SEASON COMES TO MERCIFUL END FOR BOLTS
After their fifth consecutive loss and their eighth in the final nine games of their lost season of 2023, the Chargers trudged from the SoFi Stadium turf to their locker room Sunday with an overwhelming sense of sadness, of disappointment, of regret and of uncertainty.
Chiefs 13, Chargers 12
Only a fool or a liar would dare claim to know what comes next, after the Chargers’ 13-12 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. What is certain is that the upcoming offseason will be one of profound changes for a team that failed to meet expectations while finishing last in the AFC West.
First, the Chargers must hire a new coach to replace Brandon Staley and a new general manager to replace Tom Telesco, who were fired within hours of a humiliating 63-21 loss Dec. 14 to the Las Vegas Raiders. Whether it’s Jim Harbaugh or Bill Belichick or someone else, the roster must be overhauled, too.
This one couldn’t get it done, finishing with a 5-12 record.
This one also is projected to be about $35 million over next season’s salary cap.
So, many familiar players are likely to be jettisoned in the coming weeks and months and new ones will be signed and drafted. The Chargers’ season-ending slide moved them up to fifth in the NFL Draft order, perhaps the only saving grace in a season devoid of positive developments.
“I don’t have a contract, this is my last year, so that’s something that’s the next journey for me going into the offseason,” Chargers running back Austin Ekeler said, speaking for himself but also a group of his teammates who are now likely to be ex-teammates after Sunday’s loss.
“Definitely sad for our season to end because we’re competitors,” Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. said. “We want to play. We put the work in, but we didn’t earn it this year. We didn’t get that done. We (the Chargers’ defensive unit) didn’t get it done. We could have been better, too.”
Said outside linebacker Khalil Mack: “I’m still processing it. It hasn’t been that long (since the game ended). It’s probably one of those things where I’ll have a better answer for you (today) than (Sunday). I’m still caught in the emotions. Still alive and well. I’m trying to think more positively than negatively.”
Like so many of their losses this season, the Chargers were close enough to a victory to feel it within their grasp. Like so many of their losses, they watched it slip from their unsteady hands in the final minutes. Eight losses by one score (seven points or fewer) added to their frustration and anger Sunday.
Cameron Dicker rallied the Chargers from a 10-0 deficit with four field goals, including the go-ahead kick from 20 yards with 4:06 remaining in the game. The playoff-bound Chiefs, the AFC West champions, then marched down the field to regain the lead and improve to 11-6.
Harrison Butker booted a 41-yard field goal with 49 seconds left to put the Chiefs ahead to stay 13-12. Butker also kicked a 22yard field goal in the second quarter and safety Mike Edwards returned Chargers quarterback Easton Stick’s fumble 97 yards in the first quarter for the game’s only touchdown.
Stick started in place of Justin Herbert for the fourth time. He completed 28 of 47 passes for 258 yards, and he also ran for a teamleading 77 yards on 13 carries.