The Chargers have a 3-3 record after losing three of their past four games. They haven’t scored a second-half touchdown since their season-opening game. They are coming off a game in which they didn’t score a touchdown, period. Their top wide receivers and tight ends are hurting.
So, why are they a touchdown favorite over the New Orleans Saints for Sunday’s game at SoFi Stadium?
Could it be based on potential?
Could it be based on their superb defense?
Could it be based on the Saints’ five-game losing streak?
Could it be all of the above?
No question, the Chargers could be a more successful, more efficient offensive team than they have shown so far. They have given hints at how productive they could be, but so far there have only been flashes, brief indications of what they might become by the end of a season that promises so much.
The trouble is the Chargers have delivered so little.
The Chargers are averaging 17.7 points per game, tied for 25th in the 32-team NFL. They’re averaging 300 yards per game, also 25th in the league. They are averaging 116.3 yards rushing per game, tied for 18th. They are averaging 183.7 yards passing per game, 24th in the league.
“Everybody’s very frustrated,” Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said.
Injuries have played a key role in the Chargers’ struggles. After all, quarterback Justin Herbert is only now rounding into form after spraining his right ankle in the second half of their victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 2 and aggravating it during their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3.
Chargers tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt were each injured and couldn’t play in their loss to the two-time Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4, a game they lost by only 17-10, thanks to some excellent defensive play. Their makeshift offensive line couldn’t protect Herbert consistently.
Slater and Alt returned to the starting lineup after the Chargers’ bye week, but their top pass catchers began to suffer injuries. Quentin Johnston hurt his ankle in a victory over the Denver Broncos in Week 6 and he couldn’t play in Week 7, a loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Johnston and Derius Davis (hamstring) were listed as doubtful to play Sunday against the Saints. Wide receivers Ladd McConkey (hip) and DJ Chark (groin) were listed as questionable to play. Tight ends Will Dissly (shoulder) and Hayden Hurst (groin) also were said to be questionable.
Injuries aren’t an excuse for whatever happens or doesn’t happen Sunday.
But they certainly could be a reason for whatever happens or doesn’t happen.
“We want to score every drive, touchdowns,” Roman said. “Touchdowns are great, we love them. Field goals are good, we like them. Sometimes, a punt is good, too. I thought our guys did a great job the other night (against Arizona) of flipping the field, creating scoring drives. We had a lot of long drives.
“Obviously, we’ve got to score points.”
Herbert threw for a season-best 349 yards and didn’t have an interception.
He also didn’t throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season.
The Chargers also compiled 396 yards in total offense.
But they drove inside the Cardinals’ 20-yard line only once.
So, they settled for five field goals during a 17-15 loss to the Cardinals.
“You get 400 yards, you’re expecting 28 points,” Roman said. “Been in a few of those games before. It’s going to happen. You just don’t want to have it happen too often. But you can overreact to it. You’ve just got to look at it, analyze it and see where things went off the rails, where a drive got stopped or bogged down for one reason or another. That’s really the thing you’ve got to focus on.”
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Is this the week the Chargers finally flex their offensive muscles and break from their season-long funk? The Saints would seem like easy pickings, given the fact that they have given up the most yards per game in the NFL, an average of 394.9. Or will this be another frustrating week for the Chargers?
“We’ve just got to execute,” Herbert said. “We’ve got the right plays. We’ve got the right guys out there. That’s on us as an offense to go execute the plays we can go and run. It wasn’t our day (Monday), unfortunately, but that’s not going to stop us from watching the film, getting better from it and moving on.
“There’s a lot of things we can correct and clean up, but there’s lots to look forward to, as well.”