Plagued by mistakes and turnovers, Chargers lose to Raiders and fall to 0-2

Once is a hiccup.

Twice is a habit.

Maybe this is what the Chargers are — lurching, sputtering and unable to consistently move the football, despite an offensive overhaul packed with lofty expectations.

Just as they did in their abysmal season opener, the Chargers struggled at home Sunday and failed to establish a rhythm on their way to a 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Chargers lose to Raiders to fall to 0-2 on season

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The Chargers lost to the Las Vegas Raiders 26-14 on Sunday, and the schedule doesn’t get any easier for them moving forward.

The Chargers lost their opener to the Arizona Cardinals by an identical score — 26-14.

In another bit of sad synchronicity, both the Raiders and Cardinals won just three games and fired their coaches last season.

“Not deterred,” said Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, off to his first 0-2 coaching start in college or the pros. “No one in that locker room is deterred.”

If so, the Chargers are showing far more determination off the field than on it. Because their play Sunday could buckle the resolve of even true believers.

This six-fumble fiasco saw the Chargers end drives in this frustrating staccato: missed field goal, punt, interception, punt, touchdown, punt, end of half, touchdown, punt, punt, fumble, interception, safety.

Not what the franchise had in mind when they brought in coordinator Mike McDaniel to fix the offense.

🏈 Raiders 26, Chargers 14 — FINAL

A holding penalty by Joe Alt in the end zone as he tried to stop Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby led to a safety with 1:41 left, sealing an embarrassing loss for the Chargers that dropped them to 0-2.

Alt’s fourth holding penalty of the game came with any hope of a Chargers comeback already out of reach after a Hezekiah Masses interception a few plays earlier.

The Raiders cornerback recorded his second interception of the game, picking off Justin Herbert on third-and-long on pass intended for Quentin Johnston to seal the win for the Raiders.

Herbert completed 15 of 26 passes for 192 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions. Omarion Hampton rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown in 23 carries.

Kirk Cousins completed 19 of 29 passes for 253 yards, with three touchdowns and an interception.

The Raiders improved to 2-0.

🏈 Raiders 24, Chargers 14 — 2:59 left in the fourth quarter

Another dropped coverage by the Chargers allowed Kirk Cousins to find wide receiver Cody White all alone in the end zone on an 11-yard pass to extend the Raiders’ lead.

The touchdown capped a three-play, 16-yard drive after a 43-yard return off a fumble recovery by Jeremy Chinn.

🏈 Raiders 17, Chargers 14 — 3:34 left in the fourth quarter

Raiders safety Jeremy Chinn recovered a fumble by running back Omarion Hampton and returned the ball 43 yards to the Chargers’ 16-yard line.

Linebacker Nakobe Dean knocked the ball out of Hampton’s hands before Chinn’s recovery. The fumble came one play after a Raiders penalty for too many men on the field on fourth down extended a Chargers drive.

The Chargers have fumbled six times in the game, losing the ball once.

🏈 Raiders 17, Chargers 14 — 8:19 left in the fourth quarter

The Chargers are running out of time.

Omarion Hampton was stuffed at the line on third-and-three, forcing the Chargers to punt from their 28 after another possession went mostly nowhere.

Ladd McConkey, who has been limited to mostly third downs as he works through a rib injury, caught a 12-yard pass on third-and-long to get the Chargers off the goal line.

But a 10-yard holding penalty by Rashawn Slater proved too much to overcome despite a 15-yard reception by Keaton Mitchell.

After the possession, tight end Charlie Kolar and left guard Kayode Awosika walked to the locker room with undisclosed injuries.

🏈 Raiders 17, Chargers 14 — End of third quarter

An egregious mistake led to another missed opportunity for the Chargers late in the third quarter.

On third-and-inches in the shotgun, Jake Slaughter’s snap hit the knee of Tre’ Harris while the receiver was in motion in front of Justin Herbert. The Chargers recovered the ball, but were forced to punt — and Herbert was not happy as he walked back to the sideline.

The ball is back in Kirk Cousins’ hands as the fourth quarter gets underway.

🏈 Raiders 17, Chargers 14 — 3:53 left in the third quarter

Cody White caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins in tight coverage to put the Raiders back into the lead.

The touchdown capped an 11-play, 74-yard drive that included a 27-yard reception by Dareke Young off a trick play.

Cousins has completed 15 of 22 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns so far.

