After a strong season, the Los Angeles Chargers squander a comfortable lead in the playoffs and fail. Head coach Brandon Staley’s behaviour hastens his own dismissal – a commentary.

It’s a popular stylistic device in journalism: once a game, tournament or season is complete, winners and losers are crowned.

In the NFL playoffs, just two games have been played so far, yet the biggest loser of the postseason has already been determined. Brandon Staley is the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.

The coach who in 2021 was considered one of the hottest coaching commodities. In his first season as defensive coordinator, he had made the Los Angeles Rams the No. 1 defence. As a result, he was – unsurprisingly in the fast-paced NFL – highly coveted.

The Chargers secured his services, and in 2022 they finally made the playoffs.

Chargers fail to make the play-offs

But Staley couldn’t stay there for long. Right in the first round, the Chargers were eliminated in their duel with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Head Coach Staley was anything but innocent.

On the last day of the regular season he already drew the incomprehension and the anger of the fans when he sent all important starters on the field against the Broncos.

As a reminder, Denver has been out of postseason contention for weeks and the Chargers had already secured their ticket to the playoffs. They were also already assured of the No. 5 seed in the AFC. Actually the perfect conditions to give the top performers a break.

Staley let starters play unnecessarily

But Staley didn’t and was bitterly punished. Wide receiver Mike Williams suffered a back injury and had to be carted off the field, and linebacker Kenneth Murray and defensive end Joey Bosa did not escape unscathed.

“Why the hell are our starters on the field,” one supporter vented his anger on Twitter. Quite rightly!

It came as it had to: Receiver Williams was not fit in time for the all-important playoff game against the Jags, his injury from the Broncos game forced him to miss the game. A big disadvantage for the Chargers – an even bigger low blow for Coach Staley.

If the Chargers had made it to the Divisional Round, the unnecessary use of the top performer would probably have been chalked up to an unfortunate coaching decision with no consequences – but that won’t be the case.

Dismissal not ruled out

L.A. already had a 27-0 lead against the Jaguars, but it still wasn’t enough for a win.

The Chargers looked like they had changed after the half-time break, conceded one touchdown after the other and in the end lost most unhappily with 30:31. Prevent the downfall? No, Staley did not succeed.

Criticism of the Chargers’ head coach has been around for a while – and it will continue to grow in the coming days. In just one and a half weeks, the 40-year-old has thrown away what should have been a strong season for the Chargers, turned countless fans against him and given his critics plenty of fodder.

In the NFL, head coaches have already been fired for much less.