Hope is Officially a Non-Factor: Chargers Week 13 Review
The San Diego Chargers faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week at home adding another loss to a disappointing 5-6 record, falling to 5-7. The final score was 28-21.
December 5, 2016
The football climate in San Diego right now is poor: scattered showers with more severe thunderstorms expected later. Any hope that might have remained prior to week 13 in the hearts of Charger fans has been statistically nullified. NFL analysts declared that the Chargers would have to win their remaining five games going into last Sunday in order to even have a slight chance at obtaining a playoff spot. That accomplishment would require a clutch season-finishing performance from the Bolts, and for all of those who aren’t aware, “clutch” is not in San Diego’s repertoire. As of yesterday, the Chargers season is more or less over. Here’s how the 2016-2017 ended.
As always, the first half showed positivity. The Bolts came out firing with an impressive 75-yard drive ended by a 35-yard Melvin Ingram catch, run, and athletic extension at the goal-line. The Bucs, led by second year quarterback Jameis Winston, responded with a late first quarter Doug Martin touchdown. Nonetheless, the Chargers managed to shut out Tampa Bay in the second quarter and add another seven to the board on a short Melvin Gordon run, making his season total 10 touchdowns: just a bit better than zero touchdowns in his rookie year.
With their traditional lead coming out of halftime, it was almost time for the Bolts to begin their losing process, but first the third quarter. The Buccaneers had the momentum to start, tallying an Aguayo field goal and a 15-yard defensive touchdown off of a typical Philip Rivers interception. Despite losing the lead, San Diego still mustered out another seven-point score at the end of the quarter on a deep route, 40-yard catch from the former bench player, Tyrell Williams. To no one’s surprise though, the fourth quarter was complete Charger degradation. Their 21-17 advantage wouldn’t hold. Tampa Bay produced 11 quick points within six minutes of the start of the quarter. Backed by a strong late-game defense, the Bucs never looked back, holding that 28-21 score all the way till the end.
In all fairness to the Chargers, a normally below-average Tampa Bay team was red-hot coming into Qualcomm yesterday with a three-game winning streak behind them. But then again, there weren’t really any excuses for the Bolts as the Buccaneers have the most players on the injury reserve in the entire league. Additionally, this game displayed the usual extensive list of Charger bad habits that obviously haven’t been addressed. There is going to be a lot of pressure on head coach Mike McCoy in the coming weeks and offseason to heal this team’s wounds and fix its losing culture, especially with a rapidly developing AFC West Division. All San Diego fans can do is wait to see what happens just as always.
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