Brandon Staley makes best argument yet for Chargers to hire Sean Payton

Brandon Staley’s handling of personnel in the Chargers regular-season finale may have given LA reason enough to let him go and pursue Sean Payton.

Does Brandon Staley want to win a playoff game? Does he want to keep his job?

If the answer to either of those questions is yes, then Staley did a bad job of showing it on Sunday as the Chargers took on the Broncos in a meaningless game.

Staley decided to give his most important first-teamers run for more than three quarters and he paid the price with key playmakers like Mike Williams, Joey Bosa and others suffering injuries.

Williams, the star wide receiver, had to be carted off the field.

Chargers experiment going great so far:

– They’re losing
– Ekeler took a huge hit from Jewell
– Mike Williams carted off
– Kenneth Murray questionable to return
– Joey Bosa left the game earlier

Great work by Brandon Staley here with the playoffs next week

— Sayre Bedinger (@SayreBedinger) January 8, 2023

Staley played with fire regarding his quarterback, Justin Herbert, as well. The QB played well into the fourth quarter, taking hits that he shouldn’t have needed to take in a meaningless game.

Justin Herbert, in for his seventh offensive drive, takes a big shot to the midsection. Roughing the passer.

— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) January 8, 2023

Brandon Staley gave Chargers incentive to go after Sean Payton

The head coach took a beating on Twitter.

Justin Herbert is starting the second half. This is a fireable offense.

— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) January 8, 2023

Good thing Brandon Stayley got Mike Williams hurt playing his starters so his team could keep momentum by (checks notes) trailing the Broncos 31-20.

— Patrick Allen (@RPatrickAllen) January 9, 2023

Chargers are:

-Playing their starters
-Getting guys like Mike Williams hurt
-Losing

Brandon Staley out here hitting for the cycle.

— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) January 8, 2023

And more than a few people brought up the idea of Staley giving the Chargers incentive to fire him and grab Sean Payton while they can.

If Brandon Staley does any worse job of coaching Chargers, he might cost Broncos any realistic shot of hiring Sean Payton.

— Mark Kiszla (@markkiszla) January 8, 2023

Staley really wants to see Sean Payton in powder blue next year

— ChargersMemes (@ChargersMemes) January 8, 2023

Staley’s mismanagement was clear even before the game.

The Chargers had just four active wide receivers, including starters Williams, Keenan Allen and Joshua Palmer, while listing Michael Bandy as inactive. Running back Isaiah Spiller was inactive when he could have taken the load off Austin Ekeler. QB Easton Stick was inactive when this would have been the perfect opportunity to get him some live reps.

LA had gone with four active WRs in many previous games this season but none of those were dead rubbers like this one with maximum incentive to protect the starters.