It was yet another disappointing night in Week 6 for the Los Angeles Chargers as the Kansas City Chiefs won 22-6 on their home ground. However, the winning team has come under the NFL Operations’ radar.
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Two players, cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed and Christian Roland-Wallace, were penalized for unnecessary roughness according to the NFL accountability page. Sneed was fined $6,750, while Roland-Wallace was fined $5,981.
Sneed was fouled for a late hit on Herbert. This was during the first-quarter scramble with 3:27 left. Herbert successfully reached the Chiefs’ 22-yard line as he made a six-yard run, sliding in the process to end the play.
Sneed, who was actually trying to avoid any contact with the quarterback, tried to leap over Herbert. Unfortunately, his knee collided with the QB’s head. Sneed gestured with his palms splayed open, as if to indicate he was not at fault. However, the call stayed.
The Chiefs were given a 15-yard penalty on the flag, allowing the Chargers to advance to the 11-yard line. Eventually, they put up their first points on the board with a field goal.
Roland-Wallace’s penalty came right at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Chargers running back Omarion Hampton rushed for 3 yards. Guard Alex Harkey seemed to push Roland-Wallace well after the play had ended. While the officials went on to call for a penalty, the Chiefs cornerback retaliated in his own way, punching Harkey while he was down on his knees.
Two officials immediately saw this, and Roland-Wallace was ejected from the game. The fine was given for “striking/kicking/kneeing” under the category of “unnecessary roughness.” Before being ejected, Roland-Wallace totaled four tackles.
Even Harkey has been penalized $5,277 by the league for a late hit on Roland-Wallace.
Roland-Wallace was also denied an interception in the first half for a debatable roughing the passer call.
While the Chiefs have been hit by fines, the Chargers’ offense couldn’t seem to capitalize on these opportunities. Rarely have they done so through all these weeks into the season.
Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ offense have been among the worst this season
The Chargers have had the worst start possible in head coach Jim Harbaugh’s era, with the team at 0-6, being in this position for the first time since 2000. Herbert might be on course to record his worst season yet.
The QB has thrown an interception in each of the six games. With eight INTs, he is now tied for the most in the league. Not only that, but his offensive line has not been able to support him, putting him under constant pressure to throw in unfavorable circumstances. The Chargers are third in the league in sacks allowed (21).
Herbert also has 10 turnovers this season.
“We’ve got to do a better job of not turning the ball over and not putting them in those positions,” Herbert said.
Harbaugh said after the Chiefs game that the team is “looking into everything at this point,” but focusing more on the offensive side of the ball. Harbaugh said that the team is looking at “everything that relates to moving the ball.” Whether that leads to offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s exit is left to be seen.
The Chargers rank 27th in the league for averaging 168.2 passing yards per game, with Herbert having a passer rating of 68.4. Herbert said after the loss that he doesn’t know what’s going wrong with the offense, saying that if he had the answers, “We’d definitely be having a different conversation.”
Meanwhile, Harbaugh is looking to work things his way through, though he earlier defended offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, saying that his job was “not in jeopardy” amid poor offensive performances.
“The job I’m doing, it starts with me. We’ll watch this and get with our offensive coaches,” Harbaugh said. “I see the effort, I see the work being put in in the meetings, on the practice field, and to get that to translate to the field is what’s necessary. Feel bad for our players, our team, our coaches, our fans. And [offense] needs to be addressed.”
For now, the Chargers are one of the worst-performing teams this season, the opposite of what was predicted for them in the offseason. The Chargers have a bye week to work on themselves and will face the Los Angeles Rams next.