The Los Angeles Chargers struggled to find their footing Monday night against the Arizona Cardinals, with all of their points coming from field goals by Cameron Dicker. Despite a season-high passing performance from quarterback Justin Herbert, the Chargers couldn’t overcome critical errors and ended up losing 17-15 after a last-second field goal by Arizona.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh watched in frustration from the sideline as the Chargers defense, ranked best in the league for points allowed, failed to deliver in crucial moments. Even though Herbert threw for 349 yards, dropped passes and an underperforming rushing game left the offense without a single touchdown. Cameron Dicker, reliable throughout the game, nailed five field goals, including a 40-yard attempt that briefly gave the Chargers the lead late in the fourth quarter. However, Arizona’s final drive, fueled by a key penalty on rookie cornerback Cam Hart, set up their game-winning field goal.
The Chargers’ defense had another tough night, following a collapse against the Denver Broncos the previous week. James Conner of the Cardinals delivered a devastating 101 rushing yards, including a pivotal 33-yard run that helped set up Arizona’s winning field goal. The Chargers’ defense struggled to contain the Cardinals, and their penalties and missed tackles proved costly. A helmet-to-helmet hit by Hart turned what could have been a critical third down stop into a first down for the Cardinals, leading to their victory.
On the offensive side, while Herbert spread the ball around to nine different receivers, the Chargers’ issues were clear. Tight end Will Dissly had eight catches for 81 yards, but dropped passes at crucial moments by other players hurt the team. The running game, expected to be a key component under Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman, sputtered, producing only 59 yards on 22 carries. This inconsistency in the offense, particularly in the red zone, remains a major hurdle for the Chargers, who now face two struggling teams in the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns.
The loss brings the Chargers to a 3-3 record, and the team now has to regroup ahead of what could be pivotal games for their season. Despite their defensive rankings, this game showed that without a balanced offense and more consistent execution, they’ll struggle to compete. As Harbaugh noted after the game, it was filled with “near misses” that ended up costing them dearly in the end.
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