The Los Angeles Chargers are obviously cursed. Kidding aside, the amount of embarrassingly narrow defeats this team has suffered from Week one of the season 2016 to the present is shocking. As rookie kicker Younghoe Koo‘s field goal attempt went wide right, sealing a 17-19 Chargers loss to the Miami Dolphins in the final seconds of Sunday’s game, the Chargers lost their eleventh one-possession game since the beginning of the 2016 season. That’s 11 of 13 losses, and both of their losses so far in the young 2017 season. While the cause of this calamity is probably not a curse, the Chargers must figure out a way to avoid these narrow defeats going forward.
Los Angeles Chargers Suffer Another Heartbreaking Loss
What is Not to Blame
Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers might deserve a portion of the blame for some of the narrow losses the Chargers have suffered recently. The 2016 game against Miami, which ended with Rivers throwing a pick-six to Kiko Alonso, is a good example. However, in Sunday’s game, and in Week one, and most of the games his team has lost, Rivers has played with poise and a fiery competitiveness that consistently puts the Chargers in position to win. He is unrelenting in his pursuit of victory, and frequently overcomes huge obstacles most quarterbacks would crumble under.
For instance, the Chargers got the ball back on Sunday with 1:05 still on the clock and two timeouts on their own 20-yard line. The score was 19-17 Miami. That is not an easy situation by any means. Sure enough, Rivers moved down the field beautifully and put them in range for a 44-yard field goal attempt. That is clutch. Rivers is not the problem.
Overall Play of the Team
Overall, this team has played well. In Sunday’s game, there were a couple of missed plays, but nothing huge. The receivers all played well, particularly Keenan Allen (Allen led the Chargers receivers with nine catches for 100 yards). Melvin Gordon struggled in the run game, but did well as a receiver (seven catches for 65 yards, also scored a touchdown in the run game). The defense struggled to stop the Dolphins entirely, but was able to hold them to only one touchdown, and forced them to kick field goals four times.
The same is true in most of the Chargers games over the last two years. Of course, fans can point to a particular play in any single game where a player made a mistake. However, there was no single player who continuously let down the team. For instance, tight-end Hunter Henry lost a fumble which caused the Chargers to lose to the Indianapolis Colts last season. But Henry generally plays very well and made a single, albeit crucial, error.
This team plays pretty well in almost every game, regardless of their opposition. This is what separates the Chargers from other losing teams. This team does not have any obvious weaknesses.
What is to Blame
Bad Coaching/Play Calling
Overall, the play calling in Sunday’s game was fine. But there were some blunders. For instance, Rivers, on a crucial third-down attempt in the fourth quarter, completed a pass to Tyrell Williams up the middle. The Dolphins defenders promptly tackled Williams three yards short of the first down. This is bad play calling. While it’s certainly possible to pick up first downs through yards after the catch, it’s not a certainty. It shouldn’t be relied upon when the game is on the line.
The coaching and call playing improving could help the Chargers win more games, especially the close ones. They play far too conservatively on offense when trying to protect a lead. Last season’s opener against the Kansas City Chiefs is a great example of this.
Special Teams Blunders
Koo’s missed two field goals on Sunday, one from 43 and the other from 44, and Koo making just one of those misses would have won the game. Last week, Koo’s potentially game-tying kick was blocked when the line, which resembled a revolving door at a hotel, allowed the Denver Broncos to penetrate with ease.
Both of the Chargers losses have come on failed field goal attempts this season, and that isn’t a new trend. They blew it in similar fashion against the Oakland Raiders in Week six of the 2016 season.
It is probably too early to think about replacing Younghoe Koo, but the Chargers might be feeling a bit of buyer’s remorse after parting ways with kicker Josh Lambo in favor of Koo this season. While Lambo was far from perfect, but Charger fans everywhere may well believe he might have made Sunday’s game winner.
Last Word
Gates Becomes the League Leader in Touchdowns
If Chargers fans are looking for a silver lining, Antonio Gates scored his 112th touchdown on Sunday, which give him the career-record for touchdowns at his position. Gates has enjoyed a truly illustrious career, and he has ascended to the level of legend. He is a sure-fire Hall of Famer. The Chargers are blessed to have had him on this team.
The Chargers Might not Cursed, but are Certainly Unlucky
After another close, hard fought game that ended in an embarrassing loss, the Chargers will no doubt take some time to recover from this one. They will certainly claim to set their sights on the next game vs the Chiefs, but at some point, their rotten luck will likely take a toll on their morale. The season is far from over, but after such a painful loss in a home crowd made up of a significant amount of Dolphins fans in a new city that is at best lukewarm in their desire for this team, it is hard to hold on to much hope that things will improve.
Perhaps Chargers owner Dean Spanos is cursed for ruining this team’s relationship with San Diego and then uprooting them and taking them to Los Angeles. Or maybe this team simply has bad luck. Either way, the Chargers will be facing a Chiefs team fresh off decisive victories over the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. There will be no room for blunders next week.
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