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It was a disastrous Week 16 for the Los Angeles Chargers after they absorbed a shocking loss to the Houston Texans. The Chargers have fallen out of the NFL Playoffs with the defeat and are now on the outside looking in.
It was a 41-29 setback with multiple turnovers on offense and an atrocious defensive performance for the Chargers. The Texans are in the midst of a rebuild, but they were able to rally and grab the W.
Here are three Chargers takeaways from their terrible Week 16 loss to the Texans.
3. Joey Bosa was missed
COVID-19 has been at the forefront of the NFL this season, with impact players constantly being ruled out. Bosa was out for the Chargers on Sunday and his absence was evident. The team lacked a pass rush against the Texans, only posting one sack and two quarterback hits.
Bosa is the Chargers' best defensive player as he wreaks havoc on quarterbacks and demands a ton of attention from offenses. This frees up other players on the defensive line to create pressure. Bosa has 9.5 sacks and a league-leading six forced fumbles. He would have had a significant impact against the Texans and could have helped stop their offense.
Bosa's return will be integral for the Chargers as they try to squeeze into the postseason.
2. Keenan Allen needs to be more productive
Allen is one of the top wide receivers in the league but failed to produce on Sunday. He only had four receptions for 35 yards and zero touchdowns. In big games, star players need to rise to the occasion and not have a bad game.
This season, Allen has 96 receptions for 1,042 yards and five touchdowns. In the last two games, he will need to step up to help Justin Herbert and the offense flourish. The Chargers had their number two receiver out in Mike Williams, which should have led to a higher usage of Allen. But this did not happen and the Chargers took a loss that may haunt them all offseason if they miss out on the NFL Playoffs.
1. Chargers need to improve their run defense
Perhaps the biggest weakness of the Chargers all season long has been their run defense. This trend continued against the Texans as they allowed 189 yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries. While they are a talented group, an atrocious run defense will be a problem, especially if they make it to the postseason.
The top priority in the offseason should be adding interior defensive run stuffers. A run-stopping middle linebacker could also be a good move as he could elevate their defense to contain opposing rushing attacks. Whether it's in the draft or in free agency, the Chargers need to go out and make some moves to improve for next season and beyond.
Now, Brandon Staley and his wards shift to their final two games, which are both a must-win. With the AFC in an extremely tight race, the Chargers can't afford to endure any more losses. Herbert will need to step up and play to his full potential. While they can't go out and acquire any more run stuffers, the run defense will need to be better in the final two games.
The Chargers will finish the season with the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders in a photo finish.
