What they’re saying following Chargers’ loss to Patriots
The Bolts now sit at 4-3 after losing 24-27 to New England on Sunday. Head coach Brandon Staley and his squad had two weeks to prepare for the matchup with the Patriots, yet despite the extra time, quarterback Justin Herbert and his offense were silenced.
Has the Chargers’ reputation gone from playoff contenders to playoff pretenders? The narrative was quite different just a few weeks ago following the Bolts’ blowout loss to the Ravens. One bad game isn’t a season-ending sort of event; however, two bad games and a pattern starts to transpire.
Let’s see what experts are saying about the Chargers after their most recent loss to the Patriots.
NBC Sports NFL Analyst Chris Simms
“Listen, I’m not ready to say LA is going to go to the playoffs yet. I’m not ready to say that. They’re going to be on the fringe. When you can’t stop the run to the capacity they can’t, they’re going to have issues against like 90% of the NFL.”
Around the NFL’s Dan Hanzus
“We’ve seen the ceiling of the Chargers’ offense this season, and it’s quite high. What surprises us is how low the floor is. The Bolts’ attack was held in neutral for the second consecutive week on Sunday, a 27-24 loss to the Patriots that raises questions about where Los Angeles truly fits into the AFC pecking order. Justin Herbert threw for just 143 yards before a garbage-time scoring drive in the final minutes, and issues with pass protection and early-down efficiency were glaring. The Chargers’ defense had its way with Patriots rookie Mac Jones and repeatedly gave the offense the opportunity to take control of the game, but Herbert and Co. couldn’t do it.”
Former NFL player Damien Woody on Sidd News
“Mike Williams wasn’t a factor in this game. Keenan Allen was held pretty much in check. Other guys weren’t able to step up. Like Tim said, they made Justin Herbert uncomfortable in the pocket. New England comes out with the victory.”
Stephen A. Smith
“If you talk to me about the Chargers meeting the Patriots in a head-to-head matchup because of Bill Bellichick’s greatness, I got you. I’m saying they’re not facing one another again until the postseason and I think the Chargers will end up getting there before the Patriots.”
