The Los Angeles Chargers have had their fair share of struggles when it comes to finishing games.
Despite putting on spectacular performances, they often fall short when it matters most.
In their recent game against the Miami Dolphins, the Chargers had a chance to seal the victory on the final drive.
However, their offense failed to make progress and even lost a yard in five plays, which ultimately led to a game-sealing sack.
This inability to finish games has been a recurring issue for the Chargers over the years.
Last postseason, they suffered a crushing 30-point defeat against the Jacksonville Jaguars, serving as a prime example of their struggles.
When asked about the team’s inability to close out games, running back Austin Ekeler shared his thoughts.
“Inconsistency. It’s just straight-up inconsistency,” he responded. “And it’s not just the players, like when you look at the NFL, a lot of the players, yes, there’s outliers, but a lot of the players are very similar in talent, there’s not a huge gap. You might have a few outliers, and if your team has a few of these decent outlier players, then you have a chance to win games.
RB Austin Ekeler on Chargers inability to finish games: "It’s just straight-up inconsistency"https://t.co/EJx9ZAnYkC pic.twitter.com/f3VPbP7M7y
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) September 13, 2023
“If you have no studs on your team, superstars that can hold the rope and make plays consistently, it’s going to be hard for you to win. And that’s what we have salary caps, and that’s why we pay these players, and you know, people have the contracts that they have.
And for us, when we have our guys that are getting hurt that are being consistent for us, right, that plays a part into it. And we’ve had injuries over the past years, and you can’t blame everything on injuries. Our coaching hasn’t always been the best. Our play hasn’t always been the best. And when you have a combination of those, then guess what? You’re going to be inconsistent.”
The Chargers’ defense struggled to make a crucial stop against the Miami offense in Week 1.
They allowed Tyreek Hill to make big plays, contributing to their downfall. On the offensive side, while the rushing game excelled with an average of .34 rush EPA (Expected Points Added) – the highest in the NFL according to Next Gen Stats – the passing game under new coordinator Kellen Moore still has room for improvement.
Additionally, the offensive line failed to protect quarterback Justin Herbert in the final drive, resulting in two sacks.
Ekeler, who is currently dealing with an ankle injury, emphasized that injuries should not be used as an excuse.
Every team faces injuries, and the Chargers need to focus on building chemistry with their new offensive coordinator and consistently improving week by week.
In their upcoming game against the Tennessee Titans, the Chargers aim to find the much-needed consistency that has eluded them and prove that they can finish strong.
