Justin Herbert, Chargers had chances to beat Chiefs but limped to the finish line

With the game tied for the second straight time in the fourth quarter, the Chargers had a chance to make a strong statement. On fourth-and-1 from the Kansas City three-yard line, Justin Herbert dropped back. Before he could even set foot to pass, Kansas City’s Chris Jones was right in the quarterback’s face.

For Herbert’s best chance of knocking out his AFC West rival, he could only throw through the back of the end zone.

The quarterback suffered a high ankle sprain for the second straight game but couldn’t force his undermanned team to pull off an upset over the Chiefs, who capitalized on key opportunities in the fourth quarter on Sunday to win 17-10 at SoFi Stadium.

The two-time defending Super Bowl champions won their sixth straight game against the Chargers (2-2), with five of the six games coming on one possession.

Outside linebacker Khalil Mack, now in his third season with the Chargers, said this week that the Chiefs’ championship pedigree is proving to be the team’s “finding force.”[s] Opportunities to win games.”

Read more: 🏈 Chargers Chiefs recap

The statement he made Thursday with equal parts envy and awe in front of his locker played out on the field.

The Chargers (2-2) came up empty at the three-yard line. The Chiefs (4-0) engineered the winning five-play, 60-yard drive in the fourth quarter that secured a 10-10 tie.

“We had a chance to do something special, man,” Mack said, “and couldn’t hold on to the rope when it counted.”

Including a 20-10 loss to the Steelers last week, the Chargers have failed to score a second-half point in consecutive games. The Chargers, who had allowed just one touchdown in the red zone in the first three games, gave up the decisive score on a two-yard touchdown run by Samaje Perine.

The Chargers dominated the first quarter behind an undermanned defense that forced takeaways on each of the Chiefs’ first two drives.

A fumble forced by Tuli Tuipulotu and recovered by Elijah Molden led to a seven-yard touchdown pass from Herbert to Ladd McConkey, who tapped his toes into the back of the end zone for his second NFL touchdown.

But Herbert came out of the game limping after intercepting a strong hit from Kansas City defensive end Malik Herring. Already bothered by an upper right ankle sprain, Herbert was sacked twice and hit 10 times behind a scrimmage without tackling Rashawn Slater (pectoral muscle) and Joe Alt (knee).

Herbert finished the game with 179 yards and a touchdown on 16 of 27 passes.

“I need to give him a little more time,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Some of his throws, some of his plays were unbelievable.”

The patchwork offensive line, in which Sam Mustipher served as the starting right guard a day after the third-string center was called up from the practice squad, was struggling in every way. The Chargers rushed for just 55 yards and incurred nine penalties, including five from offensive linemen.

Cornerback Kristian Fulton intercepted a pass in the second quarter and returned it 29 yards to Kansas City’s 20 yards. But penalties from Mustipher and new left tackle Jamaree Salyer turned that opportunity into a 50-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead with 3:53 left in the first quarter.

This kept the Chiefs well within striking distance and they finally took advantage in the second quarter with a 54-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to Xavier Worthy, tying the score within three minutes.

“We have to be more disciplined,” left defenseman Zion Johnson said. “But I think that’s the thing, we can go back to the drawing board and fix these things, and the future is bright once we fix these things.”

The upcoming timeout, which initially seemed too early, now comes at the right time for the Chargers, who were also without safety Derwin James Jr. (suspension) and outside linebacker Joey Bosa (hip).

Herbert, who played Sunday with extra ankle support, finished the game but was limping after taking several hits. Getting Slater and Alt back will be necessary to stabilize an offense that wants to rely on its rushing attack, which has been held to 116 yards in the last two games.

Mack, now in his 11th year in the league, will focus on taking care of his sore hip and knee. However, after back-to-back losses, the Chargers are expected to practice again during the week off.

“I can’t really think of it as a goodbye week,” Mack said, “I have to think of it as a work week.”

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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.