Head Coach Anthony Lynn never imagined his team entering Week 4 with an 0-3 record.
Yet after three straight losses in which the game was ultimately decided in the final minutes, that's exactly where the Los Angeles Chargers stand with the Philadelphia Eagles coming to town.
"We did not envision being 0-3 at this time of the season," Lynn said as he addressed reporters Monday at Hoag Performance Center. But this is where we are. (There are) peaks and valleys in life. We talked about that this morning. It's how we respond when we're in this situation. I believe I know how we're going to respond. It would be a shame to play those three games that we had a chance to win, and not learn or take anything from it. If we continue to improve, and work the way we're working, it's going to turn. I really believe that. It's going to turn."
It's clear the Bolts are at an early crossroads.
Sunday's game against the Eagles marks the quarter pole of the 2017 campaign. There is plenty of football left to be played, and time to turn things around, but they must do so in a hurry. Still, Lynn knows there are no easy answers nor any shortcuts.
"There's no magic potion," Lynn said matter-of-factly. "It (takes) hard work…My heart's not broken yet. I've still got a lot of fight left in me."
The head coach then pointed out a number of areas the team must improve and change.
One of those was getting Hunter Henry involved.
After being held without a target Week 1, Henry caught all seven passes thrown his way against the Miami Dolphins for 80 yards. Unfortunately, the tight end failed to see an official target against the Chiefs. There were some throws batted down at the line of scrimmage, and plays called meant for him in which Philip Rivers was under duress.
Still, Lynn said the team must find ways to get the tight end the ball.
"We've got to get him involved. We talked about that. Earlier in the games, make sure he gets his touches. He's too good of a player."
Meanwhile, the Bolts' defense has gotten better each week, and is fresh off a game in which they held the league's second-leading scoring offense in check. It features the NFL's leading tackler in Jatavis Brown (36) as well as the leading sack king in Melvin Ingram (5.5).
However, the Chargers also have failed to force turnovers on defense the last two weeks. Lynn isn't concerned about the lack of turnovers yet, but stressed the importance of getting those takeaways.
"We emphasize turnovers all the time," the head coach said. "We may have led the preseason in turnovers. (We) got a couple that first game of the season. Usually when they come, they come in bunches. So the turnovers, they will come because we emphasize it and we work at it."
On the flip side, the team must protect the rock better moving forward. Not only that, but the passing attack and ground game need to be more consistent. Lynn has seen improvement as the team begins to take on an identity.
"I don't think we're playing the way I want them to play because we're 0-3. But I believe that identity is starting to come around. The running game picked up a little bit last week. I would love to commit to it for four quarters, but when we get behind, we have to throw the ball to catch up. The passing game has been efficient up until yesterday. We just haven't done it for four quarters."
