A fifth consecutive defeat \u2014 a 23-17 loss<\/a> to the Denver Broncos \u2014 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.<\/p>\n \u201cNot where we want to be,\u201d said quarterback Justin Herbert<\/a>, quickly uttering the understatement of the afternoon.<\/p>\n The Chargers are 0-5 for the first time since 2003, when they finished 4-12. But with the way they are playing now, identifying four wins on this schedule is a chore. They head to 4-0 Kansas City next Sunday, then, after a week off, face the Rams<\/a>.<\/p>\n Most painful for the Chargers is that they came tantalizingly close to winning, claiming their first lead in the third quarter only to hand it back with three consecutive drive-killing turnovers in the fourth.<\/p>\n Herbert melted down, getting stonewalled on a fourth-and-one keeper, fumbling away the next possession, then ending the next with an interception. The Broncos tied the score after making the defensive stop, then inched away with two drives that ended with field goals.<\/p>\n Coach Jim Harbaugh<\/a> blamed himself for starting the landslide by deciding to go for it on fourth down from the Chargers\u2019 41, saying the team should have punted then relied on its defense, which had played well all day.<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, Harbaugh said he should have called a timeout when he saw the Broncos \u201cgap down\u201d before the snap to form the wall that stopped Herbert.<\/p>\n \u201cI did not put our players, our team, our organization in the best position to win that game,\u201d Harbaugh said.<\/p>\n Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert walks off the field after fumbling the ball during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.<\/p>\n (Eric Thayer \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Herbert was sacked five times with a fumble and an interception. Dating to last season, he has gone seven consecutive games with at least as many interceptions as touchdowns. He completed 14 of 24 passes for 121 yards, his lowest passing total since throwing for 81 yards in a 35-6 loss at Jacksonville last November.<\/p>\n \u201cJust can\u2019t turn the ball over,\u201d said Herbert, his answers shorter than audibles at the line of scrimmage.<\/p>\n Similar to last season, Herbert was playing behind a cobbled-together offensive line, with starting tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater injured a week earlier in the loss at Seattle.<\/p>\n The Chargers started four rookies on the offensive line, three of whom are backups. They also were without All-Pro safety Derwin James Jr.<\/a>, who missed a second game with a hamstring injury, and No. 1 receiver Ladd McConkey<\/a>, hobbled by an injured foot.<\/p>\n Still, the game was tight for three-plus quarters because Denver couldn\u2019t get its offense rolling, either. Through three quarters, the Broncos had run 37 offensive plays, all but two of which went for fewer than 10 yards.<\/p>\n After the Chargers forged a 10-10 tie with a seven-yard touchdown pass to tight end Hayden Rucci, they claimed the lead with a highlight-reel touchdown run by Kimani Vidal, who broke five tackles on the way to his 42-yard score.<\/p>\n Oddly, seeing as it came on his home field, Vidal\u2019s touchdown only quieted SoFi Stadium, which was awash in orange jerseys.<\/p>\n The place would reignite, however, with the trio of Chargers turnovers.<\/p>\n This was the first game that Broncos coach Sean Payton took over playcalling duties and \u2014 thanks in large part to the Chargers\u2019 defense \u2014 his team fell far short of overwhelming.<\/p>\n Denver converted just one of 12 third downs and finished with 224 yards, 13 fewer than the Chargers. The Broncos did pick up their first divisional win, however, after losing their opener to Kansas City.<\/p>\n The Chargers struggled from the start. Their first pass, a completion to tight end Charlie Kolar<\/a>, was fumbled away. That came a week after Herbert\u2019s opening throw was picked off by Seattle.<\/p>\n![\"Chargers](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791769243_726_.jpeg\")
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