Epic meltdown against Jags might be the final nail in the coffin for Chargers HC Brandon Staley
Well, it happened again. The Los Angeles Chargers and their head coach, Brandon Staley, lived up to their reputation for choking when it mattered. They did it last year in Week 18 against the Las Vegas Raiders, which cost them a playoff berth. On Saturday night, Staley's team repeated history as they completed a collapse of monumental proportions against the Jacksonville Jaguars, as they lost 30-31. The conversation now shifts to whether Staley should stay on as the man in charge.
What happened to Brandon Staley and the Los Angeles Chargers?
The first half was a complete disaster for the Jaguars as quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw multiple interceptions and the team just couldn't do anything right in any of the three phases of the game. Looking back, you might question whether it was Doug Pederson's team failing more than Staley's boys dominating the scoreboard.
Even by the game's conclusion, the Chargers still held the advantage in the turnover differential. Clearly, Staley was outcoached in the second half. All the Chargers had to do was get the run going, kill the clock, put up a couple of field goals, and they'd be riding an airplane victorious back to Los Angeles.
While Staley is still getting on the plane, you have to wonder if he's heading to the unemployment line when he gets off. At this point, given what transpired, it wouldn't surprise folks if Chargers owner Dean Spanos is already talking to Sean Payton.
Back-to-back collapses under Brandon Staley might spell the end
Coaching is important in the NFL; it can mean the difference between getting those crucial wins and sitting at home during the playoffs. The Chargers, for example, led in each of their offensive plays in the second half but still lost under Staley. The game was effectively over at halftime as the Chargers were leading by 27-7. What came next was something unexpected. Nonetheless, we're talking about Staley possibly being fired.
Saturday's collapse is something you can't come back from. Just look at Joey Bosa's reaction to his coach trying to calm him and handing him his helmet. Staley has lost this team. It would take one heck of a postgame speech to win them back, but knowing Spanos, Brandon Staley is probably done.