KC Chiefs: What we learned about the AFC West after week 3 of 2020
What did we learn about the Los Angeles Chargers?
87. 16. 13. Final. 21
It’s kind of interesting to think that the Los Angeles Chargers could actually be 3-0 right now, but instead are 1-2. If they had gone for it on fourth down in overtime last week, they likely convert and beat the Chiefs. This week, all they had to do was connect on the lateral and they had a walk-in touchdown, but alas, that didn’t happen.
Anyway, the Chargers hosted their second ever game in their new stadium, welcoming in the 0-2 Panthers. It’s no secret that the Panthers are in the midst of a rebuild and with Christian McCaffrey on the shelf, people figured Los Angeles would roll in this one.
That’s not what happened though, as a previously poor Panthers defense was able to limit the Chargers to just 16 points.
Justin Herbert made his second start at quarterback and threw for over 300 yards once again while also throwing for a touchdown and an interception and getting sacked twice. It’s easy to look good at quarterback in Los Angeles when you have Keenan Allen to throw to, as the Bolts receiver hauled in 13 catches for 132 yards and a touchdown.
The Chargers defense didn’t have many problems slowing down Carolina’s offense due to McCaffrey being out, but Teddy Bridgewater threw for 235 yards and had just six incompletions on the afternoon while throwing for a touchdown and getting sacked twice.
What lost LA the game is they turned the ball over four total times, losing three fumbles and Herbert throwing a pick. Despite that, they had a chance to win the game, as the defense held Carolina to five field goals. I touched on the final play of the game earlier, which was a failed lateral pass that if executed, is an easy touchdown to win the game.
What we learned about the Chargers is that while Herbert has looked good, this is a team that still has a ways to go. Someone said to me that if a team loses to a McCaffrey-less Panthers team, they aren’t very good. The Chargers are better than I expected them to be, but this loss shows they’re not quite there yet.
Next up: A trip to Tampa Bay against the 2-1 Buccaneers. Let’s see how good that Bolts defense really is when they take on the new-look Bucs.