After the defeat to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Los Angeles Chargers coach Brandon Staley expressed optimism about turning the page to face the Las Vegas Raiders on a short week. However, the turned page unveiled one of the most humiliating losses in franchise history to a team that hadn’t scored a touchdown since Week 12.
Following the Chargers’ 63-21 loss to the Raiders on Thursday night, marking the highest point total allowed in franchise history and the most points ever scored by Las Vegas, Staley asserted his confidence that his players still believed in him and that he deserved to remain as head coach.
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“I know what I’ve done here for three years, and I know what I’ve put into this, and I know where we’re capable of going,” Staley declared. “I know the type of coach I am. I believe in myself.”
The 42-point margin of defeat stands as the Chargers’ third-worst in franchise history, with their 42-0 halftime deficit being the most lopsided half in the NFL since 2014. Staley acknowledged these challenges, attributing them to the nature of the NFL.
“Games like this happen in the NFL,” he remarked, “to every coach that’s ever coached in this league. You can look at any great coach that’s ever coached in the league. Sometimes games like this happen, and I don’t need to retrace history, but it’s just, it’s part of sports.”
When a reporter suggested that blowouts like Thursday’s are not normal in the NFL, Staley modified his statement, acknowledging that the events of that night were indeed abnormal.
“Tonight was not a normal occurrence. Everything that could have gone wrong in all three phases went wrong,” he clarified.
Staley mentioned his scheduled discussion with Chargers ownership on Friday, anticipating it to be “nothing new.” Notably, the Chargers have fired only one head coach midseason in franchise history, back in 1998 when they parted ways with Kevin Gilbride.
With a 24-24 record over his 48 games as Chargers coach, Staley’s defense, which he calls plays for, was expected to improve when he was hired in 2021. However, it has been their Achilles’ heel this season, ranking 27th in opponents’ points per game (24.6) and 29th in yards per game allowed (375.3) after Thursday’s loss.
