Justin Herbert interception dooms Chargers in loss

The Chargers triumphantly dispatched the AFC West.

The NFC East? That’s a different story.

The Washington Commanders barged into SoFi Stadium on Sunday and handed the Chargers their second consecutive defeat — a 27-10 spirit crusher — coming on the heels of an upset of coach Jim Harbaugh’s workforce by the winless New York Giants a week before.

The guests iced the win with a 13-play, 99-yard drive that ended with an eight-yard, blitz-beating landing cross from Jayden Daniels to Deebo Samuel. That had hundreds of blue-clad followers streaming for the exits.

The sport had been determined before that. A pivotal play got here with 7 minutes, 40 seconds remaining and the Chargers wanting to cut into Washington’s 10-point lead.

On third-and-goal from the 4, Justin Herbert dropped back and fired a cross for the sure-handed Keenan Allen. The ball was tipped by Jer’Zhan Newton and intercepted at the objective line by cornerback Mike Sainristil. Threat neutralized.

That blunted a drive that began with a masterful defensive play, a sort out by Chargers defensive sort out Teair Tart, who pried the ball free from Washington working back Jacory Croskey-Merritt — who was having a large sport — then recovered the fumble.

The play hinted at a dramatic comeback by the lurching Chargers (3-2), a workforce still wanting to discover its groove. Much like their season so far, the Chargers began strong then light.

They jumped out to a 10-0 lead against the Commanders before surrendering 27 unanswered factors with the sport torturously slipping away from the Chargers in the second half.

Their kryptonite was rookie Croskey-Merritt, who tore off some good points longer than his last identify. The seventh-round choose from Arizona completed with a mixed 150 yards in 14 carries and two catches.

He had landing runs of 15 and 5 yards around the left facet that befuddled a Chargers protection that had performed so properly to this level. This was a Commanders offense lacking star receiver Terry McLaurin, and with Daniels ostensibly restricted by a sprained knee and cumbersome brace.

Daniels did some scrambling, however, and cell quarterbacks traditionally have given this protection issues. The onetime star from Cajon High in San Bernardino threw for 231 yards and ran for 39.

Heading into the sport, the first concern of the Chargers offense was defending Herbert, who was pressured on 46 drop backs in the first 4 video games, more than any quarterback in the NFL, according to TruMedia. He was dealing with a protection Sunday that consists of future Hall of Famers Von Miller and Bobby Wagner.

Washington gamers have a good time after cornerback Mike Sainristil intercepts a cross supposed for Chargers broad receiver Keenan Allen in the fourth quarter Sunday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Herbert creates issues for defenses with his arm and legs. On the third play from scrimmage, he broke free on a run up the center and picked up 41 yards.

The opening drive appeared to end with a 29-yard area objective by Cameron Dicker, but the Chargers received new life with an offsides call on Washington. That afforded the Chargers a first-and-goal at the six, and two performs later, Herbert discovered Ladd McConkey with a two-yard cross for a landing.

Allen caught 5 passes, changing into the sixteenth receiver in NFL historical past to accumulate 1,000 profession receptions. He got here into Sunday’s sport needing two catches to hit that milestone, and he did that in fewer video games than anybody (159), in contrast with the prior record-holder Marvin Harrison (167).

Herbert is taking part in behind a patchwork offensive line, as the workforce misplaced left sort out Rashawn Slater in training camp — 10 days after making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in historical past — then misplaced substitute Joe Alt to a high-ankle sprain in the first quarter of a Week 4 loss at the Giants.

Chargers broad receiver Ladd McConkey celebrates after scoring his first landing of the season in the first quarter Sunday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Right guard Mekhi Becton returned from a concussion that sidelined him for the Giants sport, but Sunday sustained a hand injury. What’s more, proper sort out Trey Pipkins III hobbled off the sector in the second quarter with a banged-up knee. It was a true MASH unit.

This has been a curler coaster season for the Chargers, a microcosm of which occurred at the end of the first half.

The Commanders have been punting from their own end zone and put the ball in the arms of Chargers returner McConkey, who weaved his method to the end zone for an obvious landing.

That jubilation didn’t last long for the Chargers, as they have been flagged for roughing the punter, giving the guests a first down. No sooner did the protection get back onto the sector than Daniels linked on a 50-yard heave to Luke McCaffrey, youthful brother of San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey.

Two performs later, Samuel picked up 22 yards on a reception for Washington (3-2), setting up a area objective that solid a 10-10 tie the groups took into halftime.

The Commanders carried that momentum into the third quarter when, with a mixture of receptions and runs by Croskey-Merritt, they labored their method downfield for the go-ahead landing.