LA Chargers: 3 improvements needed in second half vs. Bengals

3. Special teams

The LA Chargers have not been great on special teams thus far in this game and that is something that Charger fans are all-too-familiar with. The Chargers committed two early special teams fouls, the second of which actually hurt the team quite a bit.

The first was on Joe Reed, who ran out of bounds during a punt. It only cost the Chargers five yards, which really was not that big of a deal.

However, right before the Bengals’ touchdown, Desmond King fielded a punt at the 10-yard line and took it to the 27 to give the Bolts decent field position. Nasir Adderley was called for holding, which was enforced at the 10-yard line, and the Chargers started the drive at the five instead.

The Chargers gained zero yards on the drive and punted from their own five. The Bengals took over on the Chargers’ 44, the Tillery penalty happened and then Joe Burrow found the endzone on a scramble.

It was not just that, though. The team would have had to start a drive at the 11 if the refs didn’t gift the team a touchback, which was a questionable call. The Chargers also allowed the Bengals to take the kickoff to the 42-yard line after their first field goal.

Special teams can win or lose games. If they continue this level of sloppy special teams play in the second half then they will be in trouble.