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Rams 2022 Opponent Breakdown: Los Angeles Chargers

Rams 2022 Opponent Breakdown: Los Angeles Chargers


2021

With new first-year head coach and former Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley installed as their new head coach, the Chargers set out to improve on a 7-9 finish in 2020.

The early returns were promising. Beginning with a season-opening 20-16 win over the Washington Commanders, they won four of their first six games for a 4-2 mark by the time they reached their Week 7 bye.

Across Weeks 8-11, the Chargers went 2-2, the wins and losses each decided by seven points or less. Across Weeks 12-17, they went 3-3. With a 9-7 record in Week 18, all they needed was to avoid a loss – meaning, win or tie – against the Raiders in order to keep the No. 7 seed in the AFC. In what ended up being one of the wildest games of the regular season, the Chargers fell to the Raiders 35-32 in overtime, eliminating them from the playoff picture.

If there was one silver lining to last season for the Chargers, it was the improved play statistically of quarterback Justin Herbert, who completed 65.9 percent of his passes (just under 66.6 percent as a rookie in 2020, but with nearly 80 more pass attempts) for 5,014 yards with 38 touchdowns (seven more than in 2020) against 15 interceptions (five more than 2020).

Changes

Of note, the Chargers fired special teams coordinator Derius Swinton II and assistant special teams coach Mayur Chaudhari in mid-January. Though the Chargers seemingly overcame early-season special teams struggles, it wasn’t enough for Staley to retain the men in charge of that unit. Former Vikings special teams coordiantor Ryan Ficken was hired as Swinton’s replacement, while Chaudhari was replaced by Chris Gould, who spent the previous five seasons as the Broncos’ assistant special teams coach.

Offensive line coach Frank Smith was hired by the Dolphins as their new offensive coordinator, and the Chargers replaced him by hiring Brendan Nugent, who spent last season coaching the Saints offensive line.

From a personnel standpoint, the Chargers spent much of the offseason…

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