Recap of Los Angeles’ Week 14 loss

The Chargers lost a close one to the Chiefs on Sunday night. They are 8-5.

Here’s our recap of Los Angeles’ Week 14 loss.

It was over when…

Matthew Wright doinked it off the left upright, and the football went through as time expired.

Notable number

Justin Herbert joined Tom Brady (2010) as the only two players in NFL history who went 11 consecutive games in a single season without throwing an interception.

3 stars of the game

1. WR Joshua Palmer: 6 catches, 78 yards
2. WR Quentin Johnston: 5 catches, 48 yards, touchdown
3. TE Stone Smartt: 3 catches, 54 yards

Quick hits

• Justin Herbert made his usual eye-popping throws and took care of the football. But he also took some unnecessary sacks. Herbert finished 21-of-30 passing for 213 yards and a touchdown. He sustained a leg contusion on the hit he took from Nick Bolton in the second quarter.
• It was a tale of two halves for the offense. They went the entire first half without points. Three of their drives resulted in a three-and-out. In the second half, they scored on each of their possessions, with their first two being touchdowns.
• Without Ladd McConkey, the other pass catchers stepped up. Joshua Palmer made a few catches on crucial downs. Palmer led the team in receiving with six catches for 78 yards. Quentin Johnston had five receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown, including a couple of tough grabs.
• Stone Smartt has always been known for his receiving chops, and they were on full display when Will Dissly went out with an injury. Smartt had three catches for 54 yards.
• Gus Edwards and Kimani Vidal combined for 70 yards on 18 carries (3.8 YPC).
• Aside from the final drive, the defense did what it needed to, holding the Chiefs to less than 20 points. The pass rush kept Patrick Mahomes contained. Kansas City didn’t have a receiver go over 50 yards. Isiah Pacheco wasn’t much of a factor. The Chiefs went 1-of-3 in the red zone.
• You have to be aggressive against the Chiefs, so I didn’t understand Jim Harbaugh’s decision to punt on their first drive from Kansas City’s 39 instead of attempting the field goal. Cameron Dicker has been money from long distance.

What’s next?

The Chargers are back home to face the Buccaneers next Sunday, Dec. 15, at 1:25 pm PT.