Chargers News: Insider Unpacks LA's Growth In Season-Killing Loss

LA's playoff hopes may be dead, but there was plenty to admire about its latest defeat.

Your Los Angeles Chargers' playoff hopes were officially dashed on Saturday, during a 24-22 defeat at the hands of the Buffalo Bills. The Bolts are now 5-10 and fading fast, but really the season was over as soon as Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert underwent season-ending surgery to address a right index finger fracture ahead of LA's ignominious 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Even still, even with an interim head coach and general manager in tow, an optimistic Joe Reedy of The Associated Press appears to be confident thatthe club enjoyed some positive growth in first-time (interim) head coach Giff Smith's debut game.

Reedy praises the club's special teams attack, in particular, for helping Los Angeles keep things close.

"Cameron Dicker had a personal-best five field goals and J.K. Scott averaged 50 yards gross and 47.3 yards net on his four punts," Reedy notes. "Dicker became the first Chargers kicker to have four field goals of 40 yards or longer in a single game. Of his 24 field goals this season, 11 have been from at least 40 yards."

Reedy also appreciates the efforts of backup quarterback Easton Stick, who'll be starting in the stead of Herbert the rest of the way here:

"Stick didn’t have any turnovers after committing four in his first two games," Reedy writes. "He has completed 70.8% of his passes in his first two starts and has accounted for four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing)."