The Los Angeles Chargers hosted their in-state rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, on Sunday. The teams had a fierce battle, but it was eventually the 49ers that came out on top. The 49ers beat the Chargers 15-10. Both teams abstained from playing most of their starters, with a few exceptions on each side. Instead, fans got to see their interesting new prospects put their talents on display. These are the Chargers’ takeawys from preseason week 2.
The Chargers started off hot, taking a 10-2 lead with 57 seconds left in the first half. Easton Stick shone, throwing for 10 completions on 14 attempts for 85 yards and a touchdown. He also was the Chargers’ leading rusher, adding 15 yards on the ground on three attempts. Stick ended his game with a passer rating of 110.7, a respectable rating. Until he subbed out of the game, it was looking like the Chargers would destroy the 49ers. The Chargers defense was bullying Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance, nabbing an interception from each of them and holding them to two points through most of the first half.
However, after that, the 49ers shook off their slow start and dominated the rest of the game. Trey Lance led a 75-yard drive down the field en route to a touchdown pass in 45 seconds before the end of the half. While Lance played well on this drive, showing confidence and poise in the pocket, the drive couldn’t have been successful without poor play by the Chargers defense. Penalties and mistakes enabled Lance and Co. to decimate the Chargers defense.
The second half was essentailly more of the same, with the 49ers being the only team actually making any progress on the field. Chase Daniel played terribly, completing 14 passes on 21 attempts for 60 yards and an interception. Keep in mind that Stick completed four less attempts, yet threw for 25 more yards. Daniel’s passer rating came out to a 50.3, which is expected for such a performance. Stick proved that he could possibly be more fitting for a backup role behind Justin Herbert, not Daniel.
Losing this game may actually have been a postive thing for the Chargers. While fans and the team alike would prefer a win, having a poor performance could be used as motivation in practice. There were some things that went well, but the majority of the Chargers’ play was abysmal. This will prove to be the first major test for head coach Brandon Staley. Staley must make sure that the team’s morale doesn’t drop too far. Sure, this could just be an overreaction, but rebounding from this loss will be a challenge for Staley, as well as rebuilding the confidence of his young players. These were the Chargers’ takeaways from preseason week 2.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.