name a few things that have lacked under Lynn’s leadership.
It becomes difficult to point out positive game-play by Justin Herbert or Joey Bosa when it is overshadowed by an inept coaching staff.
Today’s game against the Bills not only showed this staff’s incapabilities, it amplified them.
Mistakes Galore
The lack of discipline glared in the first defensive drive when pass interference was called against Rayshawn Jenkins for 47 yards, landing the Bills on the Chargers five. Josh Allen found Dawson Knox for the score two plays later.
Lynn’s timeout management was on full display at the end of the second quarter when the Chargers attempted to use the two-minute drill to cut into the Bills’ 17-6 lead. After starting the drive on their own 19 with 2:10 left, a sack on their own 44 with 1:01 left forced Lynn to call the team’s first timeout.
The next two plays ended with positive yardage, both also staying in bounds. Austin Ekeler ended up two yards short of the first down marker, setting up the Chargers for a fourth and two on the Bills 48. This put the Chargers in a precarious situation. Convert and keep the drive alive or be stopped and give the Bills great field position to extend their lead before halftime?
Lynn allowed the clock to dwindle down to 21 seconds until he opted to call his second timeout. Mind you, Ekeler was called down with 38 seconds left. Punt team was called out. Potential points left on the table.
Second Half
As the second half progressed, the defense forced three turnovers on consecutive drives. The offense did not pay its dividends in return, accounting for three points and a turnover.
Mistakes were doubled down at the end of the game. A fourth and 27 situation stared at the Chargers with one minute left. Somehow, someway, Tyron Johnson came down with this.
Tyron Johnson really came down with this 🤯 @_TBJXIII @Chargers
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) November 29, 2020
📺 #LACvsBUF on CBS pic.twitter.com/5cGsdxEzma
The clock went down to 24 seconds. Rather than spike the ball, the offense ran a run play for a gain of one. The Chargers were down 10 and stayed that way as time faded away.
The Positives
Bosa’s performance last week against the Jets showed how much he was missed after being gone for two games. Sunday showed why he’s one of the game’s best. With a stat line of eight total tackles, three sacks, six tackles for loss, a pass defended, five QB hits, and a fumble recovery, Bosa did all he could to keep the Chargers in the game. In doing so, he passed Raylee Johnson (46) and Junior Seau (47) to take fifth on the Chargers all time sack list.
Ekeler was also a nice addition after being out since week four, putting in work on the receiving end. His 14 carries for 44 yards were complemented by 11 receptions for 85 yards. The dynamic of the offense looked to have another edge with Ekeler in, one that was very much missed.
Herbert’s day was also a bright spot in the loss, going 31 of 52 for 312 yards, one touchdown and an interception. It was the rookie quarterback’s first single passing score since week two and only his second game in which he only accounted for one score.
Time to Part Ways
The continued failures of this coaching staff must not go unpunished. The fans are tired, commentators laugh, and countless football fans see it as the same old Chargers. The team may have left San Diego but their soul is intact. Lynn delivers more of the same. Mediocre football. No more.
Unfortunately for fans, there seems to be no indication that the Chargers will fire Lynn with five games left on the schedule. Expect him to play out the season and be a casualty on Black Monday.
Next for the Chargers
The New England Patriots come to town to play the Chargers at SoFi Stadium. At 5-6, the Pats are two games out of playoff position and will look to stay within reach next Sunday. Kickoff is slated for 1:25pm PST.
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