The Chargers got embarrassed in their Week 15 loss to the Raiders Thursday night, allowing 42 points in the first half and falling to Las Vegas 63–21. The loss had many within the NFL community criticizing head coach Brandon Staley after such an embarrassing defeat.
While some believe the result of the game is proof that the Chargers no longer believe in Staley, the players themselves disagree. Multiple Chargers players defended Staley after the game despite such a disheartening loss.
“You talk about believing in a coach? Of course we believe in him and he believes in us,” veteran linebacker Khalil Mack said, via NFL Network’s Bridget Condon. “There can’t be a disconnect when you love this s— the way that I do. We just have to perform a lot better.”
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Safety Derwin James agreed with Mack that the team still believes in Staley and that they as players have failed the coach more than he has failed them.
“There are a lot of times he makes a great call and we just mess it up as players,” James said. “It’s a business where we’re all in it together. It’s not going our way, there’s no need to point one finger. We’re all in this together and I feel like as players we can be better and I’m pretty sure the coaches feel like they can be better too.”
Staley is a defensive-minded head coach, but the defense is allowing 375.3 yards per game, which is worse than all but three teams in the NFL. He defended his job security after the game as he still believes he is the right man for this position.
Los Angeles is now 5–9 on the season and sits in last place in the AFC West, with their playoff chances all but over. In his three years as head coach, Staley now has a 24–24 regular season record and an 0–1 playoff record.
