Three quarters into its broadcast of the Chargers’ 17-10 defeat to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Sunday, CBS aired a spotlight bundle earlier than a industrial break.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes sitting on the bench. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh transferring his gaze up from the bottom. Chiefs counterpart Andy Reid pointing and shouting.
The pictures have been completely unremarkable — aside from one.
Between the footage of Harbaugh and Reid, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was proven slamming his helmet with each palms into the backrest of one in all his workforce’s steel benches.
“I wouldn’t consider that a highlight,” Herbert stated.
OK, video clip, no matter.
“Just the NFL,” Herbert stated. “Part of the game. You know, emotion.”
What prompted the outburst?
Herbert wouldn’t say.
Then once more, the main points have been unimportant. The scene instructed the story of the sport.
After a 10-play, 74-yard landing drive to begin the sport, Herbert was below fixed assault.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is sacked by Chiefs Chris Jones (95) and Felix Anudike-Uzomah (97) within the fourth quarter.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Instances)
Herbert, who performed with a protecting brace to guard an injured proper ankle, didn’t play behind both of his common beginning offensive tackles. He didn’t have any authentic play-making threats to whom he might throw the ball as a result of the Chargers don’t have any on their roster.
Actuality has began to set in for the Chargers.
Within the wake of their anticipated defeat to the defending Tremendous Bowl champions at SoFi Stadium, they’re 2-2.
This season marked a brand new begin below a brand new coach for the Chargers, however they’ve encountered the identical previous downside. 4 weeks into the season, a workforce with a historical past of harm issues has, you guessed it, harm issues.
Outdoors linebacker Joey Bosa didn’t play towards the Chiefs due to a hip harm. Rookie linebacker Junior Colson missed his second consecutive recreation due to a hamstring ailment.
Security Derwin James Jr. was suspended for violating the NFL’s security guidelines.
On offense, left deal with Rashawn Slater was sidelined with a strained pectoral muscle. Rookie Joe Alt was down with a sprained knee ligament.
Chris Jones (95) sacks Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) late within the fourth quarter to assist seal the Chiefs’ victory.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Instances)
The Chargers have been greater than aggressive towards the Chiefs, and who is aware of what they might have executed in the event that they have been at full power, however what number of occasions was that stated about them of their earlier seven years in Los Angeles?
Herbert was sacked solely twice, however he was smashed into the turf loads of different occasions. Heck, he was hit even when he discovered Ladd McConkey in the back of the top zone for the primary factors of the sport.
“We just have to get Justin another half-second, second,” Harbaugh stated.
Herbert was hit when searching for receiver Joshua Palmer. He was hit when his tried cross to tight finish Will Dissly was practically intercepted. He was hit when he accomplished a brief cross to working again J.Ok. Dobbins.
Most critically, he was hit on a fourth-down throw from the Chiefs’ three-yard line early within the fourth quarter the sport degree, 10-10. Flushed out of the pocket by Chris Jones, he was speared by Felix Anudike-Uzomah as he threw away the ball.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) tries to interrupt free from Chiefs defensive finish Felix Anudike-Uzomah (97) within the second half.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Instances)
“He’s doing everything humanly possible, and then some,” Harbaugh stated of his quarterback.
Harbaugh presumably didn’t wish to make any excuses about accidents, and he didn’t. As a substitute, the coach resorted to blaming himself.
“I wish I could have done better for our guys,” he stated.
Higher how?
“The pre-snap penalties,” Harbaugh stated. “We gotta be better. I look at that as coaching.”
He additionally stated he wished he would have challenged the ball placement on the play earlier than Herbert’s fourth-down throw from the Chiefs’ three.
On the third-down play in query, Palmer caught a brief cross from Herbert and scooted ahead whereas on the bottom. As a substitute of difficult the pay, Harbaugh referred to as a timeout.
“Then started seeing some replays that maybe he did get a little closer, maybe it was possible that he got the first down,” Harbaugh stated. “I wish I would have thought of just throwing the challenge flag. Would have been the same as taking the timeout.”
Later within the quarter, the Chiefs went forward 17-10 on a two-yard run by Samaje Perine.
When the clock expired, the Chargers have been .500. Herbert was overwhelmed up and annoyed, as he usually has been in his 5 NFL seasons.
Perhaps this season will unfold the way in which Herbert envisioned. Perhaps this season can be totally different from his final. Or possibly it gained’t, and he’ll have to attend till subsequent yr, offered his physique holds up.
