Week 7: Chargers Lose at Home 37-23

The Chargers have one of the most predictable, inconsistent offenses in football this year. With one of the strongest, most accurate arms in football, Justin Herbert is averaging a meager 6.7 yards per attempt. The Chargers have an offense full of screens, hitch plays, and a run game that has shown flashes, although only averaging 3.7 yards per carry on the year.

Joe Lombardi needs to be looked at and officially put on the hot seat for this atrocity with so much talent around the ball. The Chargers had a top five offense in football last year, so it seems that Lombardi has the tools to bring them back there. However, he has not shown that through the first seven weeks so far. Whether its the caliber of injuries the offense has suffered, or the offensive system as a whole, the Chargers need to address this issue and salvage a season that the Chargers are supposed to be “All In.”

Takeaway Two: Run Defense Needs to Improve

The Chargers run defense was the downfall of their season last year. Averaging the third most yards per game in the league last year, they spent this off season shoring up the defense so this wouldn’t be a problem. However, it has continued to be an issue for the defense, heading into seattle allowing 125 yards per game, and then sending Kenneth Walker home with a 168 yard, two touchdown game.

Injuries do play a big part in the defenses performance against the run. With All-Pro Edge Joey Bosa out, who has been one of the top graded edge rushers against the run over the past few years, opposing defenses continuously attack whichever side of the line is opposite Khalil Mack. The Chargers should look around the trade market heading into the bye week for someone to shore up the other side of the line.

Takeaway Three: The Chargers Have a Problem Giving Up Big Leads Early

Through the last three weeks, the Chargers have gone down by two or more scores very early in games. The first game was against the Cleveland Browns, where the Chargers came back from a 14 point deficit to win 30-28. The second game, last weeks Monday Night Football Game, the Chargers were down ten points against the Broncos headed into the second quarter. However, they were able to pull through and win in overtime 19-16.

Today did not go as well late  in the game for the Chargers, who fell to the Seahawks 37-23. The Seahawks took an early lead, headed into the second quarter up 17-0. The Bolts were able to bring it closer with an Austin Ekeler, and Mike Williams touchdown, but headed into half time down 24-14. Los Angeles let the Seahawks literally run away with the score, ending the game in miserable fashion.

They need to go back to the formula they used in the first two weeks of the season. They took big leads early against two divisional opponents, the Las Vegas Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs. Although they didn’t beat the Chiefs, they brought it down to nearly the last minute of the game. Even though they have been able to play from behind to go on a three game win streak, playing from behind is not an ideal position when your defense is playing in the bottom half of the league.

Los Angeles will head into a week eight bye week, hopefully to get some more players healthy, and figure out where they are going wrong. Headed into the season with one of the most hyped up teams in the league, Los Angeles has truly underperformed.

After the week eight bye, the Bolts will travel across the country to face off against a surprisingly overperforming Atlanta Falcons. This is a game that should not be taken lightly, but could provide the spark the Chargers need to go on a run.

Related: Week 7: Chargers Keys to Victory