Chargers News: Brandon Staley Dismisses Playoff Meltdown Impact on Chargers 0-2 Start

Something seems up with this team..

Last season ended in heartbreaking fashion for the Los Angeles Chargers. After blowing a 27-0 lead against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the wild-card round of the postseason, the organization was left feeling very diminished.

It was the kind of loss many believed could have lingering effects, even into the next new season. There were calls for head coach Brandon Staley to be let go, and it was a tough time for the franchise.

But they decided to keep Staley and give him another chance to prove himself. But at least so far into the new year, memories of the collapse could be hurting this team. The Bolts have dropped their first two games of the season and are facing an uphill battle after starting 0-2.

Talk of the playoff loss has started to creep up once again, but Staley was quick to shoot down the narrative after LA lost to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

“I’m not worried about the Jacksonville loss,” coach Brandon Staley said, after cutting off a question about a potential hangover from how 2022 ended. “The Jacksonville loss has not carried onto the season whatsoever. If you’ve seen our training camp, if you’ve seen the way we played in the first two games, it hasn’t had an impact on our team whatsoever. Our team is connected. Our team has played its heart out in two games, and we’ve lost two tough games"

Per The Athletic

Staley can say whatever he wants, too, but the defeat could still be in the players' minds. While it is a new year, losing a game in that way does tend to have some effect on the psychology of a team.

With how the Chargers have played, something seems to be up. They haven't been able to close games, and you have to wonder if any of the players still think about the loss to the Jaguars.

"It has nothing to do with the Jacksonville game. And if you ask anyone in our locker room, it has nothing to do with the Jacksonville game. That’s just the truth. It’s a convenient storyline for you and for everybody else. But it’s not the truth. We’ve lost two tough games, but the guys in that locker room, the men in that locker room, they are finishers and they have what it takes.”

Per The Athletic

We will never know the truth about this, but something has affected this locker room. The Bolts are way too talented to have started the season 0-2, and the hot seat for Staley has gotten even stronger.