INGLEWOOD — U-g-l-y.
The Chargers had no alibi Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
That old taunt was never more appropriate than during the Chargers’ 38-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Not only did it describe the Chargers’ blocking and tackling and running and passing, it was also a fitting tribute to the garish all-gold uniforms they wore as a tribute to days gone by.
Throwbacks?
Throwing them back might be a wise move after their third loss in four games.
Charger power?
Well, maybe in the second half when they rallied to make a game of it.
Even the returns of edge rusher Khalil Mack and linebacker Denzel Perryman couldn’t help the Chargers slow down the Colts’ NFL-leading offense, which went into the game averaging 32.3 points per game, and never trailed Sunday after the first of Johnathan Taylor’s three touchdown runs.
Mack was sidelined by an elbow injury and Perry was out because of an ankle injury. They were activated from injured reserve Saturday. The Chargers had no takeaways and forced the Colts to punt only twice. The Colts forced two turnovers and that was a big difference, too.
The Chargers dropped to 4-3.
Indianapolis improved to 6-1.
The Chargers and Colts played different games of football in a first half dominated by Indianapolis in every way imaginable. The Chargers trailed 23-3, and it could have been worse. Everything seemed to go haywire for the Chargers, who couldn’t match up with the Colts.
Indianapolis led in every category, including appearance.
The Chargers’ all-gold uniforms resembled nothing more than those of the Savannah Bananas, baseball’s version of basketball’s Harlem Globetrotters. The difference was the Bananas are masters of their game; the Chargers were nothing of the sort in the opening half.
The Colts led in first downs, 17-8, by halftime.
They led in total net yards, 274-141.
They led in plays, 41-26.
They led in rushing yardage, 74-10.
They led in time of possession, 17:29-12:31.
Indianapolis quarterback Daniel Jones threw two touchdown passes.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw two interceptions.
The Chargers were booed off the field after the Colts’ Michael Badgley’s 36-yard field goal made it 23-3 on the final play of the first half. They returned after intermission and promptly drove 70 yards on six plays in 1:59, capped by Herbert’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston.
Suddenly, the Chargers had life, although they still trailed 23-10.
Whatever momentum they generated from their first touchdown drive evaporated in the time it took Ameer Abdullah to return the ensuing kickoff 81 yards, setting up Taylor’s 8-yard touchdown run. Jones then connected with Michael Pittman Jr. for a two-point conversion and a 31-10 lead.
Taylor also scored on a 23-yard run in the first quarter.
The Chargers countered with Herbert’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Allen that trimmed their deficit to 31-17 with 6:13 remaining in the third quarter. The Colts zoomed right back down the field and extended their lead to 38-17 after Taylor’s 19-yard touchdown run, his league-leading 10th.
Taylor went into the game with 603 yards rushing, tops in the NFL.
Herbert’s third touchdown pass of the second half, a 15-yard strike to rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden, brought the Chargers back within two touchdowns with 13:40 remaining in the game. The question was how they could complete an improbable rally if they couldn’t stop the Colts’ offense?
More to come on this story.