Justin Herbert and Chargers are shut out for three quarters in loss to Commanders

What once were points have now become penalties.

Touchdowns have been replaced by turnovers.

The Chargers, after a 3-0 start, have pulled a dispiriting U-turn, losing consecutive games and suddenly groping for answers a mere five weeks into the NFL season.

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Sam Farmer breaks down what went wrong for the Chargers in their 27-10 loss to the Washington Commanders at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.

The latest setback came Sunday with a 27-10 loss to the Washington Commanders, a game that had all the hallmarks of this whipsaw Chargers season.

They scored the first 10 points, then surrendered an unanswered 27.

“We prepare all week, the coaches emphasize focus and discipline every single day,” safety Derwin James said. “To come out and not execute, not play disciplined, that’s disappointing.”

The most coordination the Chargers showed all day was their hasty exit from SoFi Stadium, an SUV whisking away owner Dean Spanos, followed by a pair of golf carts whizzing past the locker room. One carried standout left tackle Joe Alt, reduced to a spectator with his high ankle sprain. Riding on the back of the second cart was rookie running back Omarion Hampton, a first-round pick, wearing a protective boot on his left foot. His coach declined to elaborate on that apparent injury.

🏈 Commanders 27, Chargers 10 — FINAL

Deebo Samuel caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels on fourth-and-seven with 1:08 left to secure the Commanders’ third win of the season.

The play completed a 13-play, 99-yard drive that started after Justin Herbert was picked off at the one-yard line. With the game on the line, the Chargers defense couldn’t stop the methodical, Daniels-led drive. The Chargers burned their three timeouts during the possession.

With the game out of reach, Trey Lance played for Justin Herbert on the final possession.

The Commanders scored 27 unanswered points after the Chargers took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter.

🏈 Commanders 20, Chargers 10 — 7:40 left in the fourth quarter

Justin Herbert was picked off at the goal line by Washington cornerback Mike Sainristil to abruptly end a 14-play, 53-yard drive that reached the Commanders’ 1-yard line.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart stripped Jacory Croskey-Merritt of the ball and recovered the fumble to give the Chargers the ball at the L.A. 36-yard line.

The Chargers managed to methodically drive down the field despite rookie running back Omarion Hampton staying on the sideline because of an ankle injury (he is questionable to return).

An 11-yard run by Kimani Vidal moved the ball to the one-yard line. But on third-and-goal, Herbert tried to force a pass to Keenan Allen, but defensive tackle Jer-Zhan Newton tipped the pass and Sainristil got his hands on it for his second turnover (he recovered a fumble in the first half).

🏈 Commanders 20, Chargers 10 — 1:51 left in the third quarter

Another promising Chargers drive came to an abrupt end when Tyler Conklin let a pass from Justin Herbert bounce off his hands on fourth-and-two, giving the Commanders the ball at their 39-yard line.

The Chargers only had 10 players on the field before Conklin ran on as a late sub moments before the dropped pass.

Herbert had an 18-yard run and completed a 12-yard pass to Ladd McConkey during the eight-play drive.

After Trey Pipkins III’s struggles on the previous drive, Jamaree Salyer took over for him at right tackle.

🏈 Commanders 20, Chargers 10 — 5:49 left in the third quarter

Matt Gay kicked a 36-yard field goal as the Commanders extended their lead late in the third quarter following an eight-play, 39-yard drive.

A 27-yard run by Jacory Croskey-Merritt and a 12-yard pass from Jayden Daniels to Jeremy McNichols moved the Commanders into field-goal range.

Washington has scored 20 unanswered points.

🏈 Commanders 17, Chargers 10 — 8:24 left in the third quarter

The Chargers’ offensive line troubles are hitting new lows.

On their first possession of the third quarter, back-to-back penalties on Trey Pipkins III (holding and illegal formation) nullified passes of 23 and 31 yards to Quentin Johnston and Keenan Allen.

The penalties, coupled with the Commanders sacking Justin Herbert for a third time, resulted in a three-and-out for the Chargers.

Making matters worse for the injury-riddled offensive line unit, guard Mekhi Becton sustained a hand injury and is listed as questionable to return.

🏈 Commanders 17, Chargers 10 — 10:58 left in the third quarter

The Chargers need to find a way to stop Jacory Croskey-Merritt.

The Commanders running back scored on a five-yard touchdown run to cap a seven-play, 69-yard drive to open the second half.

Washington has scored 17 unanswered points, and Croskey-Merritt is a big reason why. He caught passes of 28 and 11 yards from Jayden Daniels on the possession.

Meanwhile, Chargers defensive end Da’Shawn Hand, who sustained a groin injury in the first half, will not return, the team announced.

🏈 Commanders 10, Chargers 10 — HALFTIME

Matt Gay kicked a 29-yard field goal with two seconds left in the first half to tie the score after Washington capitalized on a Chargers roughing the kicker penalty in the final minute.

With the Commanders punting from the end zone, Marlowe Wax was called for a roughing the kicker penalty after he made contact with Tress Way after the ball was kicked.

Ladd McConkey actually ran the ball back 57 yards for a touchdown — making a spectacular leap over Way in the process — but the play was nullified because of the penalty.

Instead, the Commanders got the ball back and Jayden Daniels promptly completed a spectacular 50-yard pass to a diving Luke McCaffrey. He then connected on a 22-yard pass to Deebo Samuel to set up the field goal.

Justin Herbert completed 13 of 15 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Omarion Hampton has 37 yards in 10 carries and 26 yards in six receptions.

