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Chargers Have Plenty at Stake in Final 2 Weeks

Dec 27, 2022 at 03:01 PM

Eric Smith

Senior Writer

The Bolts are 9-6 and going to the postseason with two regular-season games remaining.

Here are five takeaways from Chargers Head Coach Brandon Staley's Tuesday media session.

1. Plenty to play for

The Chargers have punched their ticket to the playoff dance as a Wild Card team. That much we know.

After that? There's still plenty that remains up in the air.

Entering Week 17, the Bolts could end up with either the Nos. 5, 6 or 7 seed. And their first-round opponent could be a half-dozen teams depending on how the final two games play out.

Chargers Head Coach Brandon Staley said the Bolts will take a "game-by-game" approach against the Rams and Broncos, noting that some players who are dealing with injuries could possibly be rested to ensure their availability for the postseason.

But Staley also mentioned that he wants the Chargers to be peaking at the right time — which is entering the postseason and not in Week 16 — meaning there is still plenty at stake in the coming weeks.

Staley gave a lengthy answer when asked what type of mindset he wants his team to establish between now and mid-January.

"I think our goal as a team is to treat every week like a playoff game, like the Super Bowl in terms of the approach. You treat it like it has a life of its own," Staley said. "The type of attention to detail, the type of energy, the level of stamina that the NFL requires, that's what we're hoping to build here and I think that we are continuing to do a better job of that. We're definitely not there yet.

"I think your mindset has got to be engineered that way because that's what the great, I think, teams do is they have that discipline in their approach, the consistency in their approach," Staley continued. "I think that is what the end of the season represents because I think that for every team it is a little bit different. There are still teams that are fighting to make the playoffs and then there are some teams who are in. What you are trying to do is play your best at the end.

"I think that is what in these last two games going into the playoffs is we want to create the type of confidence within our football team that we are playing our best or we feel like there is a vibe here where we can beat anybody because of how we are playing," Staley added. "I think that is something that is going to be a big mission for us over the next two weeks is to improve as a football team."

The Bolts and Rams will kick off Sunday at 1:25 p.m. from SoFi Stadium after that game was flexed out of Sunday Night Football. The Chargers are the home team in Week 17.

2. Injury updates on James, Bosa

Staley provided a few injury updates Tuesday afternoon.

Derwin James, Jr., was ejected from Monday night's game and immediately entered the blue medical tent.

Staley said after the game that he was in the concussion protocol, which is where he remains.

"He is in the protocol right now," Staley said. "As I mentioned after the game, I thought that he was in good spirits, but he is in the protocol. We're going to be day-to-day with that."

The only other injury to report from Week 16 was an ankle sprain for fullback Zander Horvath, but Staley said he wasn't sure about Horvath's practice availability for the upcoming week.

Finally, the waiting game continues with Joey Bosa.

"We're going to take that on a day-to-day basis," Staley said. "We will let you know when we open that window and when he is out there participating in practice."

The outside linebacker has been on Injured Reserve since Week 3 with a groin injury.

3. Van Noy making an impact

Kyle Van Noy, much like the Chargers defense, is on fire right now.

The veteran outside linebacker recorded a sack Monday night, marking the third straight game he's done so. That's the first time Van Noy has accomplished that in his career.

Staley on Tuesday said he's been impressed with Van Noy's work ethic in his ninth season.

"What I think has been awesome to see and where I think he has really improved this season is in his individual pass rush," Staley said. "He has always been a set-up guy and that's one of his famous, sort of vintage, traits. I think his individual pass rush has really improved.

"He has worked hard at it. I think him and [OLB] Khalil [Mack] teaming up and with him being with Bosa and those guys, just sharing how to rush and stuff like that, I think he has been really rushing the quarterback hard."

Van Noy's sack Monday night came midway through the fourth quarter and was one of seven total sacks on the night.

Let's breakdown the big play from Van Noy, who is wearing No. 8 at the bottom of the formation and is lined up against Colts right tackle Braden Smith.

Van Noy begins by stutter-stepping a bit before trying to get by Smith with speed around the edge.

But, as Staley described Tuesday, Van Noy's smarts came into play and he recognized where quarterback Nick Foles was at in the pocket.

"The worst place to be in the NFL rushing the passer is past the quarterback," Staley said. "You don't see Kyle high and these fly-bys that allow these quarterbacks to take off. He knows how to rush within the context of the rush plan."

Van Noy pivots back up the field once he realized Foles is trying to head up the field a bit. The quarterback was flustered and felt pressure on his backside from Mack, who had nearly driven rookie left tackle Bernhard Raimann into Foles' lap.

As a result, Van Noy pounces on Foles for a sack, one that featured a great effort from Van Noy and his teammates.

"It has meant everything to us," Staley said of Van Noy's impact of late. "Definitely one of his best games last night. Just kind of a vintage Kyle Van Noy game. Doing a lot of jobs at a high level, running the show.

"He's a guy that can really connect your defenses as an edge player, which is rare because he kind of thinks like a behind-the-ball linebacker. He thinks like a green dot," Staley said. "He thinks like a coach. You can kind of see that on the tape. There are a lot of things where he makes you smile as a coach because you know he is taking care of it."