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Chargers linebacker Joey Bosa (97) and safety Tony Jefferson (23) show their frustration during their loss to Tampa Bay. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
If December is the time that the NFL’s elite teams start to separate from the pack, the Chargers suddenly find themselves enveloped in a choking cloud of dust.
Their 40-17 defeat to Tampa Bay on Sunday was their worst home loss in more than two years and reminded them they have miles to go before making any kind of noise in the postseason.
Although it sounds strange to include postseason and Chargers in the same sentence, that’s the way the arrows are pointing. Never mind that their possessions in the second half ended: punt, punt, interception, turnover on downs, turnover on downs, fumble. Or that Baker Mayfield surgically dissected their defense with four touchdown passes.
Sure, there are three weeks left in the regular season, and of course there are wacky scenarios that could send teams in different directions. But right now, the Chargers might be lashed to a log, helplessly bobbing toward a Buffalo buzz saw.
Thursday night’s home game against Denver is shaping up to be a critical one to determine playoff seeding. The winner will be on track for an AFC wild-card game at Pittsburgh — hey, it’s early but still fun to ponder the postseason possibilities — and the loser will be pointed toward Buffalo.
That could be ugly, especially if the Bills look the way they did Sunday, when they knocked off the mighty Lions in Detroit, 48-42.
Read more: Buccaneers slice up Chargers defense in second half as L.A. falls in playoff seedings
Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more in that game, holding off a furious comeback attempt by Jared Goff and the Lions, who scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. It was just the kind of thrilling football the league likes to see.
As for what was happening under the SoFi Stadium roof? Well, it was thrilling for the Buccaneers, and…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/chargers-appear-playoff-bound-loss-110035750.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-12-16 11:00:00
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