LA Chargers: Overreactions from Week 6 blowout loss to Baltimore Ravens
By Jason Reed
The LA Chargers played a stinker in Week 6, plain and simple. The Bolts went into Baltimore the week before the bye and played their worst game of the Brandon Staley era, losing 34-6.
Losses never feel great and after every game we look at some of the most popular takeaways and declare whether or not it is a justified takeaway or an overreaction. After a loss like this, there are plenty of takeaways that end up being overreactions.
Let's just get into it.
Take 1: The LA Chargers are not a true contender
Getting blown out by another AFC playoff team might seem to indicate that the Chargers are not a true contending team but that is not the case. This loss does not remove the Bolts' status as a contender and while they are not Super Bowl favorites, they are still in a good position to be one of the final four teams in the hunt.
The fact of the matter is that nearly every great team has an ugly loss during the season.
2020 Buccaneers: 38-3 loss to the Saints.
— Bolt Beat (@BB_Chargers) October 17, 2021
2019 Chiefs: 19-13 loss to the 7-9 Colts.
2018 Patriots: 34-10 loss to the Titans.
2017 Eagles: 24-10 loss to Seahawks.
2016 Patriots: 16-0 loss to the 7-9 Bills.
The Chargers are still a legit contender. Relax.
Are there problems with this team? Absolutely. We are not going to even get into the run defense as we have established that it is a problem here on Bolt Beat already and there is no denying that it is a weakness. However, every single team in the NFL has weaknesses.
If the Chargers square off against the Ravens in the playoffs many things could be different. First of all, the Chargers are without Justin Jones, Kenneth Murray and Drue Tranquill. Those are three of the worst injuries to have in a game like this. If all goes well, they would, in theory, have those players for the playoffs.
The Chargers also have plenty of time to add a run-stuffing defensive tackle in the trade market. The Chargers have several compensation picks and can afford to trade a fourth-sixth round pick for someone like Akiem Hicks. Tom Telesco has to get it done.
Every game is different. Just because the Ravens beat the Chargers once does not mean that the Chargers cannot beat the Ravens. Heck, during the Chargers' last playoff run they literally lost an ugly game against the Ravens late in the season before going into Baltimore in the playoffs and getting revenge.
The Chargers are still a contender. Should we expect them to win a Super Bowl in the first year of the Staley-Herbert pairing? No. But they are more than good enough to make a deep run and this game does not change that.
Verdict: Overreaction