The Los Angeles Chargers have now lost their last three games, which includes the AFC Super Wildcard Playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars last season. But as far as head coach Brandon Staley is concerned, he doesn’t want to hear another word about that playoff loss and any thought of a carryover into their 0-2 start.
Brandon Staley Rips Reporter for Asking About Jaguars Game
In his postgame presser with the media after Sunday’s 27-24 overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans, a reporter asked the third-year head coach if the Jags loss has had a lingering mental effect on the team.
A normally relaxed Staley got defensive and blasted the theory that his team hasn’t gotten over the postseason loss that witnessed a 27-point Charger lead evaporate.
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“I’m not worried about the Jacksonville loss. The Jacksonville loss hasn’t carried onto the season whatsoever,” Staley began in his defense. “If you’ve seen our training camp, or seen the way we’ve played in the first two games, it hasn’t had an impact on our team whatsoever.”
Staley wasn’t through. He believes that the game and the slow start haven’t created a divided locker room.
“Our team is connected and our team has played its heart out in two games — and we’ve lost two tough games. It has nothing to do with the Jacksonville game,” Staley said. “If you ask anyone in our locker room, it has nothing to do with the Jacksonville game. That’s just the truth.”
Staley lost it when a reporter brought up the Jacksonville game💀 pic.twitter.com/lUK8X180qJ
— G (@3treblig) September 17, 2023
Staley Believes Jacksonville Game is Someone Else’s Storyline
Staley clearly would rather discuss what went right and wrong in Nashville over what occurred on January 14, 2023. The Chargers coach believes that the postseason loss is a story that isn’t for him and his team.
“It’s a convenient storyline for you, and for everybody else,” he said. “But it’s not the truth. We’ve lost two tough games. But the guys in that locker room, they are finishers and they have what it takes. And we’re excited to prove ourselves.”
But once asked what the mood is inside the Chargers’ locker room, Staley ended up asking the tough question.
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“We just lost a game in overtime. So how do you think the mood is?” Staley said before answering himself. “It’s tough, it’s tough. But it’s a tough group in there and there’s a lot of pride in that room.”
Still, despite the belief that the Chargers have never gotten over the botched lead in North Florida, Staley believes his group is a resilient bunch. Yet, it’s a Chargers group that he hopes can learn the lessons from the losses against the Miami Dolphins and Titans instead of the Jags.
“We’ve put a lot into this and we’ve got a good football team. So we’ve lost two games. We’ll have to bounce back, learn from our mistakes, and be ready,” Staley said.