Thanks to their stupendous good luck at quarterback, all’s not lost for the Shamrock Chargers (2-4) despite consecutive defeats and a poor start.
Just as the Spanoses themselves did little to merit tenancy in the $5.5-billion Kroenke Dome, they continue to freeload off astounding good fortune at the NFL’s most important position.
It’s been going on since 2006, the Chargers employing a good quarterback who’s available for every single start; meantime, many opponents have to try to squeeze decent value out of a suspect QB or counter injuries to a capable starter.
Three games ago, for example, the Chargers happily saw the Raiders forcefeed rookie Aidan O’Connell his first NFL start.
Revived, Brandon Staley’s defense turned two of the rookie’s turnovers into touchdowns, leading to the victory.
Raise your hand if you know who’ll start Sunday night for the Bears (2-5) in the Kroenke Dome.
It’ll likely be either Tyson Bagent, an undrafted rookie out of Shepherd University; or Justin Fields, an uneven second-year player whose dislocated right thumb makes him doubtful this week, per Bears coach Matt Eberflus.
The following week, Staley’s D likely will face Zach Wilson in a Monday night road contest against the Jets. The athletic but erratic former BYU star has 23 career interceptions against 19 touchdown passes.
Wilson was taken second overall from a 2021 draft class less admired than those which handed the Chargers either a Philip Rivers or a Justin Herbert.
The Jets benched Wilson a few times last year. Raising the white flag higher, they traded premium draft picks and ceded large chunks of salary cap space for Aaron Rodgers last offseason, only to see the 39-year–old blow out an Achilles in this season’s fourth snap.
At storied Lambeau Field in three weeks, it’ll likely be raw Jordan Love leading the Packers (2-4) against the Chargers.
Love’s completion rate of 57.5 percent and seven interceptions in six starts this year may represent another opportunity for Staley.
The Chargers lucked into Rivers by losing enough games in 2003 to receive the first draft pick in the same bountiful year that Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning entered the draft.
Helping them to Herbert was an assist from Daniel “Call me Mister” Snyder, the since-deposed owner of the Washington franchise.
Snyder’s infatuation with QB Dwayne Haskins argued against his football men investing the No. 2 pick in a quarterback.
Tua Tagovailoa or Herbert, partly as a result, were available to Spanos and Telesco at No. 6.
It remains to be seen what Herbert will become. He’s learning a new offense once again. His struggles this year with touch throws, finding his second or third options and mounting late comebacks doesn’t change that, across his three-and-half seasons, he’s provided a consistent edge in aptitude and durability.
He’s the only franchise QB other than Bills star Josh Allen to be available to his team for every start since the start of 2020. At 25 and nearly eight months, he has started 41 games more than Rivers had at the same age.
Herbert remains a financial bargain, too.
With compensation standing just 20th among QBs this year despite the massive contract he signed this summer, he’s enabled the front office to upgrade talent around him.
So with a virtuous QB cycle that tilts the odds their way, not only during the season but in every offseason, the Chargers enjoy enviable opportunities.
But under Staley, their struggles in exploiting their good luck seem to have grown. Where his predecessors Anthony Lynn and Mike McCoy each won a playoff game before their third season — as road underdogs, no less, and despite the NFL having not added the third wild card — the third-year coach is still seeking his first playoff victory.
Sounding Off
- Mooshing the football on short-yardage downs, the Eagles have popularized rugby as no rugby team has in the United States. Philly’s Tush Push, for now, appears close to unstoppable. The irony is that when coach Nick Sirianni was an offensive assistant coach in San Diego, the Chargers had removed the QB sneak from the playbook, said former C Rich Ohrnberger.
- Derwin James looking passive as he did for much of Sunday’s game at Arrowhead Stadium, was unthinkable prospect in the All-Pro’s career. Blame it on James’ recent spate of personal fouls and Staley’s soft chess tactics.
- Injuries aren’t why the Chargers are 2-4, despite predictable spinning by NFL media partners. They held a clear health edge in the opening loss to the Dolphins. The Titans were slightly worse off in their Week 2 upset of the Chargers. Jimmy Garoppolo’s concussion led to O’Connell starting against them. A health draw prevailed in Week 6, when the Cowboys beat them. Though the Chiefs held the overall health edge Sunday, Staley’s D enjoyed excellent Week 7 health while allowing the Chiefs 11.5 yards per play and 24 points in the first half.
