Charger fans react prior to their team playing the visiting Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker, 11, is congratulated by teammate Josh Harris, 47, after making his fifth field goal of the game against the visiting Buffalo Bills during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, 3, runs down field during a special teams play against the Chargers during the first half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack gets a hold of Bills quarterback Josh Allen resulting in a loss during the second half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chargers interm head coach Giff Smith watches the final minutes from the sidelines during the Chargers 24-22 loss to the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chargers wide receiver Josh Palmer has a pass bounce away in the endzone during the first half as they play the visiting Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chargers running back Austin Ekeler is stopped by the Bills Terrel Bernard during the first half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chargers quarterback Easton Stick escapes the grasp of a Bils defender during the first half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A Chargers fan reacts during the second half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis hauls in second quarter touchdown pass as the Chargers Kenneth Murray defends during the second quarter at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis heads up field as the Chargers Derwin James gives chase during the second quarter at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Bills quarterback Josh Allen, right, celebrates with teammate James Cook, left after scoring on a short touchdown run to give the Bills a 14-10 second quarter lead over the Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Bills quarterback Josh Allen, right, celebrates with teammate James Cook, left after scoring on a short touchdown run to give the Bills a 14-10 second quarter lead over the Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Bills quarterback Josh Allen, right, escapes the pressure from Chargers linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu, 45, during the second half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chargers interm head coach Giff Smith, right, speaks with Bills head coach Sean McDermott following the Bills 24-22 win over the Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Bills players celebrate after sacking Chargers quarterback Easton Stick, kneeling during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack gets a hold of Bills quarterback Josh Allen resulting in a loss during the second half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack gets a hold of Bills quarterback Josh Allen resulting in a loss during the second half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chargers interm head coach Giff Smith, far right, watches from the sidelines during the first half as they play the visiting Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Bills quarterback Josh Allen, left, scores on a short touchdown run to give the Bills a 14-10 second quarter lead over the Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis heads up field as the Chargers Derwin James gives chase during the second quarter at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chargers running back Austin Ekeler is tackled by the Bills Jordan Poyer during the first half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chargers quarterback Easton Stick scores on a short touchdown run to give the Chargers a 10-0 lead in the second quarter against the visiting Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis, 13, celebrates with teammate Spencer Brown, 79 after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chargers quarterback Easton Stick scores on a short touchdown run to give the Chargers a 10-0 lead in the second quarter against the visiting Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Bills quarterback Josh Allen, left, scores on a short touchdown run to give the Bills a 14-10 second quarter lead over the Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chargers quarterback Easton Stick, right, celebrates with Nick Vannett, left, after scoring on a short touchdown run to give the Chargers a 10-0 lead in the second quarter against the visiting Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Los Angeles Chargers new interm head coach Giff Smith, center, interacts with player during pregame warmups prior to playing the visiting Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. Smith replaced former head coach Brandon Staley who was fired following the Raiders lopsided win over the Chargers last week. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Los Angeles Chargers new interm head coach Giff Smith interacts with player during pregame warmups prior to playing the visiting Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. Smith replaced former head coach Brandon Staley who was fired following the Raiders lopsided win over the Chargers last week. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Los Angeles Chargers new interm head coach Giff Smith greets Jalen Guyton during pregame warmups prior to playing the visiting Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. Smith replaced former head coach Brandon Staley who was fired following the Raiders lopsided win over the Chargers last week. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Los Angeles Chargers new interm head coach Giff Smith interacts with player during pregame warmups prior to playing the visiting Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. Smith replaced former head coach Brandon Staley who was fired following the Raiders lopsided win over the Chargers last week. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Los Angeles Chargers new interm head coach Giff Smith interacts with player during pregame warmups prior to playing the visiting Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. Smith replaced former head coach Brandon Staley who was fired following the Raiders lopsided win over the Chargers last week. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Los Angeles Chargers new interm head coach Giff Smith interacts with player during pregame warmups prior to playing the visiting Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. Smith replaced former head coach Brandon Staley who was fired following the Raiders lopsided win over the Chargers last week. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chargers quarterback Easton Stick scores on a short touchdown run to give the Chargers a 10-0 lead in the second quarter against the visiting Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Buffalo Bills in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Here’s what we learned, what we heard and what comes next after the Chargers were officially eliminated from the AFC playoff race with a surprisingly competitive 24-22 loss Saturday night to the hard-charging Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium, their sixth defeat in their past seven games:
SOMETHING DIFFERENT
The Chargers seemed remarkably different under interim coach Giff Smith than they were in the final days of Brandon Staley’s tenure. The tension that had enveloped the players and coaching staff in recent weeks lifted and the Chargers seemed to be having fun again while going toe-to-toe with the Bills.
