Despite managing to keep the game close without Justin Hebert and several key starters, the Chargers came up just short against the Bills as they lost 24-22. Buffalo took control of their playoff destiny, while LA was mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
The Chargers have known their fate for weeks, though. It’s why Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco were fired in-season. At this point, all you’re watching for are performances to be used as an evaluation tool in the off-season. What stood out, positively and negatively, for the Bolts?
Stud: QB Easton Stick
As mentioned last week, what you’re looking to see from Easton Stick is competent fill-in play. Nothing more, nothing less. Last week in Las Vegas, Stick’s processing and decision-making were just a step slow. Turnovers made the margins of the game even worse for LA.
It was a much better performance for Stick this week. 23-33, 218 yards and a rushing touchdown is about what I’d expect from the NDSU product in executing the offense efficiently.
Also important for Stick as a game manager: zero turnover-worthy plays against Buffalo. He had six in his first two starts this season.
Dud: The anemic run game continues
Relative to his recent efforts, this wasn’t a bad game for Austin Ekeler, as he averaged 4.3 yards per carry for 65 yards. But the total production and efficiency for the running back room wasn’t there.
After a 50-yard performance against Las Vegas, Isaiah Spiller had two carries for one yard. Joshua Kelley had one run that went backward yardage-wise. 18 runs for 64 yards between the backs is just more of the same in terms of what we’ve seen this season. The interior line struggled in a run-blocking capacity as they turned to Brenden Jaimes.
The absence of Corey Linsley and the athletic decline of Austin Ekeler are hard factors to work with. But Kellen Moore’s run game has not met expectations this year.
Stud: S Alohi Gilman
Alohi Gilman created two massive turnovers for the Chargers in this game. Left by himself with Stefon Diggs over the top, Gilman came up with a huge interception while undercutting Josh Allen’s pass. A forced fumble in run support also gave the Chargers another opportunity to swing the game.
By any conceivable metric, Gilman is having his best season in a contract year. As uncertainty looms around the rest of the Chargers’ expensive roster, he’s proven to be a critical piece of this defense. Whichever GM comes in needs to get Gilman back for 2024.
Dud: 4th down decision making
Staley took a lot of media heat on his fourth-down decision-making, but the truth is that his calls usually added to the Chargers’ in-game winning percentages. His aggressiveness in 2021 won that team some games. Conservatism and inconsistent decision-making made the offense less potent in ‘22 and ‘23.
On the first Chargers’ drive that gained traction to the tune of 90 yards, Giff Smith elected to take a field goal on the two-yard line. For an LA offense that has struggled to put up points on the board, I get the decision. But a touchdown there might’ve won the game for the Chargers, considering the defensive effort.
Again, the game was irrelevant from a playoff positioning standpoint. But had it been a must-win game, I think that decision at home against Josh Allen would’ve generated more discussion.
Stud: TE Gerald Everett
Somewhat quietly, Gerald Everett has put together a really solid stretch for the Chargers after a bit of a target drought. From October 1st to November 12th, Everett averaged under 14 yards in a five-game span. Since then, Everett has put up 41.8 yards per contest in his last five games.
He also has a five-game streak of 4+ receptions in that span. Whether with Stick or Justin Herbert, Everett has been a valuable piece in an otherwise depleted offense.
As mentioned before with Gilman, I also would try to keep Everett next year at the right value for the Chargers as draft/offseason insurance.
Dud: LB Kenneth Murray
Kenneth Murray has had his most erratic season as a pro. The run defense has largely been decent for the most part. But while that support aspect of his game is serviceable now, coverage is still a struggle. A miscommunication put him 1 on 1 vs. Gabe Davis downfield. 82 yards allowed in coverage was Murray’s most since the Dallas game.
Opposing offenses know that the middle and deep parts of the field are attackable with the Murray-Eric Kendricks duo that’s started all year. The Chargers took a run defense improvement while sacrificing coverage, and I’m not sure that tradeoff has worked out.