Chargers fans are already panicking over Brandon Staley's defense in Week 1

The LA Chargers host the Miami Dolphins to start the 2023 season. Los Angeles hosted Miami last season and had its way in that matchup. The Chargers dictated the entire tempo of the game and shut down the high-powered Dolphins' offense.

With that performance in fans' minds as well as the fact that the team is healthier, there was an expectation that the Chargers defense would come out and make a statement. That was not the case early, as Miami got whatever it wanted on the offensive end early in the game.

The Dolphins picked up 216 yards of offense on the first three drives of the game, doing so in only 22 plays. Watching the Chargers' defense give up 9.8 yards per play to start the game did not sit well with the fanbase.

Chargers fans are already panicking over Brandon Staley's defense

It is safe to say that the response on social media to how the Bolts have played on defense has not been great. For many Chargers fans, this appears to be more of the same from last season. After all, Mike McDaniel may have warned Chargers fans by scoffing at the "Brandon Staley plan".

Los Angeles was getting killed by explosive plays and was saved by a fluke fumble on the first drive of the game. While the Dolphins only scored 10 points in the first three drives, the Chargers were a fumble and Derwin James pass break-up away from allowing 21 points in three drives.

Regardless, fans are already sick of seeing the Dolphins get whatever they want on offense, particularly circling J.C. Jackson as a culprit of the team's defensive struggles.

While the fan reaction has not been positive, it is important to remember that the NFL season is a very long one and one bad half against Miami does not mean this defense is going to be horrible all season long.

Yes, it is easy to assume the worst when the Chargers have struggled in the past. That is fair. But Miami has one of the most explosive offenses in the entire sport. There are a lot of teams in the league that would have had a much worse first half on defense than the Chargers had in Week 1.

This game was expected to be an offensive slugfest. It had one of the highest point totals across the Week 1 slate. Could the defense have played better? Absolutely. Is it a bad look for a defensive head coach like Staley to allow this kind of outburst? No doubt. But there are 17 more weeks of football to play and plenty of adjustments that can be made. Let's not panic as soon as the season starts.