The Chargers fell to the Titans in overtime, 27-24, in Week 2 of the 2023 season.
After the loss, here is what the national media thinks of the Bolts:
USA Today: 21 (Previous: 13)
“HC Brandon Staley claims “the men in that locker room are finishers,” yet the Bolts have lost four straight – going back to 2022 – by a total of nine points, including (yes, Coach Staley) last season’s wild-card implosion. They are the first team in the Super Bowl era to score at least 50 points while committing zero turnovers yet start 0-2.”
Touchdown Wire: 14 (Previous: 11)
“The Chargers got over 300 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions from Justin Herbert. They also held Derrick Henry under 100 yards rushing and sacked Ryan Tannehill five times- they still lost. It’s truly amazing how undisciplined this football team is, and just how often they load themselves in a cannon and fire. Speaking of fire, if they lose to the Vikings next week, heads need to roll, and that starts with Brandon Staley.”
NFL: 16 (Previous: 12)
“If you’ve watched either of the Chargers’ two losses, you might have noticed they really haven’t been a function of poor effort. It’s a matter of straight-up execution mistakes. Time and time again. Almost always at the worst possible moments. And while the offense isn’t completely off the hook (too many sacks and settling for short field goals), it’s really the defense that has been the bigger problem. At least the pass rush woke up (five sacks at Tennessee), but that doesn’t make up for the fact that the Bolts have been bombarded by deep passes. It’s a maddening storyline that won’t evaporate until the defense proves it can stop someone.”
CBS Sports: 22 (Previous: 15)
“This team is 0-2, and the heat is certainly on as they ready to play the Vikings on the road. The defense has been bad.”
ESPN: 17 (Previous: 10)
Player: RB Austin Ekeler
Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2023 season
“In an offseason laden with running back contract drama, Ekeler was briefly at the center of it all. He requested a trade in March after the two sides couldn’t agree to a multiyear contract extension. In May, Ekeler eventually agreed to a revised contract that added $1.75 million in incentives. In the Chargers’ opening game of 2023, he led the backfield with 117 yards and a touchdown. With Ekeler out in Week 2 with an ankle injury, the running game stalled, as Chargers rushers totaled just 61 yards on the ground.”
Yahoo Sports: 21 (Previous: 14)
“The defensive issues the Chargers have are troubling. Brandon Staley was supposed to be a defensive guru. That’s how he was billed when he came over from the Rams. His defense struggling like it has is not a good look, to say the least.”
“While I am not going to get testy with a reporter about it, I do tend to agree with Brandon Staley that their team has exhibited enough to be considered a good football team despite some poor circumstances. The Titans’ comeback win this past week was a gut punch, and puts the third-year coach and his team on the ropes. However, the Chargers have been doing most of what they promised, save for their ability to avoid cosmically upsetting end-of-game losses. I would find it hard to unearth a good football mind who thinks this is a bad team, or even a particularly poorly coached team. Circumstantially, that sentiment is not reflected in the win column yet, but this is a group capable of going on a tear (which they will need to do).”