Fading Los Angeles Chargers Continue To Slide With No End In Sight

One Chargers stinker has blended into another and this will stop, right coach Jim Harbaugh?

“Definitely don’t want to have three in row,’’ a glum Harbaugh said after the sloppy Chargers surrendered to the Washington Commanders, 27-10, on Sunday.

That cool Los Angeles groove the team possessed after sweeping three AFC West rivals in the opening weeks has vanished like an open lane on the 405.

That swagger was replaced by slumped shoulders and wide eyes.

That chatter about standout Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert being an MVP candidate could resurface, although he would likely accept the award sprawled on his back, which is often his lot in life when attempting to pass.

Simply, the Chargers (3-2) can’t avoid knucklehead penalties, can’t give Herbert sufficient time to throw, have issues on defense and display a special-teams unit which is ordinary – at best.

Maybe this the Chargers’ rock bottom, and no squad wants to lose its grip on the rope named hope. But crossing fingers and wishing upon a falling star is a shaky strategy for a team, that we were told, was primed for an extended playoff run.

Instead, the season has morphed into one crucial mistake after another as the Chargers don’t resemble a team with Harbaugh at its helm.

Did we mention injuries?

To be fair, the Chargers have had more than their share along the offensive line, playing a third-string left tackle and four other dudes that don’t grade well.

The ailments up front are real, but using that as an excuse, isn’t. Injuries are as much of the NFL as paying $20 for a beer at its games, so acting surprised when they arrive is not an option.

There’s an old saying in the NFL that injuries are the first exit on the road of excuses. Lean on that card too much, without addressing it and it leads to a long offseason.

It was during the Chargers’ latest offseason of work, or lack of it, that has steamrolled this stretch of the year.

General manager Joe Hortiz and Harbaugh were showered with praise in giving L.A. a face lift, but they botched the notion of having championship depth with their front line.

It was no secret the Chargers had to get better up front, so Herbert could show off his accurate right arm. Houston had zero problems blowing up L.A. blockers when the Texans whipped them in last season’s playoff win.

But instead of throwing all of their energy toward fixing the line, the Chargers shrugged. They figured their star tackles in Rayshawn Slater and Joe Alt would mask the numerous issues along the interior.

L.A. did sign right guard Mekhi Becton to a two-year, $20 million deal, but his resume which included a Super Bowl title also arrived with him having trouble staying on the field.

Becton has already lost playing time to a balky knee, a concussion and on Sunday, he exited with a bad hand.

All is not good in Charger Land, where a touchdown and two massive first-down receptions were erased on Sunday because of flags.

Herbert?

He got hit nine more times and sacked four, this after being dragged down on a career-high 41 plays last season.

Strangely, that might be known as the good ol’ days as he’s on pace to be sacked 58 times this season.

But all is not lost as the Chargers have plenty of time to right their wobbly ship.

Although the challenges with the offensive line aren’t going anywhere soon and L.A. prays that rookie running back Omarion Hampton’s ankle injury from Sunday, that had him in a walking boot, isn’t severe.

Hampton, the team’s first pick, is partially subbing for Najee Harris after he sustained a season-ending injury.

Things look bleak, but the Chargers need to make a brief visit to Pity City and quickly stamp their passports to depart.

Otherwise, one loss becomes two and three’s hardly the charm for a squad with high expectations, with a coach making $16 million a year and an offense with plenty of weapons, but little fortification up front.

“Just have to get better,’’ Harbaugh said after a tw0-game stretch featuring 24 penalties, a high for his NFL teams. “We need to get the bleeding stopped on the penalties and the self-inflicted wounds…I know that we are capable of doing that.’’

Being capable and being successful don’t always share the same vehicle. If the Chargers want to halt this car-wreck of performances, something needs to change.

“It’s on us to fix that,’’ Herbert said. ”I think it is out of character.”

But it’s no longer out of line to question if those three season-opening victories were a sugar high that has evaporated. The AFC West remains wide open, but the Chargers’ window of opportunity will slam shut with more showings like the past two Sundays.

The Chargers need a sabbatical all right, and it’s from displaying a brand of football which resembles a squad which isn’t coached well.

“We’re not doing exactly what we’re supposed to be doing,’’ Harbaugh said.

That remark doesn’t raise flags in the training camp. When it surfaces heading into Week 6 and a game at the Miami Dolphins, then it’s hard to ignore.