Yes, they lost.
Again.
No, they weren’t pushovers.
Again.
The Chargers didn’t seem beaten down when things didn’t go their way Saturday, as they did a little more than one week earlier during a humiliating 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. They took a punch, figuratively, and then threw one right back at the Bills, who won on a late field goal.
Were the Chargers simply good enough to lose another close game?
Yes, that’s accurate.
It was, after all, their sixth loss this season by three points or less.
It’s also true that playing well but losing is a bad habit, one the Chargers must break in the seasons to come if they are to finally fulfill the expectations of so many. Dean Spanos, the Chargers’ owner, spoke of a new vision when announcing Staley’s dismissal on the morning of Dec. 15.
A new coach, whether it’s Smith or Jim Harbaugh or Bill Belichick or whoever the Chargers end up hiring, must find a way to instill a closer’s mentality in the team. They certainly haven’t had it during the past two seasons, with Saturday’s loss to Buffalo another example of folding late in the clutch.
“Going into the game, I truly felt like they would play hard, I really did,” Smith said. “My question going into the game was how would they react the first time Buffalo punches you in the face? We go up and then Buffalo scores and it’s 14-10. That could be where you crash and burn, and they rallied and they fought.
“That’s a step in the right direction.”
The Chargers need a great many steps in the right direction between now and the start of the 2024 season next September. It’s not too early to start preparing for next season and beyond, which was why Staley and longtime general manager Tom Telesco got their walking papers Dec. 15.
SOMETHING TO PROVE
The Chargers have two weeks and two games remaining in their season. They are 5-10. They have been eliminated from the playoff race. They could end up last in the AFC West for the first time since the 2019 season. They could roll over and play dead or they could roll up their sleeves and get to work.
Players like quarterback Easton Stick, wide receiver Keenan Allen, outside linebacker Joey Bosa, running back Austin Ekeler and center Brenden Jaimes have a lot to prove in the final days of the season. Jobs, paydays and reputations are at stake as the season comes to an end.
Stick, starting in place of an injured Justin Herbert the rest of the way, can show the Chargers and other teams what he could bring to the table after waiting in the wings for his chance to play after five seasons. Jaimes is in a similar position. Allen and Bosa want to return to the lineup from injuries.
Ekeler’s days with the Chargers could be nearing an end. He’s a free agent at season’s end and there’s no guarantee a new general manager will want to re-sign him. At present, there’s also no way of knowing what kind of interest he could draw from the other 31 teams around the NFL.
“This is our job,” Stick said. “It’s a blessing to do this every day and you understand it’s not going to last forever. Just trying to stay in the moment and be a part of this locker room and enjoy the guys as much as possible and go out there and play as well as we can play. The opportunity means the world to me, to get a chance to go out there and play with these guys.”
WHAT COMES NEXT?
The Chargers face the Broncos on Sunday in Denver. The Broncos still have an outside shot at rallying for a playoff berth after starting the season with a 1-5 record under new coach Sean Payton. The Chargers’ final game is either Jan. 6 or 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs at SoFi Stadium.
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