The playoffs haven’t even started, and yet the Chargers 2022 Playoff run is already off to a bad start. Many are pointing the finger at Head Coach Brandon Staley for playing his stars all of the way through the third quarter. Why, you ask? According to The Athletic, Staley was quoted saying:
“We were trying to compete in the game, and we only have 48 guys on the team that are active for the game,” Staley explained. “And so we wanted to make sure that they went a good ways in this football game and competed at a high level, and then when we felt like it was right for them to get out of the game, then that was what we were going to do — slowly phase them out so we could get them ready for next week.”
Staley has already been on the hot seat, long before the Chargers 2022 playoff run was even a possibility. In fact, he’s been on a “warm” seat ever since his first season of “gutsy” calls – many of which came across as flat out… dumb. Some love him, others hate him. And frankly, based off of the statistics alone (19-15) win/loss record, respectively – he’s actually done a pretty good job. Sure, he may give me gray hairs sooner than I’d hoped, but the record doesn’t lie; and after all, the Bolts are headed to the playoffs in his second season; aren’t they?
That said, it’s hard to be mad at him… until he undoubtedly jeopardized the Chargers 2022 playoff run by playing the likes of Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, Joey Bosa, and Mike Williams – who, all of which have been injured throughout the year, by the way. Like his calls to go for it on fourth in his own territory, or pass up field goals that’d put points on the board – this, like the rest of his calls – was gutsy.
So, is Brandon Staley to blame?
Yes, of course he is. He put his players in a position that they didn’t need to be, and therefore, in a football-version of a “domino effect” (mixed with a little bit of Murphy’s law – a Chargers classic) – it was Brandon Staley’s decision that ultimately caused the injury to Mike Williams.
While it appears that Mike Williams will probably play, the injury was more of a metaphorical “DUMB-ASS” from the football gods, directed right at Brandon Staley. Imagine what could’ve happened… Oh, boy – after this season Chargers fans have experienced – anything, literally anything could’ve happened…
Did Brandon Staley ruin the Chargers 2022 Playoff Run?
That’ll be seen, with regard to Mike Williams’ effectiveness. But, to be honest, I don’t think Staley ruined anything. Again, as alluded to, Staley actually had a good point in why he played his players – and typically, one decision typically doesn’t ruin a playoff run. It can, it’s definitely not impossible – say, if he were to go for it on fourth (and not get the first) and the Chargers lose by one or two. That’s just simple logic.
And yet, so is unnecessarily playing injury-prone impact players. So, for the final verdict – let’s use this statement as a prompt; which I think is a fair one…
As the Head Coach of a team who has already clinched playoff-berth (and optimal seeding), the last week of the season is to put your team in the best position possible going into the playoffs.
Believe it or not, Staley did just that for the Chargers 2022 playoff run. And here’s why. Like most other sports, football is a game of momentum, and the Bolts were surely building it going into the playoffs – with a potential 5 game winning streak at hand with all cylinders firing off near full potential. It would’ve been great…
But, unfortunately, it didn’t. And football can be like that sometimes. Sometimes, you make a mistake – but often, you can fix that mistake; right that wrong. Luckily, it appears Mike Williams will be good to go, and even more luckily – the Chargers will face the Jaguars in the Wild Card round. With all due respect, even without Mike Williams, the Bolts would still have a great chance of winning.
So, as we approach the Chargers 2022 playoff run, there’s already one question in mind – will Staley be able to dodge a bullet? Or will this “mistake” prove costly? Only time will tell, but for now… you can’t look backward at a tournament that hasn’t even begun yet…
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