Khalil Mack's conclusion on the Chargers' loss to the Chiefs: “We made it difficult for them”

The Chargers enter their off week with back-to-back losses and a litany of injuries, both figuratively and literally, after losing 17-10 to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

What we learned:

Choose the right spots

A thrilling fourth quarter that led to a season-opening victory gave hope that this era of the Chargers could be different from other teams of the past. Two real-life losses have shown that old habits die hard.

The Chargers went scoreless in the second half Sunday for the second straight game while blowing a 10-7 halftime lead.

Herbert, who left last week's game in Pittsburgh with an ankle injury early in the third quarter, lamented the offense's struggles on third and fourth downs against the Chiefs.

The Chargers were 4 of 13 on third downs and failed on a fourth-and-one from the Chiefs' three-yard line in the fourth quarter of a tied game. The team has gone seven to 24 in its last two games with third losses.

Read more: Column: Have you ever heard of it? Injuries prevent Justin Herbert, Chargers, from being successful

The Chiefs, who have yet to become an offensive juggernaut in recent years, converted nine of 16 (56.3%) of their third-down attempts, a season high.

“They’ve gotten better at playing situational football,” outside linebacker Khalil Mack said. “Other years there would be some kind of glitch here, a glitch there and they could score over 20 points. Today seemed a little more difficult for her.”

The Chargers, who have lost six straight to their AFC West rival, largely prevented Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes from making game-changing plays.

The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player had 12 rushing yards on five carries. But while he threw for 245 yards, with a touchdown and an interception, Mahomes began to “pick his spots in the run game,” Mack said. His biggest run came in the fourth quarter, a 13-yard gain on third-and-go.

The offensive line needs a break more than anyone

The Chargers can breathe a sigh of relief that Herbert was healthy enough to start and finish the game, but the team is still holding its breath about more serious injuries heading into the off week.

Left tackle Rashawn Slater (pectoral muscle) and right tackle Joe Alt (knee) were both inactive against the Chiefs and the results weren't pretty. The Chargers allowed two sacks and ten quarterback hits. They ran 55 yards. Seven penalties were assessed for the offense, five of which were against offensive linemen.

Herbert said the offense tried to use cadence as a weapon to neutralize Kansas City's front, but the tactic backfired and resulted in four false start penalties.

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

Offensive lineman Sam Mustipher was penalized twice, once for an illegal chop block on the Chargers' second offensive drive and for a false start in the third quarter. The third-line center was called up from the practice squad on Saturday before starting at right guard on the offensive line-injury combination that sent Trey Pipkins III to right tackle and Jamaree Salyer to left tackle.

“In the NFL, you go out there, do the work and block people,” Mustipher said of the sudden promotion. “We need to look at the tape. I know there are things I want to improve. It's about implementing the basics and counteracting this pressure. That’s what matters.”

New faces make big appearances

Joe Hortiz — or “Chef Hortiz,” as Jim Harbaugh likes to call the Chargers general manager — has put together a winning combination with his offseason defensive additions. Key secondary signings Kristian Fulton and Elijah Molden were both involved in takeaways on Sunday.

Molden, who joined the Chargers in a post-training camp trade, was able to fix the fumble caused by Tuli Tuipulotu on the Chiefs' first offensive attack. The takeaway was the Chargers' only touchdown of the game. Fulton grabbed his first interception since October 2022.

Fulton joined the Chargers as a free agent after a disappointing season with the Tennessee Titans in which he did not record an interception for the first time in his professional career.

When he came down with the ball on a pass intended for Travis Kelce on Sunday, Fulton said he was so overwhelmed by the thought of scoring that he forgot to secure the ball. The Chargers nearly lost the ball when Kansas City receiver Rashee Rice picked it off, but review reversed the decision because Rice was out of bounds when he made the play.

Fulton adds ball security to his list of things he needs to work on after four games.

“There are still little things that I can always work on, whether it's being a better communicator or a better leader throughout the week,” Fulton said. “It’s a long season and that’s the attitude I have – I just try to take it one game at a time.”

The defensive backs, along with second-year safety AJ Finley, filled in for Derwin James Jr., who was suspended for the game. He can return to the team during the week off.

Staff writer Anthony De Leon contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.