Worth the risk? How Brandon Staley and the Chargers fared on fourth down
LA TimesChargers coach Brandon Staley yells instructions after a fumble during a win over the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 10 at SoFi Stadium. Not surprisingly, both occasions were the result of Staley’s decisions failing in overtime losses in front of national television audiences when the Chargers were playing the only NFL game happening at the time. “I think we’ve been transparent about our process and owning the mistakes if they happen.” After the Chargers ended with a 9-8 record, here’s a closer look at fourth-and-Staley, just one of the themes that emerged during his rookie season as a head coach: The Chargers’ offense started the season by converting its first seven fourth-down tries and finished by converting eight of its final nine. “A lot of the decisions that are being second-guessed,” Staley said, “some of those same decisions gave us a huge opportunity to be in the hunt.” The 22 conversions helped extend drives that produced 11 touchdowns and three field goals for 86 points. “But I feel like for my first year as an NFL head coach, I wouldn’t change a lot.” Anyone expecting Staley to re-evaluate his fourth-down approach in 2022 likely will be disappointed.