Chargers offense stalls against 49ers

The Chargers couldn’t have gotten off to a much better start on offense with a touchdown drive to open the game. After that, the short-handed offense stalled and had no answers against a stout 49ers defense. Justin Herbert and the Chargers were held to three field goals over their final 10 drives as the running game never got going and the passing game generated no big plays in a 22-16 loss to the 49ers on Sunday night in Santa Clara, California. “We just didn’t execute,” Herbert said after the loss. “We had our opportunities. ... We couldn’t execute when we needed to on third down.” The Chargers (5-4) came into the game missing both starting tackles, and starting receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, and then lost tight end Gerald Everett in the first half to a groin injury. But Herbert overcame those absences early, going 4-for-4 on the opening drive that was capped by a 32-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Carter. The Chargers wouldn’t make it back into the end zone again, averaging a meager 3.33 yards per play the rest of the game. —Associated Press