{"id":470477,"date":"2026-09-21T01:56:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T01:56:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/470477\/"},"modified":"2026-09-21T01:56:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T01:56:11","slug":"justin-herbert-chargers-unravel-late-again-in-loss-to-raiders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/470477\/","title":{"rendered":"Justin Herbert, Chargers unravel late, again, in loss to Raiders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Once is a hiccup.<\/p>\n

Twice is a habit.<\/p>\n

Maybe this is what the Chargers<\/a> are \u2014 lurching, sputtering and unable to consistently move the football, despite an offensive overhaul packed with lofty expectations.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> to the Las Vegas Raiders.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Share via Close extra sharing options <\/p>\n

The Chargers lost to the Las Vegas Raiders 26-14 on Sunday, and the schedule doesn\u2019t get any easier for them moving forward.<\/p>\n

The Chargers lost their opener<\/a> to the Arizona Cardinals by an identical score \u2014 26-14.<\/p>\n

In another bit of sad synchronicity, both the Raiders and Cardinals won just three games and fired their coaches last season.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot deterred,\u201d said Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh<\/a>, off to his first 0-2 coaching start in college or the pros. \u201cNo one in that locker room is deterred.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Not what the franchise had in mind when they brought in coordinator Mike McDaniel to fix the offense<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s tough,\u201d quarterback Justin Herbert<\/a> said. \u201cNo one wants to lose two games, but there\u2019s nothing we can do about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/a> let the mask slip a bit.<\/p>\n

\"Chargers <\/p>\n

Chargers running back Omarion Hampton, left, fumbles the ball as he is hit by Raiders linebacker Nakobe Dean in the fourth quarter Sunday.<\/p>\n

(Allen J. Schaben \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

\u201cHell yeah, we\u2019re pissed, man,\u201d he said. \u201cPut in all this work in OTAs, training camp, to go out and lose? I want to get this [stuff] right.\u201d<\/p>\n

It won\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Well, that\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\"Chargers <\/p>\n

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert reacts after an offensive holding penalty on Joe Alt results in a safety late in the fourth quarter Sunday against the Raiders.<\/p>\n

(Allen J. Schaben \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

The Chargers last started 0-2 in 2023, when they went on to finish 5-12.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019 Harris<\/a> in motion from right to left. Then, they snapped the ball at the precise moment the receiver was between center Jake Slaughter<\/a> and the quarterback. The snap bounced off Harris\u2019 knee. Herbert had to pounce on the loose ball and the threat was thwarted.<\/p>\n

The normally stoic Herbert couldn\u2019t hide his frustration. He appeared to angrily yell before retreating to the sideline.<\/p>\n

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 \u2014 12 men on defense \u2014 and had inched across the 50.<\/p>\n

Herbert handed off to Omarion Hampton<\/a> on a draw, and the second-year back was met by linebacker Nakobe Dean and promptly fumbled \u2014 one of six on the day for the Chargers. Safety Jeremy Chinn scooped up the ball and returned it 43 yards to the 16.<\/p>\n

Raiders fans at SoFi Stadium erupted in glee. For the Chargers, that singsong, taunting \u201cRaiii-derrrs\u201d chant will surely haunt their dreams. The TV cameras didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

\"Raiders <\/p>\n

Raiders fullback Connor Heyward, left, and Chargers linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu battle during the fourth quarter Sunday.<\/p>\n

(Allen J. Schaben \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The final insult came on the Chargers\u2019 last possession when Alt drew a holding penalty while trying to stop pass rusher Maxx Crosby, resulting in a safety.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The quarterback then hit a wide-open Dareke Young for a 27-yard gain, giving the Raiders the ball deep in Chargers territory.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t score on four consecutive Jeanty runs.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Chargers <\/p>\n

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh walks on the sideline during the first quarter Sunday.<\/p>\n

(Allen J. Schaben \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Making matters worse, Njoku suffered a knee injury on the play and did not return.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a team that has the competitiveness, they\u2019ve got the fight,\u201d Harbaugh said of his players. \u201cWe\u2019ve got the guys. We\u2019ve got the coaches. We\u2019ve got to find our way.\u201d<\/p>\n

The options: Circle the wagons or circle the drain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Once is a hiccup. Twice is a habit. Maybe this is what the Chargers are \u2014 lurching, sputtering…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":470478,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[185086,1535,4690,30313,16943,185087,1544,59776,48,52,51,6424,47,50,49,11476,772,10447,11491,11595,9018],"class_list":["post-470477","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-los-angeles","tag-ball-downfield","tag-chargers","tag-coach","tag-field-goal","tag-herbert","tag-home-sunday","tag-justin-herbert","tag-kirk-cousins","tag-la","tag-la-headlines","tag-la-news","tag-las-vegas-raiders","tag-los-angeles","tag-los-angeles-headlines","tag-los-angeles-news","tag-omarion-hampton","tag-pass","tag-penalty","tag-quarterback","tag-raiders","tag-second"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470477","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=470477"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470477\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/470478"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=470477"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=470477"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=470477"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}