SEATTLE -- The script was familiar for the Los Angeles Chargers in Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
The offense struggled, racking up penalties. Justin Herbert threw interceptions. The offensive line was abysmal. The defense held on for as long as it could, but the Chargers fell to 0-4 despite registering a season high in points in their 30-23 loss to the defending Super Bowl champions.
Despite being winless since Week 16 of last season and having an offense that is struggling this season, coach Jim Harbaugh is standing by offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
“His job is not in jeopardy,” Harbaugh said. “He’s a skilled coach, and we’re going to keep growing.”
The first half of Sunday’s game was a continuation of the Chargers’ disastrous season on offense. Herbert threw an interception directly to linebacker Drake Thomas on the first play of the game, a mistake that would be stunning for someone of Herbert’s caliber, but it has become the norm this season.
Herbert did the same thing in the following quarter, when he appeared to be targeting wide receiver Ladd McConkey or tight end Oronde Gadsden but threw the ball to Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV.
“The way I understood it, he saw the linebacker move inside, and then the linebacker made a very nice play back outside,” Harbaugh said of that interception.
Herbert finished the half 5-for-14 with 36 passing yards and two interceptions. It was the first time he had fewer than 40 passing yards in a half this season, as the Chargers went into the break trailing 20-6. But Herbert and the offense bounced back in the second half, for what was perhaps their best stretch this season.
The Chargers trimmed their deficit to seven points and had a chance to tie the score with 1:42 remaining in the fourth quarter. By that point, Herbert looked like the quarterback who had established himself as one of the league’s best in his first six seasons.
During a fourth-down conversion, Herbert scrambled and launched the ball 44 yards over Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett and hit wide receiver Quentin Johnston. Three plays later, Herbert floated a pass over cornerback Josh Jobe and connected with wide receiver Tre’ Harris for a 21-yard third-down conversion despite Herbert being hit by safety Nick Emmanwori.
“Just settled down,” Herbert said. “Guys got after it and made some plays when we needed to and were able to convert some third downs.”
Herbert was 13-of-16 with 144 passing yards in the second half when he took the field with a chance to win the game with 1:42 remaining, but the dream of a comeback win faded quickly. Seahawks outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu beat rookie lineman Logan Taylor for a strip sack on the third play of the drive.
“I think there were a lot of good things in the second half,” Herbert said. “I appreciated the battle and the fight from everyone and being able to strain out some of those long drives is really important for us, and hopefully, that’s something we can build off of.”
Herbert’s second-half performance is probably the Chargers’ only offensive bright spot, as they have more questions than answers.
The offensive line had its worst day of the season. According to ESPN Analytics and Next Gen Stats, the Chargers’ pass block win rate was 13%, their lowest in ESPN’s 10-year dataset for blocking win rates. Herbert was sacked four times and pressured 22 times (55% of his dropbacks), according to Next Gen Stats.
During a fourth-quarter play, defensive tackle Derick Hall hit Herbert after he released the ball and landed on him. Herbert grimaced in pain and lay on the ground; Hall was flagged for unnecessary roughness. Harbaugh and trainers ran to Herbert’s aid, but Herbert got up and fended them off.
“One of the real grittiest performances I’ve been associated with from a quarterback,” Harbaugh said.
The offensive line’s woes were partly due to injuries, though the group struggled all game. The Chargers started third-string left guard, Trevor Penning. During the game, they lost Penning (head) in the third quarter, Rashawn Slater (ankle) in the fourth and Joe Alt (neck) in the second.
After Slater was injured on the first drive of the fourth quarter, the Chargers trotted out an offensive line with four rookies -- Travis Burke, Jacob Spomer, Jake Slaughter, Taylor -- and veteran Cole Strange. By that point in the fourth quarter, the Chargers didn’t have any other lineman in uniform. To make matters worse, McConkey had already exited the game in the second quarter because of a foot injury.
Harbaugh didn’t have updates on the injured players but answered in the affirmative when asked if Herbert’s hits were concerning.
“Protecting him, that’s always at the front of the mind,” Harbaugh said.
The Chargers’ run game was another puzzling element to the offense Sunday.
Through the first two weeks, former first-round pick Omarion Hampton was the team’s main option; he was ninth in the NFL in carries (35) and 11th in rushing yards (137). In their Week 2 loss to the Raiders, Hampton fumbled in the fourth quarter on the Chargers’ penultimate drive while trailing by three. The Raiders scored on their next drive and won the game. Hampton also lost a fumble in Week 1 in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Over the past two weeks, Hampton’s touches have reduced significantly. He ranks 26th in the NFL with 24 carries during the past two weeks. Running back Keaton Mitchell’s share has increased; he has 18 over the last two weeks, ranking 31st in the league. On Sunday, Hampton had a season-low 22 snaps and nine carries, one fewer than Mitchell’s 10.
Harbaugh said that the rotation wasn’t related to Hampton’s fumbles, but rather that the Chargers have three good running backs, including Kimani Vidal, who had five carries Sunday. Harbaugh said the rotation is what’s best for the team, but when asked why it wasn’t best for the team in the first two weeks, he said he had already answered that question.
The Chargers play the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium next Sunday as they look to avoid eight straight losses dating back to last season.
“The plan did not work to result in a victory, and we’ll go back and plan some more with the skilled coaches we have and the talented players and fight,” Harbaugh said. “That’s what gives me optimism.”
