Desperate for a win
N.Y. comes in 0-9, and L.A. has dropped three straight, seven of eight
Joey Bosa remembers the last time the Los Angeles Chargers faced a winless team this far into a season. He’s hoping history doesn’t repeat itself Sunday when they play host to the winless New York Jets in a midseason matchup of struggling squads.
The Jets are the 27th team since the merger to go without a win in their first nine games. Meanwhile, the Chargers are on a three-game losing skid along with dropping seven of their past eight games.
“You can’t take anyone lightly. I learned that because I’ve been in this situation before,” Bosa said. “I like to think we have a talented team, but we are 2-7 right now. It is important for us to stay locked in.”
Bosa brought up the Chargers’ Christmas Eve game at Cleveland four years ago, when the 0-14 Browns held on for a 20-17 victory after Josh Lambo’s field goal attempt sailed wide right as time expired. That game sealed Mike Mccoy’s fate as coach and led to the hiring of Anthony Lynn.
New York will try to become the eighth team to get its first victory in its 10th game. The Jets come in rested off of their bye week and a narrow loss to New England on Nov. 9. They had a 10-point lead midway through the fourth quarter before the Patriots scored 13 points in the final 6:04 to emerge with a 30-27 victory.
The Jets have been shaking up their roster over the past several
weeks and had 10 rookies see action against the Patriots. The secondary will have three rookie cornerbacks with the recent releases of Quincy Wilson and Pierre Desir. Those are the latest moves in a year that has seen the Jets also part with running back Le’veon Bell along with trading Avery Williamson and Steve Mclendon.
Coach Adam Gase has been on the defensive about getting younger and trying to dispel the perception the Jets are tanking to get the first pick in the draft.
“I think where we’re at right now, we’re really looking to play as many of these young guys as possible,” Gase said. “I mean, you watch these guys come off the field, whatever they have, they’re giving it. We’ve just got to figure out a way to finish these games to where we’re winning the game, we’ve got one more point than the other side.”
The Chargers are looking to bounce back after being outplayed in all three phases last week at Miami. All six of their losses have been by eight points or
fewer. Despite the close margins, the frustration level continues to rise.
“At the end of the day, when we’re presented opportunities to make plays, we have to,” Bosa said. “The difference in every one of our games is two or three plays. So if we turn the tide on two or three of those plays, I think every game could be different this year.”
Joe Flacco threw three touchdown passes against New England in the Jets’ last game — the same total Sam Darnold had in the six games he started. Flacco gets his fourth start of the season with Darnold still sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Gase’s offense has struggled, ranking last in the NFL in several categories.