The Buccaneers outmatched the Chargers on Sunday, with the Bolts falling to 8-6 after losing by 23 points.
Both teams hit the ground running on Sunday. The Buccaneers got down the field quickly, with Baker airing it out to a wide-open McMillan to get on the board first. The Chargers answered back with a touchdown of their own, and Ladd McConkey was the one bringing it in. Each team scored a field goal, but Tarheeb Still provided the spark for the Bolts with an interception off of Baker Mayfield.
The rookie picked up his fourth in the second quarter. The Chargers offense capitalized on the stop with Quentin Johnston bringing in the touchdown, giving LA a 17-10 lead. The Bolts’ defense stepped up again, with Elijah Molden reeling in the fumble from Rachaad White. However, the Chargers couldn’t capitalize on this as the Buccaneers’ defense forced a three-and-out.
The Chargers’ offense reflected their last drive of the first half. They punted on their first two drives, then Justin Herbert threw his second interception of the year, this one to Jamel Dean. With the game on the line after that, they couldn’t get it done on fourth down two times in a row. This was a much different story for the Buccaneers’ offense.
Mike Evans started it with a 57-yard touchdown early in the third quarter. From here, things went South. Their next drive resulted in a field goal, but they capitalized on the interception with another Mike Evans touchdown. Rachaad White got in on the action with a trip to the end zone of his own, extending their lead to 20 points. The Buccs completed their 40-point outing with a field goal before the game was effectively over.
The story of Sunday how both teams ran the ball. Tampa Bay ran for 222 yards with former Oregon Duck Bucky Irving leading the way with 117. The Chargers ran for 32 yards. Jim Harbaugh likes to win football games in the trenches. The Bolts did the furthest thing from winning in the trenches. There’s no way for a team built to win in the running game if they are getting demolished in the trenches. That’s the exact evidence for why the Chargers aren’t yet at the point Jim Harbaugh wants them to be at.
Harbaugh will never change his coaching to prioritize deep balls and things of that nature. He will further reconstruct this roster to improve the interior offensive and defensive lines. Of course, they can’t do that during this season, and it will be interesting to see how Harbaugh can help fix his team’s weaknesses before the postseason.
The most glaring issue that this game confirmed is that the Chargers need more production from the offense in the second half. This has been the story of too many games. The offense looks great (or even just serviceable) at first, helping them hold a slight lead heading into halftime. In the second half, however, they can’t gain yards to save their lives. When the offense revolves around the run game, it is hard to function when the star running back is out.
Without JK Dobbins, this team simply can’t score at the same clip they used to be able to. Add one less aspect of the passing game with TE Will Dissly out, and Justin Herbert is only looking at Ladd McConkey every play. The second defenses stop the player who is getting hot, the offense can’t get anything going.
This game moves the Chargers down to the seventh seed in the AFC with the Broncos’ big win against the Colts. This would have them go against the Bills in Buffalo if the postseason started today. No one wants to travel to Buffalo in January, so next week’s matchup against the Broncos becomes even more important. One more win should cement their spot in the postseason, but the seeding is what matters more than anything. A California team’s worst nightmare is playing in Buffalo in the winter, and it is not how the Chargers would prefer their biggest playoff game in years to go. Now, the Bolts will prepare for their Thursday Night Football game against the Broncos in what has the makings to be an instant classic.