EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — As playoff hopefuls gear up for the final stretch of the regular season, the Los Angeles Chargers find themselves in a difficult spot following a disappointing 40-17 defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With a quick turnaround ahead of an important game against AFC West rival Denver, concerns are growing within the team.
“In the National Football League, giving up 40 points and over 500 yards in a game raises significant concerns,” commented defensive coordinator Jesse Minter on Monday. “You often need to reflect on the foundation you’ve established and trust that it can help you bounce back from such a setback. We hope this performance is just an anomaly.”
On a more positive note, the Chargers’ chances of making the playoffs remain fairly strong, with an 83% likelihood according to league statistics. With an 8-6 record, the Chargers currently occupy the final wild-card position in the AFC, holding a two-game advantage over teams such as Indianapolis, Miami, and Cincinnati. A win over Denver would not only secure a season sweep but also provide a crucial tiebreaker should both teams finish the season with identical records. Landing as the seventh seed could mean facing formidable opponents like Buffalo or Kansas City in the first round, which is generally viewed as an unfavorable draw.
The recent loss to Tampa Bay highlighted recurring issues for the Chargers. After running back J.K. Dobbins went down with a knee injury against Baltimore on November 25, the team has leaned far more heavily on the passing game. Over the past three games, they’ve run on just 33.1% of their plays, contrasting sharply with the league average of 39.1%. This shift has resulted in a worrying trend in their ground game, showcased by a mere 32 rushing yards against Tampa Bay and an average of only 60.7 during this stretch, far below their season average of 105.8 yards.
Additionally, the defense has been ineffective at stopping the run, allowing 223 rushing yards against Tampa Bay — the second time in four games that they’ve surrendered at least 200 rushing yards. Opponents have been averaging 4.7 yards per carry against them.
“While we may not drastically change our game plan, we still have plenty of strategies we’ve been developing that we can implement,” said offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
Looking at the bright spots, Justin Herbert has excelled in play-action scenarios, amassing 1,184 passing yards from such plays, ranking him fourth in the league. The Chargers have executed play-action on 32.1% of Herbert’s drop-backs, the third highest in the NFL.
However, the defense continues to struggle to get off the field, failing to force a single punt in five quarters and permitting scoring drives on 10 of the last 13 possessions.
On the bright side, linebacker Joey Bosa made an impactful play, forcing a fumble that was recovered near midfield, contributing to his total of two forced fumbles this season — 11 since 2021, putting him among the top in the league for that category. Conversely, cornerback Kristian Fulton has faced difficulties, allowing five completions for 77 yards against the Buccaneers, including a touchdown that came late in the third quarter.
In terms of injuries, rookie cornerback Cam Hart has entered concussion protocol and is expected to sit out the upcoming game against Denver. Guard Zion Johnson sustained an ankle injury during the third quarter and is doubtful to play.
For notable statistics, quarterback Jim Harbaugh has lost 15 out of 222 regular-season games by a margin of at least 23 points. Justin Herbert reached 20,000 passing yards in 76 games, tying for the fifth-fastest in league history, while cornerback Tarheeb Still has totaled four interceptions, a feat not accomplished by a Chargers rookie since 1985.
The Chargers are set to face the Denver Broncos, aiming to sweep their season series for the first time since 2010. With a record of 4-2 in Thursday night home games, they will be eager to build on their past successful match against Denver and improve their playoff hopes.