The Chargers haven’t scored a second-half touchdown since Week 1. They totaled 59 yards on 22 carries against an Arizona defense that was allowing 153 yards per game on the ground. They failed to protect a one-point lead on the final possession, giving up the game-winning field goal as time expired.
Although a chorus of concerns appeared after the team’s defeat 17-15 “Monday Night Football” losscoach Jim Harbaugh sing a different tune.
“You could sing with the choir with “what would have, could have and should have.” If this, if that,” the Chargers coach said Wednesday. “But we had to look [the tape] three, four times, on all sides of the ball, to turn the hymn book into “we were better.” We were better. We have improved.
Trying to stay above .500, the Chargers (3-3) hope to channel the emotional fire of a loss into a learning lesson to face the New Orleans Saints (2-5) Sunday at SoFi Stadium .
Harbaugh started trying to change the narrative before chargers even left State Farm Stadium Monday night, paraphrasing Nelson Mandela during his postgame press conference.
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“I don’t lose,” Harbaugh said calmly, “I either win or I learn.”
The coach may not pretend the losses eat away at him, but linebacker Daiyan Henley knows they do. That’s why players continued to believe in Harbaugh through each of his successful stops in the NFL and in college.
“I love it when Harbaugh talks because I feel like he hates losing,” Henley said. “He may not show it, but he emphasizes the importance of winning, the importance of winning. And I think that’s the best thing about having him as a coach is that he feels what I feel, even though he’s not on the field with me. I hate losing. I hate being the reason, I hate being the cause. And I know him as a coach, he hates losing too.
In the midst of a stellar season, second-year inside linebacker Henley leads the Chargers in tackles with 41. However, he missed four tackles against the Cardinals, according to Pro Football Focus.
On the decisive final drive, Henley had both arms wrapped around James Conner a yard behind the line of scrimmage, but the Cardinals running back broke free, made another missed tackle from cornerback Tarheeb Still and ran for 33 yards to set up the game. winning basket.
Watching the tape again was “the hardest thing,” Henley said, the pain still evident in his voice two days after the game.
“I know I can make these plays,” Henley said. “Because I did it and I haven’t played a match like this in my career. I can look back and I can get better, and I can move forward and bring my guys with me, because I have a heck of a defense, a heck of a team, and I know we all believe in each other.
Although the Chargers still lead the NFL in points allowed per game (13.8) and racked up 395 yards against the Cardinals, they have struggled to close out games. In each of their losses, the Chargers were tied or trailing in the fourth quarter.
Even discounting the 16 unanswered points allowed against the Denver Broncos, who trailed by 23 after three quarters, opponents have outscored the Chargers 30-22 in the fourth quarter this season.
Settle for five field goals Monday, the Chargers failed to score an offensive touchdown for just the third time with Justin Herbert starting. The quarterback, who had a season-high 349 yards, said the offense, under first-year coordinator Greg Roman, “is still finding our identity.”
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“You’ll never find him in camp, or in OTAs,” Herbert said. “It’s about going through the trials.”
The Chargers rank 25th in the NFL in scoring (17.7 points) and yards (300) per game. Despite Herbert’s three consecutive season records in passing yards, the team is still ranked 24th in passing yards. The running game that has been a vital part of Roman’s scheme has averaged just 75.8 yards over the last four games.
Injuries to Herbert and offensive tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt handcuffed the offense early, and now more injuries are piling up in the receivers room. Ladd McConkey (hip) and Quentin Johnston (ankle) as well as tight end Will Dissly (shoulder) did not practice Wednesday. The trio makes up three of the Chargers’ top four pass catchers.
McConkey, a second-round pick out of Georgia, leads the Chargers with 265 yards on 24 catches and two touchdowns. Johnston accounts for three of the team’s six receiving touchdowns.
Etc.
OLB Joey Bosa (hip) was a limited participant in practice after not practicing all last week. He missed three games due to this injury. … WR DJ Chark Jr. (groin) is still limited and working through his 21-day window to return to the active roster after going on injured reserve with a hip injury. … CB Kristian Fulton (hamstring) and DB Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula) were also limited during a practice that was held at a slower pace than a typical Wednesday due to the short turnaround of the game Monday evening. … LB Denzel Perryman (toe) did not practice.
This story was originally published in Los Angeles Times.
