Ahead of their wild card matchup against the Patriots, several people have come out and stated their thoughts on the current state of the Los Angeles Chargers. Perhaps the most prominent…and most telling has come from former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
The eight time Super Bowl champion head coach went on to the Sirius XM Podcast “Let’s Go!” hosted by Jim Gray to share his initial thoughts on the game, and why he believed that the Chargers could be in for a world of trouble.
“What’s the quarterback situation with Herbert? Broken hand and all, that’s definitely been a factor. They’ve had some injuries on the offensive line,” Belichick said, via Mike Reiss of ESPN on X. “If the Chargers have to play from behind, and pass block and try to protect and throw the ball 35, 40 times, I think they’re going to be in a lot of trouble. If they can play from ahead, get control of the game, make it a tight game; they certainly have the defense — and if they have enough of a running game … I think they would certainly have a chance.”
Belichick Highlights the Chargers’ Biggest Vulnerability
This comes amidst a season of hardships for the Chargers as they have been ravaged by a boatload of injuries. Both their stalwart tackles went down with season-ending injuries, Justin Herbert has been dealing with a hand injury seemingly for half the season now, and Omarion Hampton, the rookie running back, has seemingly been in and out of the injury report every week since his ankle injury.
Therefore, it seems as if Belichick is pointing out the starkly obvious. The Chargers may not have the personnel required to handle one of the league’s best defenses. After all, the Patriot’s defensive unit ranks eight in total defense, only allowing a total of 295.2 yards per game.
It’s also important to note however, that Justin Herbert did get a bit of rest in Week 18, as Harbaugh decided to rest all of his major starters ahead of going on the road. Belichick’s comments and the true status of Herbert’s hand could end up being the deciding factors in this matchup.
Can the Chargers Protect Herbert When It Matters Most?
Consider also that since the injury, Herbert has been sacked 16 times. Throughout the course of the season, only the Raiders have given up more sacks. To put that in perspective, the Raiders will be picking No. 1 in this year’s draft.
It all feels like it’s going to come crashing down for the Chargers in the playoffs. As much as there seems to be positivity surrounding this defense, chances are they may have to be the difference should the offense continue to struggle protecting Herbert. One silver lining is that Herbert has been averaging 7.9 yard per attempt since the injury, throwing five touchdowns against three interceptions.
On the other hand, if a Hall of Fame coach is warning you about one of the best defensive units in the league? Chances are you may want to pay attention.
Bill Belichick Shares Insight On Chargers Ahead of Wild Card Matchup