Jim Harbaugh didn’t hide from the play that helped sink the Chargers on Sunday.
After Los Angeles coughed up a fourth-quarter chance against the Denver Broncos, the veteran coach put the loss on himself, saying he made the “wrong decision” on the sequence that ended with the Chargers turning the ball over on downs. Justin Herbert got stuffed on a rush attempt when the Chargers needed just one yard, and Denver later answered by tying the game from the other end of the field.
“That was the wrong decision. I can’t think of a time where I’ve been more mad at myself.
This team works so hard, played so valiantly. And yeah I take 100% accountability for making that decision and turned the momentum of the game.
So, it was the wrong one. And I got to be right on those,” Harbaugh said.
It was a brutal way for the Chargers to let one slip away. Los Angeles entered the season with playoff expectations, but five games in, the record still shows no wins. Sunday offered a real chance to break through, only for the fourth-quarter collapse to leave them right back where they started.
Herbert’s day reflected the offense’s ongoing problems. He finished 14 of 24 for 121 yards with a touchdown and an interception, while adding 54 yards on six carries. Kimani Vidal led the ground game with eight rushes for 57 yards and a score, and Charlie Kolar chipped in with three catches for 37 yards.
Now the Chargers have to regroup fast. They’ll head on the road to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6, with kickoff set for Oct. 18 at 4:25 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Chargers Face A Harsh Trade Deadline Question At 0-4
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The names getting mentioned tell their own story. Outside linebacker Khalil Mack and wide receiver Quentin Johnston have come up as possible trade candidates, but there is a difference between league chatter and an actual willingness to act, particularly for a team that has spent so much on trying to stabilize its direction. For now, the real uncertainty is not just who might draw interest, but whether the Chargers would ever decide the season is far enough off track to make a serious move at all. [Read more 🡒]
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Jeudys profile is a complicated one for any team considering a move. His production has slipped since a strong 2024 season, and Cleveland now has several younger receivers beginning to carve out roles, which is part of why his situation bears watching. For the Chargers, the question is whether his talent and experience outweigh the uncertainty that comes with a midseason receiver decision. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Let Another Winnable Game Slip Away As Pressure Builds On Herbert
The Chargers had another one of those nights in Inglewood where the game was there to be won, and then slipped away in the kind of late-game sequence that has become hard to ignore around Justin Herbert. Denver rallied for a 23-17 victory after Sean Payton took over play-calling duties, with the Broncos leaning on defensive takeaways in the fourth quarter and Bo Nix finding Courtland Sutton for the tying touchdown to swing the momentum.
Wil Lutz finished it off with two late field goals, and the Chargers were left to reckon with a loss that felt avoidable for much of the evening. Herbert had chances to settle things down on the final stretch, but Denver kept getting the stops and the breaks it needed, turning a winnable game into another frustrating finish for a team under growing pressure to convert those moments into wins. [Read more 🡒]