The Los Angeles Chargers’ chances of making the postseason took another hit in Week 12. Hosting the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football, Los Angeles suffered another brutal defeat, losing 20-10.
The game was much closer than the final score would indicate as a Zay Flowers touchdown on an end around with just under two minutes remaining iced the game away for the Ravens. It was another missed opportunity for the Chargers, who played well enough to remain competitive but not well enough to steal a win away from the AFC-leading Ravens.
Riding a three-game losing streak with a record of 4-7, chatter about the future general manager Tom Telesco and head coach Brandon Staley are going to get louder. Staley is on the hottest seat in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers firing Frank Reich, as he could be next on the chopping block.
Los Angeles is playing a must-win game in Week 13 against the New England Patriots, who are squarely in the hunt for the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Lose that game and whatever slim chances the Chargers have at making a playoff run are gone.
While there isn’t much to get excited about when it comes to the team, wide receiver Keenan Allen continues to be a bright spot for the team. Allen was excellent against the Ravens’ stingy defense, which is why Kris Rhim of ESPN selected him as the player whose stock is most on the rise for the team.
“Allen finished with 14 catches for 106 yards. It was his third straight game with 10 receptions, the second time he has done that in his career and the first since 2017. He is the only player to have done so in franchise history. Allen’s 97 receptions are the third most by a player through a team’s first 11 games in NFL history,” Rhim wrote.
Had the team been performing better, Allen would be garnering attention as Offensive Player of the Year along with what should be Pro Bowl and All-Pro consideration. He is on a near record-setting pace, gaining 1,117 yards and scoring seven touchdowns on his 97 receptions.
Performances like the one by Allen are what make the 2023 season all the more head-scratching for the Chargers. Los Angeles has a positive point differential on the season, something four teams with records over .500 or in first place in their division can’t even claim.
Their expected win-loss record on Pro-Football-Reference is at 5.8-5.2, as they are playing like a team that should be closer to 6-5 than 4-7. Despite having what is a strong roster overall, the coaching staff has been unable to get the most out of them and the front office has swung and missed with numerous additions.
It has culminated in what is yet another disappointing season in Los Angeles. This is yet another strike against Staley, who has failed to get the defense on track despite calling plays for that side of the ball and coached a historic collapse against the Jacksonville Jaguars during Super Wild Card Weekend in last season’s playoffs.
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