Chargers’ causes for concern vs. Packers
At 4-5, the Chargers have fallen off the picture for the AFC playoff bracket. A win against the Packers on Sunday could put them back into the thick of things, but LA’s loss against the Lions reminded fans that the team has lingering issues they just can’t find a fix for.
Here’s why you should be worried about Los Angeles dropping to 4-6.
Definition of insanity
The definition of insanity, as the saying goes, is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results.
Watch the Chargers’ defense, and it certainly feels like the paramount example of the parable. Cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor said that LA is “fixing the same mistakes” every week in the film room earlier this week. Brandon Staley told the media they have not considered changing the defensive play caller despite ranking 27th in defensive DVOA.
It would be one thing if Los Angeles was a solid defense against some teams but not others, but they’ve been a bad unit against every type of offense under the sun. There have been flashes of competence, to the point that Staley has called the defense a “work in progress,” but they have yet to string together a complete game. Green Bay’s offense is far from elite, but that hasn’t stopped the Chargers before.
Explosive rookies
Green Bay has two players Chargers fans spent a lot of time on during last year’s draft process: wide receiver Jayden Reed and tight end Luke Musgrave. Both got off to slow starts but are beginning to piece things together and emerge as key contributors for the Packers.
Reed has had at least 80 yards in two of his last three games, going for 84 yards and a touchdown last week against Pittsburgh. His seven receptions of 30 yards or more this season are second in the league among all players – only Tyreek Hill has more. Musgrave has been a smaller part of the offense, but his two receptions against the Steelers went for 64 yards.
It could lead to a doubly painful outcome for LA: two rookies fans wanted to see in powder blue leading Green Bay to a near or outright victory via the explosive play, where the Chargers have been at their worst. Los Angeles continues to fail to find answers for the big play, a combination of bad tackling and soft coverage. Reed and Musgrave are both run-after catch threats, making them uniquely poised to take advantage.
Unproven commodities
Reed and Musgrave could drive the stake further into Chargers fans’ hearts if LA’s offense sputters due to a litany of injuries at pass-catcher for Los Angeles.
Mike Williams and Joshua Palmer remain on injured reserve, while Keenan Allen is dealing with an AC joint sprain he says he will play through on Sunday. If Allen is limited, however, that leaves Quentin Johnston, Jalen Guyton, and Derius Davis as the next men up, which is a generally less-than-ideal group. At tight end, Gerald Everett has not practiced this week with a chest injury and a hip issue has limited Donald Parham. Stone Smartt, Nick Vannett, and the recently returned Stephen Anderson are the next players on the depth chart. Also not ideal!
Green Bay’s secondary is pliable, especially with a player of Justin Herbert’s caliber under center. However, missing or limiting options could put a speed limit on what should be a sports car.
Only in Madden
Herbert said Wednesday that he’s excited to play at Lambeau Field, one of football’s best venues. Asked whether he wants it to snow to get the true Lambeau experience, Herbert joked, “You can do that in Madden.”
Want a Chargers win in Green Bay? You can do that in Madden, too, but good luck getting the real thing. Los Angeles has not won a road game against the Packers since 1984 – granted, they’ve only had three chances to do so. In twelve matchups all-time, Green Bay is 10-2, with LA’s last win coming in a 2019 game in which Philip Rivers threw for over 500 yards.
The Packers are one of the paragons of stability in the NFL, so it’s not overly surprising that the Chargers have struggled against them. Green Bay is also at one of its lowest points in years, standing at 3-6 with a quarterback who has yet to show any qualities that made Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers great. This is the Packers’ worst record entering a game against the Chargers since the 1984 contest. But even so, LA would have to defy the historical odds to come away victorious on Sunday, and this season has shown that they’re still the same old Chargers.
