Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh brought in Mike McDaniel as coordinator this offseason with an objective to add a dynamic element to his Justin Herbert-led offense.
asserted
Harbaugh → bring → offense
It’s yet to materialize for the Chargers (0-3), off to their worst start since 2017, or McDaniel, who landed in LA after four seasons as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.
asserted
who → ’ → Dolphins
While concerns are growing, Harbaugh pushed back on suggestions of whether he might consider making changes after a 24-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
uncertain
he → grow → Sunday
“Ah, no,” Harbaugh said.
asserted
Harbaugh → say → ?
“Believe in our guys, believe in our coaches, believe across the board we have not been good enough yet.
asserted
we → believe → board
I’m not singling out anybody.
asserted
I → single → anybody
We win these games as a team, we lose as a team.
asserted
we → win → team
The bad on offense was apparent in an outing the Chargers forced five takeaways, only to have the offense unable to capitalize.
asserted
offense → force → takeaways
With LA leading 13-10, Herbert’s lone turnover, an interception at the goal line in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter turned the momentum.
asserted
turnover → lead → momentum
C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s interception came three plays after Buffalo’s Josh Allen lost a fumble at his own 28, and set up Allen scoring the go-ahead touchdown.
asserted
Allen → come → touchdown
Herbert’s turnover highlighted an outing in which the Chargers lacked finish by combining for a touchdown and three field goals on six drives inside the Buffalo 30.
asserted
Chargers → highlight → Buffalo
“Obviously not where we want to be,” Herbert said.
asserted
Herbert → want → ?
“It starts with me.
asserted
It → start → me
I’ve got to play better and do the things that allows our offense to score more points and help out the defense that’s playing really well and forcing so many turnovers.
asserted
that → get → turnovers
The offensive sputters have carried over from LA losing its first two outings by identical 26-14 scores to Arizona and Las Vegas.
asserted
LA → carry → Arizona
With Herbert’s interception, his fourth of the season, the Chargers have now committed more turnovers (six) than scored TDs (five).
asserted
Chargers → commit → TDs
Herbert defended McDaniel against criticism that the coordinator’s scheme has been too complex for the Chargers to execute.
asserted
Chargers → defend → criticism
“He’s definitely a guy that we need to lean on, he’s done such an incredible job,” Herbert said.
asserted
Herbert → ’ → job
“It’s on us as an offense to run the plays the way he sees them, listen to coaching, and do our job to make those plays.
asserted
he → ’ → plays
And we haven’t done that for him.
asserted
we → do → him
So obviously, we feel horrible.”
asserted
we → feel → ?
The Chargers lost a game in which they had five takeaways and one giveaway for the first time since a wild-card playoff defeat against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Jan. 14, 2023, when Brandon Staley was the team’s head coach.
asserted
Staley → lose → Jan.
The Bills had lost the past 24 games in which they had a minus-4 turnover margin, with their most recent victory coming on Sept. 21, 1997, against an Indianapolis Colts team with Harbaugh playing quarterback.
asserted
Harbaugh → lose → quarterback
“We gotta stop shooting ourselves in the foot,” left tackle Rashawn Slater said.
asserted
Slater → got → foot
“We have all the ability in the world and we’re falling short when it comes to the critical time to execute.”
asserted
it → have → time
The Chargers’ lack of finish wasn’t lost on Gardner-Johnson, who said he’s accustomed to making plays in the clutch.
asserted
he → lose → clutch
“I’m used to this.
asserted
I → ’m → this
It ain’t nothing new,” Gardner-Johnson said, before referring to the Chargers
“Teams like that, that ain’t really been to the top, they don’t know how to finish as well,” he said.
asserted
he → ai → top
“So no disrespect, just that’s what it is.”
asserted
it → ’ → ?
The Aporia
