5 stats that prove the Chargers made a mistake bringing back Brandon Staley

It was supposed to be different with new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. People would finally take Brandon Staley’s Los Angeles Chargers seriously, Justin Herbert would push the ball downfield more, and a talented roster would finally come together to play like a legit Super Bowl contender.

Clearly, anyone who bought into this hype has never heard of the Chargers’ evergreen approach to professional football.

We are two weeks into the 2023 NFL season, the Chargers have scored 50 points, Herbert looks like he’s still one of the league’s best quarterbacks, and they’re 0-2 after losing 27-24 to the Tennessee Titans. Womp womp. After last year’s playoff collapse to the Jacksonville Jaguars, if Staley’s seat wasn’t already burning, it’s white-hot now.

Let’s dive into a few alarming stats about the Chargers’ early-season disappointment to show they probably made a mistake bringing Staley back.

1

A game of dominance everywhere but the final score

-Justin Herbert threw for over 300 yards for 2 TDs, 0 INTs
-The defense sacked Ryan Tannehill 5 times
-Derrick Henry didn’t break 100 yards rushing

And the Chargers still lose.

— Jarrett Bailey (@JBaileyNFL) September 17, 2023

Imagine watching your quarterback throw for 300 yards, your defense getting five sacks, the opposing star running back didn’t notch 100 yards, and you STILL lose. Classic Chargers-ing.

2

Letting the mediocre Titans get going

The Chargers defense allowed the Titans to score 27 points. It's the first time since Week 11 of 2022 that Tennessee scored more than 22. In that time, the Titans averaged 15 points per game.

Defensive mastermind. pic.twitter.com/oUju6ncpud

— Jason Reed (@EatYourReedies) September 17, 2023

You can’t surrender 27 points to 2023 Ryan Tannehill and say everything’s just OK.

3

A perfect offense isn't perfect enough

The Chargers are the 33rd team in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) with 50+ points and 0 turnovers through 2 games

They are the only team to start 0-2

— Doug Clawson (@doug_clawson) September 17, 2023

I have never seen a stat that embodies the Chargers more. The Los Angeles Chargers: do everything the right way and still lose in historic fashion. Put that on a shirt.

4

Literally a mathematical anomaly

Today on Fun Chargers Stats:

Since 2010: teams with 275+ passing yards and no turnovers are 382-96-2. That's a win percentage of 80%.

With the loss to the Titans today, the Chargers are one of the 96.

— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) September 17, 2023

Almost 500 football games, and the Chargers manage to be part of the 20 percent of high-performing teams that step on rakes and still lose.

5

Somehow, an unprecedented 0-2 start for a cursed franchise

The Chargers fall to 0-2 for the first time in 6 years.

Same thing for the Bears.

— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) September 17, 2023

Being associated with the currently abysmal Bears is the last thing anyone should want right now. I will never be surprised by the depths the Chargers can reach.