What, the Chargers worry?
The vibe was good, the players and coaches said all week.
The mistakes were fixable, they said.
The quality of the upcoming opponent demanded their very best, they said.
The past was in the past, they said.
The future was all that mattered, they said.
So, the Chargers (0-2) said they put in the necessary hard work and prepared to face the Buffalo Bills (2-0) on Sunday in Orchard Park, New York, their first road test of the season after losses to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 and to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2 at SoFi Stadium.
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Optimism was in short supply after consecutive dismal showings to start the season. Or so it seemed from a 10,000-foot view of the mistake-prone Chargers’ play in the first two games, but those responsible held far different views of the proceedings as they prepared to face the Bills.
Well, to be fair, the Chargers said they understood they didn’t play up to their potential or their standards against the Cardinals and Raiders, teams that weren’t exactly considered Super Bowl contenders going into the season. The Chargers also acknowledged they had let themselves down with a string of unforced errors in each game.
“Everybody’s ready to get back on track,” Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey said the other day. “Do we wish we were 2-0, not 0-2? Absolutely. But sitting around and sulking, pouting, that’s not going to do anything. So, we’ve tried to keep that positive energy going.”
Of their lackluster play in their losses to the Cardinals (now 1-1) and Raiders (now 2-0), McConkey added, “We beat ourselves. Say what you want, yes, credit to the other teams that beat us, Week 1 and Week 2. But if we just beat ourselves less, I think we’ll be in a good position.”
The Chargers’ gaffes were too numerous to list here.
And, although McConkey didn’t get into the specific details, it was plainly obvious he was referring to the Chargers’ six fumbles, two interceptions and the eight penalties against the Raiders, and also to the seven penalties, two turnovers and a blocked punt against the Cardinals.
Apart from a handful of possessions in each game, new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s offense sputtered out of the gate. Justin Herbert has averaged only 200 yards passing per game, down from his career average of 260. The Chargers have scored only two touchdowns in each game, continuing a trend dating to the end of last season.
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What’s more, Herbert seemed laser-focused on McConkey during the first two games, which wasn’t a bad thing as far as McConkey was concerned, but also likely something the Bills and future opponents will zero in on during the games to come, including Sunday.
“As a receiver, that’s what you want, right?” McConkey said. “You want your quarterback to trust you. I feel like we’ve developed that over the years and, obviously, continue to get better working in practice. I feel like the coaches do a good job of letting me go and win routes, and for Justin to hang on me and trust me, it feels good.”
Of equal or great concern Sunday, is finding a way to contain Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills’ explosive offense. The Bills have scored an NFL-leading total of 77 points in victories over the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions to start the season. Allen has completed 66.7% of his passes.
In addition, he’s thrown for five touchdowns and run for four more.
Former Chargers wide receiver Josh Palmer has caught one touchdown pass from Allen in each of the Bills’ victories so far. As their third-round draft pick in 2021, Palmer spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Chargers, catching 182 passes for 2,287 yards with 10 touchdowns.
The Bills’ offense is ground-based, too.
Running back James Cook rushed for 135 yards against the Lions on Sept. 17.
“I’d say it’s all the threats that he has,” Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. said of what makes Allen so difficult to defend. “He has a lot of guys that can do a lot of things with the ball in their hands. So, the main thing is getting off the field on third downs and getting our offense on the field. So, we’ve got to be good in a lot of areas.
“He’s one of the best quarterbacks in this league, bro. He can make any throw. He can run like a running back. Even when he’s taking off, we’ve got to be ready to get him on the ground, and keep playing because he can turn those plays into eight- or 10-second plays. He’s one of the best at doing that.”
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Buckle up, it could be a bumpy afternoon.
CHARGERS (0-2) at BILLS (2-0)
When: 10 a.m. PT Sunday
Where: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y.
TV/Radio: FOX (Ch. 11); 640 AM/103.9/98.3 FM (Spanish)