INGLEWOOD — The good news for the Chargers is they get back on the field Thursday.
The bad news for the Chargers is they get back on the field Thursday.
No question, there was a great deal to unpack after their 38-24 loss Sunday to the Indianapolis Colts at SoFi Stadium, starting with a defense that gave up far too many big plays on the ground and through the air to satisfy anyone in a unit that’s suddenly under siege.
Can what’s hindering the Chargers’ defense be fixed in only a matter of days?
Or more to the point, can it be fixed at all?
“Absolutely, no way around it,” Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack said. “You play like (expletive), you’ve got to bounce back. We’ve got an early game on Thursday, and so we’ve got to bounce back and get ready for the next game. Can’t focus on this for too long. We’ve definitely got to look at it and get it corrected and get ready for the next one.”
The Chargers have been defenseless in their past three games, losing two of three. Giving up 38 points to the Colts wasn’t exactly a shocker since Indianapolis went into the game with the NFL’s top-scoring offense, averaging 32.3 points per game during their first six games of the season.
But it came on the heels of the 27 points the Chargers gave up in a victory over the Miami Dolphins in Week 6 and the same number of points they allowed in a loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 5. The Chargers have been torched on the ground in each of the past three games, too.
“It wasn’t our best day,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said, acknowledging the obvious. “But do I have confidence in my team? Yes. Do I believe they’re fighting? Yeah. That’s all you can really ask for as a coach. If they’re giving everything they have no matter the circumstances, no matter if they’re down 17 or 21 (points), keep battling, keep fighting, believe, and get ready for Thursday night.”
The Chargers (4-3) welcome the Minnesota Vikings to SoFi for “Thursday Night Football.” The Vikings (3-3) lost Sunday to the Philadelphia Eagles.
“It’s always great when you can get back on the field after a game like this because you want to forget it as fast as you can,” said Mack, who returned from a four-game stint on injured reserve because of a dislocated left elbow. “So, having a Thursday game is always beneficial. You want to get back out there and show what you’re really capable of.”
EXTRA POINTS
Wide receiver Keenan Allen caught a team-leading 11 passes for 119 yards and one touchdown. Overall, he has 948 catches during his 12-year career with the Chargers (two stints), leaving him seven receptions shy of Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates’ franchise record of 955. …
Oronde Gadsden set a career high with 164 yards receiving, the most by a rookie tight end since Mark Bavaro of the New York Giants had 176 yards in an Oct. 13, 1985, game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Gadsden tied his career best with seven catches, including his first touchdown in the NFL.