Following the Chargers’ 27-24 overtime loss to the Titans, Chargers coach Brandon Staley’s frustrations boiled over during a heated exchange with a reporter.
Staley went off on the reporter who asked about the Chargers’ 0-2 start being a potential lingering effect from last season’s wildcard round exit where the Chargers fell to the Jaguars, 31-30, after blowing a 27-0 lead.
Here’s the clip:
“I’m not worried about the Jacksonville loss,” Staley said. “The Jacksonville loss hasn’t carried on to this season whatsoever. If you’ve seen our training camp, or you’ve seen the way we’ve played in the first two games it hasn’t had an impact on our team whatsoever. Our team is connected, our team has played its heart out the last two games and we’ve lost two tough games but it has nothing to do with the Jacksonville game. And that’s just the truth.”
“It’s a convenient storyline for you and for everybody else, 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.”Â
Staley’s rant continued after a follow-up question about the confidence in the locker room following the loss, which, again, prompted a heated response from Staley:
“We just lost a game in overtime, Jeff, how do you think the mood is? How do you think it is?” said Staley. “It’s tough, it’s a tough group in there, there’s a lot of pride in that room, O.K.? And we put a lot into this, and we have a good football team.”
With Week 2 in the books, the Chargers’ next opportunity to right the ship will come next Sunday on the road against the Vikings, a game that could potentially see the return of star running back Austin Ekeler (knee).
