Jim Harbaugh has infused a surge of enthusiasm into the Los Angeles Chargers. However, the team remains plagued by their persistent tendency to lose games in gut-wrenching fashion, a phenomenon often referred to as “Chargering.”
On Monday night, the Chargers faced a disappointing 17-15 defeat against the Arizona Cardinals, marking the sixth instance of a last-second loss since the team relocated to Los Angeles in 2017. This includes a total of twelve heartbreaking defeats, counting overtime games.
Harbaugh remains optimistic that this loss will instill resilience within the team instead of deepening the negativity that often accompanies close losses. He emphasized the importance of learning from defeats, stating, “Like Nelson Mandela said, ‘I don’t lose, either win or I learn.’ This experience should inspire learning to enhance our performance moving forward.”
The Chargers, currently at a 3-3 record, must address their red zone offense and improve their execution in the fourth quarter promptly. They have only succeeded in scoring touchdowns five times out of 13 opportunities when inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, which equates to a 38.5% success rate, ranking among the lowest in the league.
Quarterback Justin Herbert, who threw for a season-high 349 yards, recognized the need for adaptation: “We must play according to the flow of the game instead of how we would prefer it to unfold. While we moved the ball effectively and executed certain third downs, it’s crucial to capitalize on drives when it matters most.”
Moreover, the Chargers have struggled to produce points in the fourth quarter, failing to score a touchdown since their victory over Las Vegas in week one. In the last five games, they have been outscored 43-9.
Despite achieving the milestone of his 26th 300-yard passing game on Monday, Herbert finds himself balanced at 13 wins and 13 losses in such games. “Distributing the ball effectively and maintaining control of the field is crucial for our offense. We see a lot of areas that need improvement, and we are ready to tackle the challenges that await us,” Herbert added.
What’s going right for the Chargers is their passing attack. Herbert successfully connected with nine receivers, repeating this feat for the second consecutive game, with seven players contributing catches of 14 yards or more. Herbert excelled particularly on first downs, completing 13 of 16 passes for a substantial gain of 125 yards.
However, one area needing improvement is their defense against agile quarterbacks. Kyler Murray’s 44-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter marked the second-longest scramble the Chargers have allowed since 2000. This comes just a week after Denver’s Bo Nix managed 61 yards on six scrambles against them.
In terms of individual performances, Cameron Dicker stands out after recording five field goals for the second time with the Chargers. He also tied a franchise record with a successful field goal from 59 yards on his opening attempt.
On the downside, wide receiver Jalen Reagor lost the ball while en route to a 44-yard touchdown during the opening drive; the ball was recovered by Arizona safety Jalen Thompson in the end zone.
Injury updates reveal that linebacker Joey Bosa is out for the third consecutive game due to a hip issue. Meanwhile, wide receiver DJ Chark will begin his second week of practice after starting the season on injured reserve, and wide receiver Quentin Johnston was inactive due to an ankle injury.
A notable statistic from this game is that it took Herbert 68 games to achieve his 1,700th completion, making him the fastest to reach this benchmark. Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City previously held this record, with 69 games.
Looking ahead, the Chargers will host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, commencing a stretch where four of their next five clashes will take place at home.