EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The ghosts were born in the silence of that visiting locker room on Jan. 14, 2023. They materialized in between the murmurs of Los Angeles Chargers players trying to digest the shock and repercussions of a historic playoff collapse.
So much has changed in the nearly three years since that game. The ghosts, however, remain.
On Sunday afternoon, the Chargers will return to Jacksonville. They will play at the Jacksonville Jaguars for the first time since blowing a 27-0 lead in the first round of the 2022 postseason. The name of the stadium has changed — from TIAA Bank to EverBank. The Chargers have a new coach, Jim Harbaugh, and a new general manager, Joe Hortiz. They moved to a new facility and have a roster filled with new players who did not experience the pain. The Jaguars, too, have a new coach and a new GM.
This is an important game in the AFC playoff race. The Chargers are on a three-game winning streak and one game back of the conference leaders. The Jaguars are the current seventh seed in the AFC.
This is also an important game for those who took part in that franchise-altering loss. Whether the players say it publicly or not, Sunday is a chance to vanquish the ghosts.
“It’s just certain things you got to keep in your pocket and bring them out whenever the opportunity presents itself,” edge rusher Khalil Mack said this week when asked about returning to Jacksonville.
There are nine players on the Chargers active roster who played in that playoff loss to the Jaguars: Mack, quarterback Justin Herbert, safety Derwin James, offensive tackle Trey Pipkins III, guard Zion Johnson, offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer, offensive lineman Foster Sarell, receiver Keenan Allen and cornerback Deane Leonard.
In 2023, Mack told The Athletic that the playoff loss to Jacksonville was “triggering.” Mack, who played 61 defensive snaps in the game, revealed that he almost retired that ensuing offseason. He decided otherwise and has added 27 sacks to his Hall of Fame resume over the past three seasons.
“Just certain motivations you have,” Mack said in the locker room this week when discussing Jacksonville.
James was asked this week if he has any emotions about returning to Jacksonville.
“Nah,” he said. “We good.”
James, a Haines City, Fla. native, said he will have family in attendance at the game.
“I’m excited to go back to Florida,” he said. “Can’t wait.”
Pipkins said he has tried to “black out” that Jacksonville game “as much as possible.” He returned to the starting lineup at right tackle in last week’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and played one of his best games of the season. Pipkins played all 70 offensive snaps of the playoff loss to the Jaguars.
“I think most people just tried to block it out,” Pipkins said.
Trey Pipkins, No. 79, walks off the field with Zion Johnson after the Chargers’ playoff loss to the Jaguars in the 2022 season. Pipkins said he’s tried to “block” out the defeat. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Herbert was asked this week if he remembers the Jaguars game.
“I remember it,” Herbert said. “I remember every game I’ve ever played in.”
He did not want to dig any deeper, and it is hard to blame him.
“We’ve had plenty of opportunities to talk about that game,” Herbert said. “We’ve moved on since then, and we’ve all learned from it.”
In many ways, that loss set the organization on a new path. It took one more season, and the Chargers had to give up 63 points to the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders as the final straw. But a direct line can be drawn from Jacksonville to the Chargers hiring Harbaugh and developing a more consistent winning culture.
“The team is way different,” James said.
NFL players will use any morsel — real or perceived — as motivation.
They will not necessarily reveal that motivation to the media.
They do not need to.
In the case of the Chargers who were there for the playoff loss, that motivation will burn inside.
The Chargers will face the Jaguars. They will face the ghosts, too. And we will see if the mighty force of vengeance prevails.