Justin Herbert and Chargers stymied in loss to Chiefs, falling to 0-6

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chargers are in need of a major course correction.

A week after coach Jim Harbaugh said the team was “staying the course” in its effort to work through its numerous problems, the Chargers produced their lowest scoring output of the season in a 22-6 loss to the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday to remain winless.

The Chargers are 0-6 to start a season for the first time since 2000, when they finished 1-15. They’ve also lost nine straight games since last season.

🏈 Chiefs 22, Chargers 6 — FINAL

Justin Herbert threw an incomplete pass on fourth down after R Mason Thomas got his hand on the quarterback’s arm to end any faint hope of a Chargers comeback and drop L.A. to 0-6 on the season.

It was the Chargers’ ninth consecutive loss dating back to last season — tying a franchise record.

Herbert, who completed 22 of 37 passes for 204 yards with an interception was sacked four times, including twice on the final drive.

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 23 of 30 passes for 272 yards with an interception. Running back Kenneth Walker III rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns in 19 carries.

🏈 Chiefs 22, Chargers 6 — 3:54 left in the fourth quarter

Harrison Butker kicked a 30-yard field goal to extend the Chiefs’ lead late in the fourth quarter.

The field goal came after an 11-play, 60-yard drive that included a 16-yard run by Kenneth Walker III. The standout running back has rushed for 128 yards in 19 carries.

🏈 Chiefs 19, Chargers 6 — 9:43 left in the fourth quarter

Former Chargers linebacker Drue Tranquill recovered a fumble by KeAndre Lambert-Smith to put the ball back in Patrick Mahomes’ hands with time running out for an L.A. comeback.

The Chiefs took over at their 38-yard line.

🏈 Chiefs 19, Chargers 6 — 11:46 left in the fourth quarter

Harrison Butker missed a 52-yard field-goal attempt, with his kick going wide right. The Chiefs managed to get into field-goal range after Jalen Royals caught an 18-yard pass and Patrick Mahomes scrambled eight yards.

Can Justin Herbert and the Chargers put together a drive and make this a one-score game?

🏈 Chiefs 19, Chargers 6 — 13:46 left in the fourth quarter

The Chargers failed to convert on fourth-and-six, with Justin Herbert’s pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith coming up short on a five-yard catch, allowing the Chiefs to take possession at their 43-yard line.

Earlier in the quarter, Chiefs cornerback Chris Roland-Wallace was ejected from the game for throwing a punch at Chargers offensive lineman Alex Harkey.

🏈 Chiefs 19, Chargers 6 — 4:24 left in the third quarter

The Chargers’ Caleb Murphy recovered a fumble off a punt return by Kansas City’s Nikko Remigio to give the Chargers the ball at their 41-yard line.

The fumble came after JK Scott had to punt out of the back of the Chargers’ end zone. Officials initially ruled that the Chiefs had recovered the ball before a video review overturned the call.

However, the Chargers could go nowhere on the ensuing possession, with Ashton Gillotte sacking Justin Herbert during L.A.’s fourth three-and-out of the game.

🏈 Chiefs 19, Chargers 6 — 6:29 left in the third quarter

Justin Eboigbe, Tony Jefferson and Tarheeb Still stopped running back Kenneth Walker III at the one-yard line on fourth-and-goal to prevent Kansas City from extending its lead.

The play abruptly ended a fast-moving drive that marched 62 yards in seven yards.

However, the Chargers could go nowhere on the ensuing possession, forcing JK Scott to punt from the back of the end zone.

🏈 Chiefs 19, Chargers 6 — 10:44 left in the third quarter

The Chargers failed to capitalize on a prime scoring chance, settling for a 30-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker after reaching the Kansas City one-yard line.

Justin Herbert connected with Quentin Johnston on a 57-yard pass to the Chiefs’ one — the longest play of the season for the Chargers. It was Johnston’s first catch of the game.

But then a holding penalty on Jake Slaughter pushed the Chargers back 10 yards. Herbert then threw incomplete passes intended for Oronde Gadsden II and Keandre Lambert-Smith on second and third down, respectively, leading to the field-goal try.

🏈 Chiefs 19, Chargers 3 — HALFTIME

Harrison Butker kicked a 50-yard field goal in the final seconds of the first half to extend the Chiefs’ lead. The field goal came after a 19-yard reception by Xavier Worthy set up the try.

The Chargers went three-and-out on their penultimate possession of the first half after a holding penalty on receiver Theo Wease Jr. compromised an opportunity to cut into Kansas City’s lead.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert completed six of 13 passes for 45 yards with an interception. Herbert has 26 yards in four carries for a Chargers offense held to just 103 total yards.

Chargers receiver Ladd McConkey left the game with a head injury after making one catch for 17 yards.

