AP

Chargers players voice support for Staley after playoff exit

Jan 15, 2023, 4:20 AM | Updated: 6:22 pm

Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (26) takes a moment after an NFL wild-card footba...

Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (26) takes a moment after an NFL wild-card football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville Jaguars won 31-30. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Justin Herbert, Joey Bosa and the rest of the Los Angeles Chargers were still stinging Sunday from the disappointment of seeing their season end in Jacksonville less than 24 hours earlier.

Yet after they suffered the third-largest collapse in postseason history and fell to the Jaguars 31-30 on Saturday night, players reiterated their support for embattled coach Brandon Staley.

“Everyone would be lucky to have a coach like Staley. He’s been an incredible leader and has the respect of everyone on our team,” Herbert said. “He’s genuine, he’s himself and has been the same person for the past two years.”

Staley has a 19-16 record, including playoffs, in his two seasons. He led the Chargers to their first playoff appearance since 2018, but his decisions that contributed to his team blowing a 27-0 lead have prompted intense scrutiny.

If owner Dean Spanos decides to move on from Staley or general manager Tom Telesco, Bosa would end up playing for his fourth head coach in eight seasons. Telesco’s 10 seasons as GM include three playoff appearances and no division titles.

While Bosa, the Chargers’ standout pass rusher, is used to change, he said he supports Staley and is comfortable with the staff in place.

“I really do trust these coaches. He’s a fresh head coach in this league. To expect he’s going to know everything right away is kind of silly,” Bosa said. “I think we need to just keep building. It doesn’t happen overnight.”

Last season, Los Angeles dropped three of its final four games, including 35-32 in overtime in the finale at Las Vegas. Staley called a late timeout when the Raiders were content to play for a tie, which would have put the Chargers in the playoffs.

This season, the Chargers were 6-6 before winning four straight to reach the playoffs. But Staley’s decision to give significant playing time to starters in last week’s meaningless regular-season finale at Denver backfired when receiver Mike Williams suffered a season-ending back injury late in the first half of a 31-28 loss.

Then came Saturday’s second-half collapse against the Jaguars, when many of the Chargers’ shortcomings resurfaced.

The coaching staff struggled to match Jacksonville’s halftime adjustments, and the run defense faltered at the worst possible time.

Los Angeles was outscored 103-52 in the third quarter this season, including the playoffs. Travis Etienne’s 25-yard run late in the fourth quarter to set up Riley Patterson’s game-winning, 36-yard field goal was similar to James Robinson’s 50-yard touchdown in the Jaguars’ 38-10 win on Sept. 25.

Bosa, who said he was disappointed that some teammates were waving goodbye to fans when it was 27-0 during the first half, thinks the one hurdle the Chargers haven’t overcome is finding a way not to let things snowball out of control.

Bosa let his frustration get to him during the fourth quarter when he slammed his helmet to the turf, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after Christian Kirk caught a 9-yard TD pass. That led to the Jaguars converting a 2-point conversion to get within 30-28 and set themselves up to win in regulation.

“It seems like when things are going too well, and one bad play happens, you kind of get that collective sense, like, ‘Oh gosh, what’s happening?’ I think I have it ingrained in my head a little bit because it’s happened a million times,” Bosa said.

If Staley returns, it will be because he led the team to the playoffs despite injuries to key starters. Offensive tackle Rashawn Slater (biceps) played in only three games, Bosa missed 12 with a groin injury, and receiver Keenan Allen played in only two of the first nine games because of a nagging hamstring injury.

“I feel like what we built here and what we’ve continued to build every day, it’s something special. And that first half definitely showed that,” safety Derwin James said.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Chargers players voice support for Staley after playoff exit