As bleak as things looked as the Chargers trudged from the field at Arrowhead Stadium, after they were beaten on a bank-shot field goal as time expired, after they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs for the seventh consecutive time and for the 19th time in 22 games, the big picture told a different story.
The Chargers had four games to play, four games to win and secure an AFC wild-card playoff berth. Losing to the Chiefs again this past Sunday night was a bummer, of course, but it did not signal an end to their season. If they played it right, it was a mere bump on the road to a successful season.
“If,” of course, being the operative word.
There was danger in dwelling too much on one loss.
There was harm in mulling over what might have been.
There was risk in looking back instead of looking ahead.
The Chargers (8-5) seemed to grasp these concepts as they prepared to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6) on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. They vowed to learn from the past and apply it to the future and their final four regular-season games. Saying it and doing it were two different things, though.
“Everybody is basically saying the same thing in their own way: Let’s capitalize on the opportunity we have with the guys in this locker room,” Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. said earlier in the week of spreading the message throughout the team after practices and during meetings. “Let’s keep going.”
The task for the Chargers isn’t daunting if they don’t make it daunting.
After all, the next four games don’t look as difficult as the previous four. After victories over the Cincinnati Bengals (5-8 going into Week 15) and the Atlanta Falcons (6-7) and losses to the Baltimore Ravens (8-5) and the Chiefs (12-1), the Chargers’ schedule eases somewhat over their final four games.
After facing the Bucs, the Chargers host the Denver Broncos (8-5) in their home finale before hitting the road to play the New England Patriots (3-10) and the Las Vegas Raiders (2-11). The Bucs and Broncos are in playoff contention, but the Patriots and Raiders are looking forward to vacations.
What happens next will tell the tale of the Chargers’ season, according to outside linebacker Joey Bosa. Thinking about last Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs won’t do the Chargers any good at this point. It’s what happens against the Bucs, Broncos, Patriots and Raiders that matters most.
“It was, obviously, a huge game,” Bosa said of the Chargers’ 19-17 loss to the Chiefs. “Every game, like I’ve been saying, is huge this time of year, but the only option is to put it behind us, learn what we can and get stronger from it. I think every loss we’ve had, we’ve done that.
“I don’t think this is a team to curl up and quit.”
The Chargers haven’t lost consecutive games but once this season, and that was to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3, when quarterback Justin Herbert aggravated a sprained right ankle and was forced from the game, and to the Chiefs in Week 4 when Herbert was still hobbled by his injury
Plus, James served a one-game suspension from the NFL for committing too many personal foul penalties in too short of a span of games, and offensive tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt were sidelined by injuries. The Chargers lost to the Chiefs, but only by a 17-10 margin.
After their bye week in Week 5 and after Herbert regained his mobility, the Chargers defeated the Broncos in Denver, shutting them out for three quarters before holding on for a 23-16 victory.
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After the Chargers’ loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7, they reeled off four consecutive victories. After their loss to the Ravens, they went to Atlanta and took a 17-13 victory from the Falcons in the final moments of the game. Is another bounce-back victory in the offing for the Chargers?
“Full attention on this game, against a really good team that’s leading their division,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said of facing the Bucs. “I’m sure we have their full attention, they have our full attention. It’s a huge game. They’re on a three-game winning streak. Big test. Big game ahead.”
CHARGERS (8-5) vs. BUCCANEERS (7-6)
When: 1:25 p.m. Sunday
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/Radio: Ch. 11; 98.7 FM; 105.5 FM/94.3 FM (Spanish)