Daniels completed six of 13 passes for 122 yards.

🏈 Chargers 10, Commanders 7 — 4:15 left in the second quarter

Washington running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt took advantage of broken coverage to score on a 15-yard touchdown run and put the Commanders on the board.

The touchdown capped a nine-play, 74-yard drive that grew out of Quentin Johnston fumble.

🏈 Chargers 10, Commanders 0 — 8:58 left in the second quarter

Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston lost the ball to Quan Martin on a fumble after the Washington safety hit him following a 19-yard catch.

The turnover ended a 10-play, 60-yard drive.

🏈 Chargers 10, Commanders 0 — 2:57 left in the first quarter

Cameron Dicker kicked a 55-yard field goal to extend the Chargers’ lead in the first quarter, capping a nine-play, 43-yard drive.

Washington pass rusher Von Miller sacked Justin Herbert on third down to end the drive. On the play before, a Washington blitz forced Herbert to quickly get rid of the ball. So far, the Chargers’ offensive line has had some difficulty handling the Commanders’ pass rush.

Keenan Allen caught a 29-yard pass for his 1,000th career reception, becoming the first player to achieve the feat in 159 games (Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison held the previous fastest mark to 1,000 receptions in 167 games).

Quentin Johnston picked up nine yards on a reverse flip from Omarion Hampton to move the Chargers into field-goal range.

Jayden Daniels and the Commanders went three-and-out against the Chargers defense on their first possession.

🏈 Chargers 7, Commanders 0 — 9:49 left in the first quarter

Justin Herbert connected on a two-yard touchdown pass to Ladd McConkey to give the Chargers an early lead. It was McConkey’s first touchdown catch of the season.

The touchdown came two plays after Washington’s Mike Sainristil jumped offside on a Chargers field-goal attempt to give the Chargers first and goal from the six-yard line.

The biggest play of the nine-play, 76-yard drive drive came from Herbert, who broke free up the middle for a 41-yard run on third down to move the ball to the Washington 27-yard line.

Justin Herbert scrambled up the middle for a 41-yard gain to the Washington 27.

What started as musical chairs is beginning to sound like a sad trombone.

There’s only so many times you can reshuffle an offensive line before it has a ripple effect on the entire football team. The Chargers are reminded of that now as they head into Sunday’s game with the Washington Commanders hoping — as opposed to knowing — they can provide adequate protection for quarterback Justin Herbert.

After reaching a comfortable cruising altitude with victories over three consecutive AFC West foes, the team is headed for a patch of severe turbulence.

The outstanding Joe Alt, who stepped in at left tackle after Rashawn Slater’s season-ending knee injury, is nursing a high ankle sprain and will not play against Washington. Right guard Mekhi Becton is coming off a concussion and is listed as questionable. So they’re a month into the season and the offensive line is a stitched-together hodgepodge that couldn’t handle the defensive front of the New York Giants last week.

Chargers right guard Mekhi Becton is set to play Sunday after missing last week while in concussion protocol. Tight end Will Dissly, who entered the weekend listed as questionable because of a knee injury, will not play.

Here are the players who will not be suiting up for the Chargers and Commanders on Sunday:

Last season, Ladd McConkey sparked the Chargers offense as a rookie pass-catching sensation.

The wide receiver led all skill position players in yards from scrimmage with 1,449 — and cemented himself as quarterback Justin Herbert’s primary target.

So far in 2025, with an improved Quentin Johnston showing improvement and Keenan Allen back on the team, McConkey has taken a step back. Last week against the Giants, McConkey set career lows in catches and receiving yards, with just one catch (on six targets) for 11 yards — the worst catch rate of his career.

McConkey has yet to record a touchdown. Johnston and Allen have combined for all seven receiving touchdowns.

“It’s just a tough game for him,” Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said about McConkey’s uncharacteristic outing. “He’ll bounce back, though. We have 110% faith in him and what he’s going to bring — he’ll bounce back.”

Washington could provide that opportunity for the former Georgia Bulldogs star. The Commanders concede 248.4 passing yards per game (27th in the league) and allow 8.6 yards per pass (30th).

McConkey knows what he must do against Washington: “Just don’t press, stay confident, and play my game and just let it come through.”

The Chargers wideout, who has 174 receiving yards on 16 receptions through four games, said overcoming the Commanders’ speed on defense will result in favorable performances for him and the rest of the offense.

“They’re gonna play hard, they’re gonna play fast,” McConkey said about the Commanders. “They fly around to the ball. Really good at all three levels.”

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Before they boarded their airport-bound buses for their 3,000-mile trip across the country Sunday, the physically spent Chargers were a collection of thousand-mile stares.

Not that they were anticipating an undefeated season — they were bound to lose sometime — but did anyone think they would fall to a winless team starting a rookie quarterback who had never thrown an NFL pass?

“It stings,” said coach Jim Harbaugh, trying to wrap his head around a 21-18 defeat to the New York Giants and savvy-beyond-his-years quarterback Jaxson Dart, making his rookie debut in place of the benched Russell Wilson.

Was the Chargers’ loss to the previously winless New York Giants a mere blip or an omen of what life’s going to be like with a patchwork offensive line?

Sunday’s game will be a test of that, because even though the Washington Commanders aren’t quite as imposing along the defensive line, they can still rush the passer.

The Chargers defense has been playing well but tends to struggle with mobile quarterbacks. Enter Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year who is recovering from a sprained knee. He won’t have his top receiver, Terry McLaurin, who is dealing with a quadriceps injury.