EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsINGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Jim Harbaugh paused.It was shortly after his Los Angeles Chargers' 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, and a reporter had asked about the Chargers' offense, which struggled for the second week in a row. As Harbaugh answered the question, he stopped while a loud and fervent Raiders chant blared in the background.It's unclear whether Harbaugh -- who often pauses at random times in his news conferences -- was pausing because of the chant, or whether he even heard it. Nonetheless, the moment was a cruel reminder of how quickly things have changed for this Chargers team."We'll look at the tape. We'll go back to work. That's all I know how to do," Harbaugh said as the Raiders chants continued.Coming into this season, ESPN's Football Power Index gave the Chargers the fifth-highest odds to win the Super Bowl. And Sunday's game was supposed to be a bounce-back opportunity for a team hoping to contend.After last week's loss to the Arizona Cardinals, during which the Chargers' offense fell flat and their passing defense was picked apart, coaches and players preached a similar tune, echoing the words "uncharacteristic" and "sloppy." They were firm that the opener wasn't reflective of who they were.Sunday's loss to the Raiders refuted that sentiment. Six fumbles, eight penalties, three turnovers. An offense that, for the second week in a row, looked helplessly lost, and a defense seemingly outschemed again."It's just on us to be better," quarterback Justin Herbert said.The Chargers' mishaps Sunday were plenty.Offensive tackle Joe Alt, a Pro Bowler last season, was flagged four times, three for false starts and one for a hold in the end zone that resulted in a safety. Alt is the first player with three false start penalties in a game since Matt Pryor in 2020 and the first Chargers player since Marcus McNeill in 2011 to have four accepted penalties."Sometimes it happens," Alt said. "I thought I saw what I saw and I didn't. Gotta be better."A late snap on a third-and-1 in the third quarter that hit wide receiver Tre' Harris as he was motioning led to an outburst from Herbert that was among the most animated of his career. An Omarion Hampton fumble in the fourth quarter essentially ended the game.Then there was a bobbled pass by tight end David Njoku that led to an interception. The only receiver who posed a threat to the defense consistently again was Ladd McConkey, playing limited snaps through a rib injury. He tied for the team lead in receptions with three and had 35 receiving yards.On the other side of the ball, a defense that was too often out of position in the secondary surrendered another 250-plus-yard passing game.It was a similar script to last week's loss, but even worse. Still, the Chargers remain steadfast that this isn't who they are."I'm not deterred," Harbaugh said. "No one in that locker room is deterred."While Herbert echoed Harbaugh's comments, he acknowledged that there needs to be a sense of urgency in fixing their issues on offense."There's no time for us to be patient with how we're playing," he said. "It's not good enough, so we have to be better."Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins, without All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers, threw for three touchdowns and 253 yards, including two touchdowns to Cody White, who was elevated from the practice squad for the game. White had one touchdown in his career before Sunday.One of those White touchdowns came with safety Derwin James Jr. sidelined. James exited the game in the first quarter after fracturing his left pinkie while trying to make a tackle. He'll wear a cast for the remainder of the season."We got to look each other in the eye, man, and just tell the truth, and just get better," he said. "Because right now that s--- just looks trash."I'm angry, but being angry don't fix anything."Outside linebacker Khalil Mack, who returned to the Chargers for his 13th season with the hopes of winning a title, was so frustrated after the game that he didn't remember Harbaugh's speech."Honestly, I was blanked out the whole time; I don't really know," Mack said of Harbaugh's message. "My mind was on the game still."It's right there for us, man," he continued. "I feel like we doing a lot of things to hurt ourselves right now. And so once we get those things fixed, it'll look a lot better."
