EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh blamed himself for the team's 23-17 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, saying his decision on a fourth-down call in the final quarter left him "more mad" at himself than he ever could recall.With the Chargers leading 17-10 with 10:33 remaining, Harbaugh opted to go for it on fourth-and-1 from his own 41. But quarterback Justin Herbert was stuffed on the play, never coming close to moving the sticks. Five plays later, Denver tied the game with a touchdown to snatch the momentum back.Harbaugh called his decision the wrong one, a message he relayed to the team in the locker room after it dropped to 0-5 for the first time since 2003."I can't think of a time where I've been more mad at myself," he said. "This team works so hard, played so valiantly. And yeah, I take 100% accountability for making that decision and turned the momentum of the game. So it was the wrong one and I got to be right on those."ESPN Analytics, however, agreed with Harbaugh's choice, noting the Chargers had a win percentage of 82% if they went for it compared to 79.8% if they punted.An 8-yard Herbert run on third-and-9 set up the critical play call. Behind an injury-ravaged offensive line that started four rookies Sunday, Herbert barely moved ahead before the Broncos smothered him in the backfield for the stop. Harbaugh said that when he saw the Broncos gap down, he should've called timeout and punted.However, Herbert -- who converted on a quarterback sneak earlier in the game to get a first down -- defended his coach."I think it's on me to get a yard. We got to be able to push and get a yard," he said. "I have complete faith in our guys and myself, and it's on us to go get a yard and convert."Harbaugh emphasized that the team showed heart, fight and talent, but "100% put this on me.""Really right now the only thing I can think of is I screwed that up, that's really the only thing going through my mind," he said. "Because the playmaking, the stops, the momentum was in our favor. And yeah, wrong decision. Both of them. When they don't work, that's my accountability."The second attempt to go for it on fourth down in the final quarter - on fourth-and-6 at their own 31 with Denver ahead 20-13 - ended in similar fashion, this time with Herbert throwing his sixth interception of the season (ESPN Analytics agreed with that call, too.)Following back-to-back 11-win seasons, the Chargers now head to Kansas City next Sunday looking to avoid an 0-6 start."Yeah, I don't know what that message is," Harbaugh said. "The players just fight their hearts out, play, give it everything they have. That's the only way, that's the best way. ... I did not put our players, our team, our organization in the best position to win that game."
