Thursday Night Football: Why San Diego Chargers' Offense is in Major Trouble

The San Diego Chargers are supposed to have one of the NFL’s best offenses.

In fact, they were the top offense in terms of total yards in 2010. This year, they simply haven’t been getting the job done.

In today’s NFL, with the way the quarterback position has grown in importance, any offensive problems start with a team’s quarterback.

That certainly applies to the Chargers this season. Philip Rivers is in the middle of his worst year in the NFL so far.

He’s throwing way too many interceptions and making way too many stupid mental mistakes that keep costing his team victories.

For example, two weeks ago against the Kansas City Chiefs, he fumbled a snap late in the fourth quarter when all he needed to do was take a knee so the field goal unit could come on the field.

Last week against the Green Bay Packers, the Chargers were down by a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Good quarterbacks thrive under this sort of pressure and lead their teams on scoring drives.

Instead, Rivers threw his third interception of the game, ensuring a Packers victory.

And finally, in the first half of the game against the Raiders on Thursday night, Rivers was 4-for-11 for a measly 44 yards. That’s just not going to cut it in today’s NFL.

If the Chargers don’t get more consistently good play from Rivers, it’s going to be a long season.

The problems in San Diego don’t end with Rivers. Injuries have also played a large part in the Chargers’ inconsistency.

Antonio Gates hasn’t been the same elite tight end this year as he battles through a lingering foot injury. His career might be winding down if he doesn’t get his foot problem solved once and for all.

Ryan Mathews has been disappointing and inconsistent in his second year in the NFL. Finally, Vincent Jackson got off to a slow start this year with an injury also.

This offense has had no consistency this year, and it’s probably too late to develop it at this point. Rivers is going to start pressing and trying too hard, leading to more mistakes.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he led the NFL in interceptions at the end of the season. This is going to be a long season for the San Diego Chargers' offense.