The only possibility is Anthony Lynn was so surprised by the Los Angeles Chargers converting a fourth-and-27 in the final minute Sunday against the Buffalo Bills he was unprepared for what to do after it.
Here is Justin Herbert throwing a prayer and having it answered by Tyron Johnson. The play with a minute left and no timeouts covered 55 yards and put the Chargers at the Bills’ 2.
Tyron Johnson really came down with this 🤯 @_TBJXIII @Chargers
📺 #LACvsBUF on CBS pic.twitter.com/5cGsdxEzma
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) November 29, 2020
And this is what Lynn and the Chargers’ offensive braintrust cooked up for the rest of the drive, which culminated in a 27-17 loss and some stunning calls:
Rather than spiking the ball to stop the clock, they called a running play that saw Austin Ekeler gain a yard as time ticked away,
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1st & Goal at BUF 2
(0:24 – 4th) A.Ekeler up the middle to BUF 1 for 1 yard (Q.Jefferson; T.Edmunds).
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2nd & Goal at BUF 1
(0:08 – 4th) J.Herbert pass incomplete short left to M.Williams [Q.Jefferson]. PENALTY on BUF-Q.Jefferson, Roughing the Passer, 0 yards, enforced at BUF 1 – No Play.
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1st & Goal at BUF 1
(0:05 – 4th) (Shotgun) J.Herbert pass incomplete short left to M.Williams.
2nd & Goal at BUF 1
(0:03 – 4th) J.Herbert up the middle to BUF 1 for no gain (V.Butler).
At this point, the Chargers are 3-8 and one has to wonder when the time will run out on Lynn. Los Angeles is 8-19 in its last 27 games. By comparison, Adam Gase and his hapless Jets are 7-20 over the same frame.
