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- The Chargers coughed up another winnable home game, falling 26-14 to the Raiders — the same score as last week’s loss — as fourth-quarter breakdowns define Jim Harbaugh’s 0-2 start.
- A misfired third-and-inches snap, multiple fumbles and interceptions and costly Joe Alt penalties all played a role in the Chargers’ loss.
- What was supposed to be a soft opening for the Chargers now gives way to a brutal gauntlet: road games at Buffalo, Seattle and Kansas City, plus meetings with Denver and the Rams.
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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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.
“It’s tough,” quarterback Justin Herbert said. “No one wants to lose two games, but there’s nothing we can do about it.”
We need to do better. We will do better. That was the theme in the somber locker room. But All-Pro safety Derwin James Jr. let the mask slip a bit.
“Hell yeah, we’re pissed, man,” he said. “Put in all this work in OTAs, training camp, to go out and lose? I want to get this [stuff] right.”
It won’t get any easier. The Chargers play at Buffalo on Sunday against the 2-0 Bills, who have scored a combined 77 points in victories over the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions.
After that, the Chargers play at Seattle, at home against Denver, at Kansas City, and against the Rams as rare visitors at SoFi Stadium. Four opponents, four Super Bowl-winning coaches.
These first two games were supposed to be the soft start, or at least a relatively gentle ramp-up to the thorny part of the schedule.
Well, that’s out the window. The Chargers were dominated by Arizona, then dropped another home game to the Raiders. As head coach of the Chargers, Harbaugh had won all four of his previous matchups against Las Vegas.
The Chargers last started 0-2 in 2023, when they went on to finish 5-12.
Sunday, the Chargers were unable to get the ball downfield and repeatedly committed penalties and miscues that short-circuited drives. For instance, normally sturdy tackle Joe Alt was flagged for false starts three times.
Another botched opportunity: Trailing by a field goal late in the third quarter, the Chargers had a third-and-inches on their side of the field. Herbert dropped back into shotgun and sent Tre’ Harris in motion from right to left. Then, they snapped the ball at the precise moment the receiver was between center Jake Slaughter and the quarterback. The snap bounced off Harris’ knee. Herbert had to pounce on the loose ball and the threat was thwarted.
Justin Herbert struggles to find his rhythm in the Chargers’ new offense under Mike McDaniel as late mistakes prove costly in a 26-14 loss to the Cardinals.
The normally stoic Herbert couldn’t hide his frustration. He appeared to angrily yell before retreating to the sideline.
Later, with slightly less than four minutes remaining, when the Chargers seemingly had a bit of momentum. They had just gotten a first down on a Raiders penalty — 12 men on defense — and had inched across the 50.
Herbert handed off to Omarion Hampton on a draw, and the second-year back was met by linebacker Nakobe Dean and promptly fumbled — one of six on the day for the Chargers. Safety Jeremy Chinn scooped up the ball and returned it 43 yards to the 16.
Raiders fans at SoFi Stadium erupted in glee. For the Chargers, that singsong, taunting “Raiii-derrrs” chant will surely haunt their dreams. The TV cameras didn’t help matters, at one point finding a lone Chargers fan amid an ocean of Raiders fans, a blue dot bobbing in a silver-and-black sea.
Three plays later, Kirk Cousins found Cody White with an 11-yard pass, the second touchdown of the day for the erstwhile practice-squad receiver.
The final insult came on the Chargers’ last possession when Alt drew a holding penalty while trying to stop pass rusher Maxx Crosby, resulting in a safety.
The Chargers took a 14-10 lead midway through the third quarter when Herbert connected with tight end Oronde Gadsden II for a 10-yard touchdown.
But the Raiders responded on the ensuing possession when Cousins threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to White to put Las Vegas up, 17-14.
A key play in that drive showed the creativity of Klint Kubiak, in his first season as coach of the Raiders. Cousins took the snap and pitched the ball to Ashton Jeanty, who in turn threw it back to Cousins.
The quarterback then hit a wide-open Dareke Young for a 27-yard gain, giving the Raiders the ball deep in Chargers territory.
The Raiders had their own glitches, including at the end of the opening quarter, when they had a first-and-goal from the four, yet couldn’t score on four consecutive Jeanty runs.
The Chargers had a similarly frustrating moment in the first quarter when Herbert found tight end David Njoku behind the Las Vegas defense and delivered the ball for what should have been a big gain.
Njoku bobbled the pass, however, and the ball was grabbed by rookie safety Hezekiah Masses, who had another pick in the fourth quarter during his first career start.
Making matters worse, Njoku suffered a knee injury on the play and did not return.
“This is a team that has the competitiveness, they’ve got the fight,” Harbaugh said of his players. “We’ve got the guys. We’ve got the coaches. We’ve got to find our way.”
The options: Circle the wagons or circle the drain.
