HERBERT SHINES, BUT BOLTS SHORT
A wrenching Chargers season continued Monday when they blew a 17-point first-half lead for the second consecutive week in a 30-27 overtime loss at New Orleans.
They had a chance to win
Saints 30, Chargers 27 (OT)
on the final play of regulation, but Michael Badgley’s 50yard field goal attempt hit the right upright. Badgley also missed a first-quarter extra point that proved vital.
“The young man has been kicking outstanding. He’s got to do better, but we could have done some other things better,” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said.
The loss was the fourth straight for the Chargers (1-4). They’ve now dropped 13 of their past 15 one-score games dating to Week 2 of last season.
The winning points for the Saints came on a 36-yard field goal by Wil Lutz on the first possession of overtime.
The Chargers had one final chance but their possession in overtime ended near midfield when Mike Williams took a short pass from Justin Herbert and narrowly missed converting a fourth down.
“Never thought this team would lose four straight. We’ve put ourselves in position, but we didn’t get it done,” Lynn said. “We have to finish these damn games.”
The Chargers took a 27-20 lead with 3:40 to go in regulation when Herbert hit a wideopen Williams for a 64-yard touchdown. Herbert finished the game 20 of 34 for 264 yards.
But the Saints responded with an eight-play, 73-yard drive that ended with Taysom Hill running 9 yards for the score.
Lutz’s extra point made it 27-27 with 52 seconds remaining.
The Chargers opened a 20-3 lead with a little more than four minutes to go in the second quarter behind Herbert.
They also had a 17-point second-quarter lead in Week 4 against Tampa Bay before a late turnover led to a Buccaneers’ momentum-shifting touchdown right before halftime.
Again, the Saints scored
Monday on a 1-yard Drew Brees run with only 14 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The Chargers also blew an 11-point third-quarter lead in a loss to Kansas City in Week 2.
Herbert led the Chargers on three first-half touchdowns, each possession ending with him throwing for the score.
He finished a nine-play, 80yard drive with a 17-yard strike to Keenan Allen, the connection also converting on thirdand-7 situation.
Even more impressive, Herbert made the throw after avoiding a pair of hard-charging Saints pass rushers, end Cameron Jordan and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins.
Already dealing with an array of injuries, the Chargers lost Allen for the rest of the game soon after his score because of a back issue.
Then came a seven-play, 75-yard possession that was extended when New Orleans
was called for roughing Chargers punter Ty Long. Herbert made the Saints pay by hitting Williams for a 4-yard score.
The final first-half touchdown was set up by Nasir Adderley’s first career inter
ception. Adderley returned the pickoff 39 yards and inside the New Orleans’ 1-yard line.
After a sack and a Josh Kelley run, Herbert fired a laser to tight end Hunter Henry for a 3-yard touchdown.
That put the Chargers up 20-3, giving them a 17-point second-quarter edge for the second consecutive week. They blew all of that lead at Tampa Bay in what became a 38-31 loss.
Assistant on leave
Chargers wide receivers coach Phil McGeoghan has left the team for personal reasons but will remain on staff. He did not travel with the Chargers to New Orleans.
McGeoghan shared on social media that he and two of his children have heart defects and that a member of his family is dealing with breast cancer.