Comedy of errors awaits the Raiders this week
Poor clock management continues to plague last- place Chargers
Time is running out on the Chargers and their coach, Anthony Lynn. A wiseacre might say neither has even noticed.
Time is running out on the Los Angeles Chargers and their coach, Anthony Lynn. A wiseacre might say neither has even noticed.
At 4- 9, the Chargers have long fallen out of postseason contention. The more pressing issue down south has been the team’s embarrassing clock management, which seems to occur on a weekly basis as the losses pile up.
Twice in the last three weeks, the Chargers’ trouble with time has shockingly prevented them from scoring twice — once at the end of a half, and once at the end of a game.
The only time in the last three weeks the Chargers weren’t beaten by the clock was when the Patriots handed them their most lopsided loss in team history, 45- 0.
But even the pounding by the Patriots included head- scratching special teams plays when the Chargers, who had just re- assigned their special teams coach and had Lynn helping out, twice had just 10 players on the field and once had 12.
The Chargers, to their credit, did show resiliency Sunday. Kicker Michael Badgley, who’s already missed 10 kicks this season, blasted a 43- yard field goal to beat the Falcons as time expired.
Lynn, one of the more likable coaches in the game, took a poke at himself after the game- winning kick.
“I think we had 11 guys on the field this time,” he joked.
Here’s a closer look at the Raiders’ prime time game against the Chargers:
Reasons for optimism
A BANGED- UP LINE » The struggles for right tackle Bryan Bulaga and right guard Trai Turner,
the Chargers’ high- priced offensive line additions, continued Sunday when both left the game in the second half to be evaluated for concussions. The Raiders’ chances of pressuring Justin Herbert will increase should either Bulaga or Turner — or both — miss Thursday’s game. ONE LESS WEAPON FOR HERBERT? » Standout wide receiver Mike Williams, who left Sunday’s game after two plays because of a back injury, missed Monday’s practice and his chances of playing don’t appear great. Williams had five catches for 81 yards in the Chargers’ first meeting with the Raiders. If Williams can’t go Thursday, that’s one less headache for new Raiders defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. EXPLOITABLE CORNERBACKS » Veteran corners Casey Hayward and Chris Harris Jr. have had more than their share of issues this season. Quarterbacks have a 112.4 passer rating when targeting Hayward and a 103.3 rating against Harris. Partly because of uneven performances from Hayward and Harris, the Chargers are ranked just 20th against the pass and have permitted 26 touchdown passes, tied for fifth most in the NFL.
Reasons for pessimism
KEENAN ALLEN QUANDARY » Like most every other team, the Raiders have had trouble figuring out how to slow down Chargers Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen, who grabbed nine passes for 103 yards and a score in the teams’ first meeting this season. The former Cal star is the most prolific pass catcher in the league — no receiver in NFL history has caught more passes in his first 100 games than Allen’s 623 receptions in 99 career games. Allen has one more than short- time Raider Antonio Brown, who had 622 catches through his first 100 games. Allen has 99 catches for 975 yards and eight touchdowns so far this season, but he may be a bit hobbled Thursday. Allen sat out the last couple minutes against the Falcons with a reported hamstring issue, but he hasn’t missed a game in four years. DUAL- THREAT RUNNING BACK » The Raiders didn’t have to face running back Austin Ekeler earlier this season, but they won’t be so fortunate Thursday. After missing eight weeks with a hamstring injury, Ekeler is starting to look more like the pesky running and passcatching threat he’s been the past two seasons. He had 146 yards from scrimmage against Atlanta in his best game since returning three weeks ago.
SIGNS OF LIFE ON DEFENSE » Even with the struggles by Harris and Hayward, the Chargers defense came up big when it needed to against the Falcons. L. A. got interceptions from cornerback Michael Davis and safeties Jahleel Addae and Rayshawn Jenkins to help seal their win. The three picks were noteworthy since the Chargers came into the game with just six interceptions on the season.