Chargers Chiefs Week 4 game recap

4. Offensive struggles after hot start

The Bolts' opening drive was perfect as the offense marched 74 yards in 10 plays to take an early 7-0 lead.

Justin Herbert hit Ladd McConkey for a 7-yard touchdown, the rookie wide receiver's second score of the season.

It was a real challenge after that, however, as the Bolts managed just 23 yards on their next 17 plays in the first half.

Fulton's interception helped score three more points when Cameron Dicker hit a 50-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. But the Bolts actually lost 12 yards on their four offensive plays on that drive.

The Chargers finished the game with 224 yards rushing on 53 plays. However, their biggest annoyance was the penalties, as the offense was given a total of nine penalties, two of which were declined.

“Every time we stayed in front of the sticks and didn’t get any penalties, we drove the ball,” Pipkins said. “That’s where the frustration comes from. That’s up to us.”

The Chargers had no penalty on their first possession of the game. But they suffered at least one flag on five of their next six possessions, making the game much more difficult than it needed to be.

Herbert started despite a high ankle sprain and played well again early on. But he was hit and harassed several times throughout the game against a stout Chiefs defense.

“I know everyone else in this locker room would,” Herbert said. “Everyone doesn’t feel great, it’s the NFL, it’s a brutal game.”

“But I know I left everything I had out there,” Herbert added. “I felt comfortable, our communication with the training staff was great all week, but I know all those guys in the locker room would do the same.”

The Bolts had no starting offensive tackles in Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt and went with the five-man starting group (from left to right) of Jamaree Salyer, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Sam Mustipher and Pipkins.

“At the end of the day, we have to protect him,” Johnson said. “We can’t allow him to get hit so often. He’s a tough guy and he’ll do his thing.”

Harbaugh added: “We need to give him a little more time. Some of the throws he made, the plays he made, we’re unbelievable.”

The Chargers were shut out in the second half for the second straight week as the Bolts converted just four of 13 attempts on third downs.

“It’s just up to us,” Herbert said. “The execution on third down or fourth down when we want it.

“It's about converting in the red zone and making sure we advance the ball to limit those penalties,” Herbert added. “When you put that together, that’s the offense we want to run.”

Salyer added: “I think in general offense and football is such a dynamic and rhythmic game that when you have penalties, false starts or whatever and they start piling up, it hurts us.”

JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards combined for 51 rushing yards on 20 carries.

“We don’t make the plays. We just have to make the plays,” Dobbins said.