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 15 of 19 passes for 179 yards with an interception. Running back Kenneth Walker III has 75 yards and two touchdowns in 10 carries.

🏈 Chiefs 16, Chargers 3 — 1:49 left in the second quarter

Kenneth Walker III scored his second touchdown of the game, this time on a two-yard run, to extend the Chiefs’ lead late in the second quarter.

The touchdown capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive. It was Walker’s sixth rushing touchdown of the season.

Patrick Mahomes, narrowly avoiding a sack by Daiyan Henley off the blitz, connected with Travis Kelce on a 24-yard pass. On the next play, Mahomes completed a 13-yard pass to Andrew Armstrong to move the ball into the red zone.

🏈 Chiefs 9, Chargers 3 — 8:30 left in the second quarter

Chargers cornerback Cam Hart picked off a pass by Patrick Mahomes in the end zone to prevent a prime scoring chance for the Chiefs.

It was only the third turnover by Kansas City this season.

The interception came following a Kansas City pick. Chiefs linebacker Jack Cochrane picked off a Justin Herbert pass intended for Keandre Lambert-Smith and returned it 48 yards to the Chargers’ 17-yard line.

Herbert has an NFL-worst eight interceptions this season.

The Chargers were making progress on the possession before the pick. Kimani Vidal converted on third-and-long off a screen pass for 13 yards.

Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey is out for the remainder of the game after sustaining a head injury.

🏈 Chiefs 9, Chargers 3 — 1:33 left in the first quarter

Cameron Dicker kicked a 23-yard field goal to get the Chargers on the scoreboard after an 11-play, 60-yard drive fizzled in the red zone.

Justin Herbert converted on third down with a six-yard run, drawing an unnecessary roughness penalty on L’Jarius Sneed when the Chiefs cornerback kneed him in the head while trying to leap over the quarterback at the end of the play.

🏈 Chiefs 9, Chargers 0 — 7:21 left in the first quarter

Chiefs star running back Kenneth Walker III scored on a 33-yard run, burst through the Chargers’ defense before finding daylight in the second level.

Harrison Butker missed the extra-point attempt — his first PAT miss of the season.

Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy had a 17-yard catch and run during the six-play, 67-yard drive.

🏈 Chiefs 3, Chargers 0 — 11:20 left in the first quarter

Harrison Butker kicked a 44-yard field goal to give Kansas City an early lead at the end of a seven-play, 41-yard opening drive.

Xavier Worthy caught a 15-yard pass and Kenneth Walker III had a 13-yard run. But a 10-yard offensive holding penalty eventually stalled the drive.

Standout tight end Travis Kelce sustained an apparent right ankle injury on the drive.

On the ensuing possession after the field goal, the Chargers went three-and-out.

The Chargers will have their two top wide receivers back Sunday as they seek their first win of the season against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs.

Ladd McConkey (foot) and Quentin Johnston (chest) are off the injury report after missing the Chargers’ Week 5 loss to the Denver Broncos.

“Heck, yeah. Fired up about that,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Really good week of preparation. ... Excited for this opportunity.”

Harbaugh said he didn’t know whether McConkey or Johnston would have limited snaps.

Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley (knee) and wide receiver Brenen Thompson (quad) are both active for Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Here are the players who will not be playing in the game.

Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel didn’t shy away from discussing his job security Thursday amid a frustrating 0-5 start to the season.

“I feel like it’s core to my job to always feel that way,” McDaniel said when asked if he’s coaching for his job. “I need to do the very best I possibly can, all the time, because [of] the players, the organization, the fans.

“So, that’s second nature. … I think it’s disrespectful to all those that choose to invest in our game and our team to not look at things that way. The second you get comfortable in this league, it’s a wrap; it’s too good. I will be doing my very best, because from an integrity standpoint, I think it’s really insulting to do anything else. And that won’t change.”

They tore off a 42-yard touchdown run they could hang in the Louvre.

But in the end, the Chargers wound up with yet another L.

A fifth consecutive defeat — a 23-17 loss to the Denver Broncos — sent the Chargers corkscrewing deeper into the NFL cellar Sunday and grasping for answers in a season that began with promise that now feels like a mirage.

“Not where we want to be,” said quarterback Justin Herbert, quickly uttering the understatement of the afternoon.

Six weeks into the NFL season and Chargers versus the Kansas City Chiefs pits a winless team against an unbeaten one. Last season, when the Chargers swept the Chiefs, feels like a lifetime ago.

This game might not be as lopsided as it appears, considering these teams know each other so well. But these are rough times for the Chargers, who are still missing their two starting tackles and All-Pro safety Derwin James Jr. What’s more, it has been a terrible start for Justin Herbert, who has five touchdowns, seven interceptions, an anemic passer rating of 70.2 and has been sacked 17 times.