No, the Chargers are not still licking their wounds after last season’s epic playoff collapse.
That’s according to head coach Brandon Staley, who had a heated moment with the media on Sunday after the Chargers lost to the Titans in overtime, 27-24, dropping them to 0-2 to start the season.
When a reporter referenced the Chargers’ 31-30 wild-card loss to the Jaguars earlier this year, and if the sting has potentially carried over to the new season, Staley offered a fiery response.
“I’m not worried about the Jacksonville loss. The Jacksonville loss hasn’t carried on to this season whatsoever,” Staley said.
“If you’ve seen our training camp, or you’ve seen the way we’ve played in the first two games it hasn’t had an impact on our team whatsoever. Our team is connected, our team has played its heart out in two games and we’ve lost two tough games but it has nothing to do with the Jacksonville game.”
Staley, who is in his third season at the helm in Los Angeles, added “it’s a convenient storyline for you and for everybody else” and that “it’s not the truth.”
“The guys in that locker room, the men in that locker room, they are finishers and they have what it takes and we’re excited to prove ourselves,” he said.
The Chargers looked poised to overtake the Jaguars in January’s wild-card matchup when Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw four interceptions in the first half.
The Jaguars overcame a 27-0 deficit to knock off the Chargers and advance to the Divisional Round, where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
When Staley was asked about the vibe in the locker room after Sunday’s loss — which followed a Week 1 heartbreaker at the hands of the Dolphins — he offered a curt reply.
“We just lost a game in overtime, Jeff, so how do you think the mood is?” Staley said.
Jeff is believed to be Los Angeles Times reporter Jeff Miller.
The Chargers will visit the Vikings in Week 3, with both teams still seeking their first win of the season.
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