The Los Angeles Chargers secured an unimpressive 6-0 victory on Sunday over the New England Patriots in a weather-beaten clash. That's right. Six points. With Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler and Keenan Allen all on the same team, that's all the Chargers could muster.

Rather than ideal weather conditions or not, that is unacceptable for this Chargers team, especially facing a two-win Patriots team.

Chargers have to rely on field goals against Patriots

The Chargers therefore had to rely on their kicking game. Cameron Dicker's pair of 38-yard field goals and punter JK Scott's exceptional ability to pin the Patriots deep inside their own territory seven times salvaged a win for Los Angeles in a game where style points were notably absent.

“There weren’t going to be any style points today, Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said, acknowledging the unconventional nature of the win. “You have to do what it takes to win.” While the victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Chargers, it further highlighted some significant concerns for the team moving forward.

Chargers still struggle finding a run game

One glaring issue is the Chargers' struggling ground game, managing a mere 29 rushing yards in the Sunday's contest. Despite Herbert going 22-for-37 and throwing for 212 yards, connecting with eight different receivers for 22 receptions — including Allen, who had been struggling with injury — the team's inability to establish a running threat raises questions about offensive balance and diversity in their play-calling.

In now three out of the last four games, the Chargers have been under a 100 yards rushing in those games (98, 86, 29). In total, they have eight games this season in which they've been held to under a 100 yards.

The Chargers once again struggle to score after halftime

Austin Ekeler, Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen

The Chargers six points not only came off a pair of 38-yard field goals, they only came in the second quarter. That makes three games this season where the Chargers have been left scoreless in the second-half. This offense continues to be puzzling.

Plain and simple: the Chargers are not a NFL playoff team this year

The Chargers' victory may have come, but the narrow margin and offensive struggles against a team with a 2-10 record raise doubts about their consistency and ability to perform against stronger opponents, who are all coming in the last month of play. The lack of offensive firepower is a red flag that needs addressing as the team navigates the latter part of the season and aims for a playoff berth, although that seems far out of reach currently being the 12th seed.

The Chargers will have to face only one team with a winning record over their next five games, that being the Kansas City Chiefs. They have two games against a 6-6 Denver Broncos, home and away, who have come on over the last month, and another game with a likewise 6-6 Buffalo Bills at home. The Las Vegas Raiders, at 5-7, are the only team with a losing record, who they'll face on the road.

Even with the Chiefs struggling as of late and the Bills trying to find their offensive identity and scrounge for wins, these are teams that are much better than the Chargers. Even with Los Angeles facing a Patriots defense that had only given up 20 points in the last two games and weather that wasn't ideal, Sunday's game is just another eye-opener to how wildly inconsistent this team is week-to-week.

While the kicking game and defensive efforts played pivotal roles in securing the win, the Chargers must address their offensive concerns promptly. The upcoming weeks will test their mettle, and adjustments are necessary for the team to remain competitive and make a meaningful postseason push.