🏈 Chargers 14, Raiders 10 — 9:49 left in the third quarter

Justin Herbert escaped pressure from Maxx Crosby and connected on a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Oronde Gadsden II to give the Chargers their first lead of the game.

The touchdown, which capped a seven-play, 74-yard drive, was set up by a 53-yard catch by Tre’ Harris after Herbert stepped up in the pocket to escape pressure from Crosby.

Chargers rookie safety Genesis Smith got a hand on a third-down pass intended for Tre Tucker to force the Raiders to punt on their opening possession of the third quarter.

And as anticipated, the Chargers ruled out David Njoku for the remainder of the game after he was carted off in the second quarter with a knee injury.

🏈 Raiders 10, Chargers 7 — HALFTIME

Matt Gay kicked a 59-yard field goal in the final seconds of the first half to give the Raiders the lead at halftime.

The field goal came after Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins connected on a 42-yard pass to Tre Tucker, who slipped through double coverage to make the catch. Tucker has four catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.

The good news for the Chargers’ secondary? Derwin James Jr. returned to the game after sustaining a hand injury in the first quarter.

On the Chargers’ penultimate possession of the half, Justin Herbert was left visibly frustrated after being hit hard as he aired out a pass intended for Quentin Johnston. The wide receiver was nowhere close to the ball after slipping.

Following the Chargers’ touchdown earlier in the second quarter, the Raiders didn’t go far on the ensuing possession, with Khalil Mack sacking Kirk Cousins on third down to force a punt.

Herbert has completed seven of 15 passes for 79 yards, with an interception. Cousins is nine for 13 for 158 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.

Chargers running back Omarion Hampton has rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown in 15 carries.

Raiders will receive to open the second half.

🏈 Raiders 7, Chargers 7 — 5:26 left in the second quarter

Omarion Hampton scored his second touchdown of the season on a one-yard run to help tie the score.

A 10-yard run by Hampton and an 11-yard run by Keaton Mitchell helped set up the touchdown, which capped a 10-play, 69-yard drive.

Ladd McConkey caught a 19-yard pass and Hampton picked up 18 yards on a catch-and-run off a checkdown to fuel the possession.

Raiders 7, Chargers 0 — 11:51 left in the second quarter

Kirk Cousins connected on a 40-yard touchdown strike to a wide open Tre Tucker on blown coverage in the Chargers’ secondary to give the Raiders the lead.

The play capped a three-play, 51-yard drive for the Raiders.

The Chargers are playing without cornerback Elijah Molden and safety Derwin James Jr., and it definitely showed on Tucker touchdown catch. Safeties RJ Mickens and Genesis Smith failed to pick up Tucker on the play.

🏈 Raiders 0, Chargers 0 — 14:29 left in the second quarter

Chargers tight end David Njoku was carted off the field with a right knee injury. He had difficulty putting weight on his right leg/foot as he helped up onto the cart. Teammates hugged him before he was carted away.

Njoku was listed as questionable to return.

He is the second notable injury for the Chargers. Star safety Derwin James Jr. is questionable to return after sustaining a hand injury in the first quarter.

🏈 Raiders 0, Chargers 0 — 35 seconds left in the first quarter

The Chargers stopped Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty on fourth-and-goal to cap a gutsy goal-line stand and keep it a scoreless game following a Las Vegas interception.

Raiders cornerback Hezekiah Masses intercepted a pass from Justin Herbert that was bobbled by tight end David Njoku before falling into Masses’ hands.

The Raiders quickly drove into the Chargers’ red zone, but a strong stand by the L.A. defense coupled with Del’Shawn Phillips bringing down Jeanty on fourth down, ended the scoring threat.

The Chargers did this without star safety Derwin James Jr., who left the game with a hand injury and is questionable to return.

🏈 Raiders 0, Chargers 0 — 4:40 left in the first quarter

The Chargers’ second possession didn’t go far after Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce sacked Justin Herbert. On the next play, Herbert failed to connect with Tre’ Harris on third down.

The Raiders went three-and-out on the ensuing possession after Chargers rookie pass rusher Akheem Mesidor picked up his first sack.

🏈 Raiders 0, Chargers 0 — 8:57 left in the first quarter

Cornerback Cam Hart intercepted a pass from Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins after receiver Tre Tucker slipped, giving the Chargers the ball at their 17-yard line.

It was Hart’s second career interception and Cousins’ third interception of the season.

