INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — When the Chargers recovered Buffalo’s fumble on a punt return and punched it into the end zone four plays later to take a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter Saturday night, SoFi Stadium’s large contingent of Buffalo snowbirds fell silent — and the often-outnumbered home fans roared.
Giff Smith’s career as the Chargers’ interim head coach was off to an auspicious start in those heady moments. Although it ultimately didn’t last against a playoff-contending Bills team, the longtime assistant was proud of his turmoil-plagued team even after Buffalo rallied for a 24-22 victory on a last-minute field goal.
“I think the team responded to the message that the organization and the staff had,” Smith said. “There’s not moral victories in any of this, but they really achieved fighting for each other, and what that feels like.”
The injury-plagued Chargers (5-10) were competitive and occasionally impressive while playing eight days after head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco were fired late in Staley’s hugely disappointing third season.
Even while missing superstars Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen and Joey Bosa due to injury, the Bolts gave a major scare to a Buffalo team desperately fighting for a postseason berth and a shot at the AFC East title.
The Chargers were a double-digit home underdog for the first time in 25 years after losing their previous two games by a combined 87-28, but they were a handful of plays away from an upset win. Buffalo’s Tyler Bass hit a 29-yard field goal with 28 seconds to play to add one more heartbreaker to a season full of pain for the Bolts.
“We started out fast, which is great,” said Austin Ekeler, who had 65 yards rushing and 21 yards receiving. “That’s one step, but we’ve got to put a full game together. Unfortunately, we came up short, but we’re going to keep fighting.”
The Chargers couldn’t score another touchdown after quarterback Easton Stick’s 1-yard dive 1:11 into the second…
Source link : https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/chargers-start-strong-show-fight-060813046.html
Author : The Canadian Press
Publish date : 2023-12-24 06:08:13
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