It has not been a good season for Anthony Lynn. The Los Angeles Chargers (3-9) have lost seven games by one possession, including two in overtime. Lynn's decision-making and game management have frequently been called into question, especially after running the ball with the Chargers down 27-17 in the final minute of play against the Buffalo Bills in Week 12.
Do the Chargers need a change at head coach?
“I think so, and here’s why,” former Chargers Pro Bowl center and current analyst and podcast host Nick Hardwick said on After Hours with Amy Lawrence. “Everybody in that organization – players included, coaches included – understood that after that [Bills] game, Anthony Lynn was most definitely on the hot seat. And they go and they play at home against New England and they lay a massive egg.”
Indeed, the Chargers were shut out at home this past Sunday, losing to the Patriots 45-0. New England scored a pair of special teams touchdowns, handing the Chargers their worst loss in franchise history.
“I think what that says is the players weren’t fighting for Anthony Lynn,” Hardwick said. “I’ve been in situations like that with coaches on the hot seat, and if you really wanted your coach to be there, you would do everything in your power to prepare to win and go out and put out a gutsy performance – even if you weren’t that great of a football team. It didn’t look that way to me from the Chargers against the Patriots.”
The Chargers host the Falcons (4-8) this Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.