🏈 Raiders 0, Chargers 0 — 11:39 left in the first quarter

Cameron Dicker missed a 58-yard field goal attempt, sending the ball off the right upright in a frustrating end to the Chargers’ first possession.

Under pressure on third-and-three, Herbert appeared to try to pass to rookie Brenen Thompson, but Oronde Gadsden II also tried to get to the pass and only got a hand on it. Thompson appeared to be in a better position to make the catch.

Herbert completed a nine-yard pass to David Njoku and a seven-yard pass to Quentin Johnston to move the ball into Raiders territory.

Thompson also dropped a pass that could have been for a big gain.

Don’t know who needs to hear this — certainly not Chargers fans — but Derwin James Jr. is a block-knocking, bone-crunching, body-rattling delight.

And you owe it to yourself to indulge at some point this NFL season in the Derwin James experience.

He’s a football player’s football player. A leader’s leader. A “force multiplier,” as former Chargers general manager Tom Telesco put it.

“There aren’t a lot like him that I’ve been around,” Telesco said. “Especially on the defensive side. Some quarterbacks — Philip Rivers, Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck. But being on the defensive side? He’s one of one.”

It’s just one game. And it’s a long season.

Maybe a loooong season, if you’re a Chargers fan.

Sunday’s season-opening debacle — a sloppy, uninspired and uninspiring 26-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium — was a first, giant step back for these Chargers.

You can’t call Game 1 of any season a must-win. But you can pan back and recognize that sometimes Game 1 is a really, really should-win affair.

Wide receiver Ladd McConkey is active for the Chargers ahead of their Week 2 showdown with the AFC West rival Las Vegas Raiders.

McConkey was dealing with a rib injury after he caught five passes for 82 yards and a touchdown last week against the Cardinals.

Chargers inactives

S Elijah Molden

CB Deane Leonard

OL Trey Pipkins

CB Isas Waxter

OL Logan Taylor

OL Alex Harkey

Raiders inactives

QB Aidan O’Connell

CB Darien Porter

S Tristin McCollum

S Dalton Johnson

G Bryce Cabeldue

TE Brock Bowers

DT JJ Pegues

Mike McDaniel isn’t panicking.

But the Chargers’ new offensive coordinator knows his unit must show urgency and improvement Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders after a rude wake-up call in the season opener.

“You have a lot of visions coming to a new team and working on something for months. The vision never looked like that,” McDaniel said of the Chargers’ 26-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. “That’s the beautiful thing about football; like life, time spent forecasting [and] visualizing things going a certain way ... no one cares about that.

“So, it was a case of humble pie.”

The doctor is in. All in.

How could he not be?

His younger brother is Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who two years ago eclipsed Peyton Manning for the most yardage in NFL history through a player’s first five seasons.

The doctor in this case is Mitch Herbert, 30, in the second year of his orthopedic surgery residency at UCLA, giving him a front-row seat to his brother’s rise to NFL stardom.

Jake Slaughter’s teammates could only laugh as the rookie center was swarmed by reporters asking him questions in the Chargers’ locker room.

“I don’t think he does too good with the cameras and stuff,” Isaiah World said as he recorded the spectacle with his phone. “He’s real old school.”

Whether he minds it or not, the precocious 23-year-old is living in the spotlight. Slaughter enters the Chargers’ season opener against the Arizona Cardinals as the starting center.

The Chargers are trying to find their sea legs with their new offense.

More pre-snap motion. Unbalanced formations. A dizzying array of plays.

They unveiled the new scheme Sunday and mostly came away queasy, losing to the Arizona Cardinals 26-14 in what proved to be Jim Harbaugh’s first Week 1 defeat as an NFL head coach.

Arizona, meanwhile, attacked in waves — blocking a punt in the fourth quarter and taking over three yards from the end zone. The visitors scored two plays later, silencing the already-subdued SoFi Stadium crowd.

Jim Harbaugh had never lost an NFL opener as a head coach... until last Sunday.

Now, with the Las Vegas Raiders coming to town, Harbaugh is looking to keep another streak intact. With him as coach, his Chargers are 4-0 against the Silver & Black.

If Sunday’s game isn’t a must-win for the Chargers, it’s certainly a high-stakes contest on the heels of an opening flop against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Chargers did precious little right in that 26-14 defeat at SoFi Stadium, the first Week 1 loss for Harbaugh in seven openers.