COSTA MESA, Calif. — Less than 24 hours after a heartbreaking 31-30 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card Playoff game, Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Joey Bosa seemed to think little as he stood in his locker inside the team. institution, packing up his locker for the offseason.
The staff that officiated the playoff game. “I’m sick of those f—— people,” Bosa said.
His own conduct, including slamming his helmet to the ground, cost him two costly unsportsmanlike penalties. “I have to be more accountable for my actions,” Bosa said.
And does Bosa believe in coach Brandon Staley? “I do,” he said.
In their first playoff game since 2018 and just the second of Bosa’s career, the Chargers took a 27-0 lead only to see it slip away when the Jaguars scored 36 yards. field goal as time expired to end the third play. – The greatest comeback in NFL playoff history.
“We lost because we blew it in the second half. Simple enough,” Bosa said.
In his third game back from 12-game injured reserve, Bosa had just one tackle and zero pressures, both career-lows.
But, tied for a career high, he had three penalties, including two for unsportsmanlike conduct, for 21 yards.
His third penalty was his most costly as he slammed his helmet to the ground in frustration after Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed a nine-yard pass to Christian Kirk.
The penalty prompted Jaguars coach Doug Pederson to call for a two-point conversion on the two-and-one-yard line. The Jaguars converted a two-point play to close the score at 30-28 with 5:25 remaining.
“I’m sure I’ve already got some fines coming,” Bosa said, initially hesitant to express his thoughts when asked about the missed calls by the officials.
But then he dropped his voice.
“I really want to say some things. I have to be more accountable for my actions, obviously, but it’s a hectic game and I’m hurting out there, I’m playing half-footed, I’m getting it. dragging on the ground, whatever it is, might hurt me along with screwing up our team, and yeah, maybe some of them weren’t as blatant as I thought, but I don’t know. I think there just needs to be more accountability,” he said. probably going back to the locker room after the game like: Haha got that hole oh yeah got him 15 yards what a loser.
“I guarantee it, that’s what they’re talking about behind their backs. Whatever the power outage. I’m sick of those f—— people.”
Bosa also said he still feels “sick” about his actions, that they contributed to the lead explosion, and that he needs to be more accountable for his actions.
“It doesn’t mean I have to yell at them or say anything, but how fair is it, for me, who’s out there playing off my ass, and there’s a missed call and I say something, and he’ll bump into my face. — What kind of mature person is he in the position he is in? “Ah, what did you say to me? What did you say to me?” It seems he opposes me. “Oh, he said it, we went, got him,” whatever,” Bosa added. “Whatever it is.”
Bosa also expressed regret for hitting his helmet on the field as he approached the sideline. Staley picked the helmet off the ground and returned it to Bosa, only for the 27-year-old to knock it back to the ground.
Despite the season-ending loss, a game in which ESPN analytics gave the Bolts a 98 percent chance to win after taking a 27-0 lead with 4:25 left in the first quarter, Bosa said he supports Staley and the coaching staff.
“There are 100 different chances in that game that have nothing to do with the coaches, and if we execute the way we should, it’s 50-0 or something,” Bosa said. “Me and Staley, he got us to the playoffs against all odds. It’s been a tough season and a lot of us have been left out, myself included, I wish I could have helped more, but yeah, I get a little frustrated when there’s, “Oh, why did he call this, why did he do that?” :
“Because why did I hit my helmet on the floor when he picked it up for me and tried to calm me down and tidy me up and I grabbed it and threw it back on the ground. How is that his fault? I’m guilty, I mean there are a million examples.”
The Chargers entered the season as favorites with a deep playoff roster that included Bosa and Khalil Mack, All Pro safety Derwin James Jr., cornerback JC Jackson, quarterback Justin Herbert, wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams : and running back Austin Ekeler, who led the NFL with 18 touchdowns this season.
However, injuries quickly began to mount.
After Week 3, Bosa and left tackle Rashaun Slater were placed on injured reserve. Jackson joined them there after Week 7, followed by a host of defensive linemen. Allen and Williams were both dealing with nagging injuries that limited them to just four full games combined, and Herbert sat out a handful of games due to a broken rib cartilage he suffered in Week 2.
The Chargers, who finished 10-7 and second in the AFC West, clinched their first playoff berth in four years with a Week 16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
Bosa expressed his desire for the same group to return in 2023, but admitted that change has been the only constant in his seven-year professional career.
“Hopefully my boy Khalil will be with me … I just want one more chance in this group and obviously I know it’s not going to be everybody, but I really hope I’m here with these guys,” said Bosa. “I looked at Khalil (Saturday night) on the plane and said: But I’m proud of this team.”
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