INGLEWOOD–The Los Angeles Chargers season is in absolute danger after an embarassing loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, 26-14 at Sofi Stadium on Sunday, September 19.
It was a sellout filled with fans wearing silver and black, on the road no less. The Las Vegas Raiders improve to (2-0) on the season, meanwhile the Chargers fall to (0-2) as the offense struggles to score and question marks about in Inglewood.
Las Vegas beat the Chargers on the road for the first time since 2020, Raiders Nation who maintain a strong Southern California fan base, had lost four straight to the Chargers by double digits.
With No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza watching from the sideline, Raiders Quarterback Kirk Cousins was 19 of 29 for 253 yards with three TDs and an interception.
Cousins joined Ken Stabler in 1976 as only the Raiders quarterbacks to throw three or more TD passes in each of their first two games.
The Bolts were sloppy all afternoon.
The Chargers were done in by six fumbles, among other miscues.
“The fight was there,” Harbaugh said. “We’re losing in the margins. That’s what we have to get fixed.”
In his 100th NFL game, Jim Harbaugh fell to 0-2 for the first time in his college or pro coaching career, with the heavily favored Chargers also losing to Arizona 26-14 last week.
Justin Herbert had a costly interception in the 4th quarter. A visibly frustrated Herbert was 15 of 26 for 192 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He took three sacks.
“That’s not good enough and can’t expect to win games like that when we’re playing like that,” he said. “If we’re not playing up to our standard, that’s on us to fix it.”
Cousins favorite target was Wide Receiver Cody White. Cousins connected with White for a go-ahead, 13-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and an 11-yard score during the fourth, in the impressive AFC West opener on Sunday.
Leading 17-14, the Raiders’ Jeremy Chinn recovered a fumble and returned it 43 yards with 3:52 remaining in the game. Omarion Hampton had a costly fumble for the second straight week and Chinn recovered, returning it to the Chargers 16-yard line.
The Chargers’ Joe Alt, one of the league’s top tackles, had three false-start penalties and an offensive holding call that led to a Raiders safety in the closing minutes.
“Thought I saw what I saw and didn’t,” Alt said. “Got to be better.”
The road doesn’t get any easier for the Chargers. With their next six opponents all Super Bowl contenders.
Chargers visit the undefeated Buffalo next Sunday in their first road game of the season.
Afterwards, the Chargers travel to the defending Super Bowl Champions, the Seattle Seahawks. Then consecutive battles with Denver, Kansas City and finally, the Rams.
Somehow these Chargers need to turn it around in order to rejuvenate their season.
