INGLEWOOD — This was supposed to be the easy part. Two lackluster opponents and then the difficult part of the schedule. Two expected victories to get things rolling. Two games to break in a new offensive scheme and a new defensive one, too.
Two reasons for optimism for the Chargers.
Instead, the Chargers had their hands full with the Las Vegas Raiders, the second non-playoff team from the 2025 season after their Week 1 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Somehow, some way, the Chargers lost again, dropping a 26-14 decision Sunday to the Raiders at SoFi Stadium.
The oddsmakers made the Chargers 6½-point favorites over the Raiders after they were 9½-point favorites over the Cardinals. The Chargers never led against Arizona and lost, 26-14.
Next for the Chargers: Road games against the Buffalo Bills next week and then the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks before returning to SoFi Stadium to face the AFC West Denver Broncos and then a road game against the Kansas City Chiefs before reaching the bye week.
Only 16% of teams that started a season 0-2 went on to advance to the playoffs.
So, the Chargers’ game against the Raiders represented a must-win contest.
Then again, aren’t they all must-win?
Trailing 10-7 at halftime, the Chargers took their first lead of the season with Justin Herbert’s 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Oronde Gadsden. The Raiders responded with Kirk Cousins’ 13-yard touchdown pass to Cody White with 3:53 left in the third quarter.
The Raiders’ 17-14 lead entering the fourth quarter seemed tenuous at best.
But a promising drive for the Chargers, aided by a 12-men on the field penalty on Las Vegas, turned into a disaster when Omarion Hampton fumbled and the Raiders recovered with 3:42 left in the game. Jeremy Chinn recovered at his own 47 and returned it to the Chargers’ 16.
Cousins then threw an 11-yard TD pass to White with 2:59 to play.
Chargers right tackle Joe Alt was later penalized for holding when Herbert attempted to throw from his own end zone, resulting in a safety accounting for the final score, 26-14.
Game over.
Season on the brink.
The Chargers accomplished little offensively in the first half apart from handing the ball to Omarion Hampton and watching him run. Hampton had 70 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries as the Chargers trailed the Raiders 10-7 by halftime. Hampton’s 1-yard run pulled them into a tie, 7-7.
Herbert had one of the least productive opening halves of his career, completing 7 of 15 passes for 79 yards with one interception. He didn’t get the necessary protection, although he did hit Ladd McConkey for a 19-yard gain that kept their lone scoring drive alive.
McConkey was on the field after suffering a rib injury during the Chargers’ loss in Week 1 to the Cardinals. He didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday, but did join his teammate for a light workout Friday. His condition improved sufficiently and he was in the lineup to start Sunday’s game.
However, the Chargers lost tight end David Njoku to a knee injury in the opening seconds of the second quarter. Njoku was carted from the field with 14:33 left in the half. He and McConkey were the Chargers’ top receivers in their loss to the Cardinals with five catches apiece.
After a scoreless first quarter, Cousins hit wide receiver Tre Tucker for a 40-yard catch-and-run that gave the Raiders a 7-0 lead with 11:51 left in the half. A streaking Tucker slipped behind the Chargers’ defense and Cousins delivered a strike to the wide-open wide receiver.
The Chargers countered immediately with a 10-play drive that covered 69 yards, capped by Hampton’s 1-yard scoring turn. They had a chance to take an early 3-0 lead, but Cameron Dicker’s 58-yard field goal try struck the right upright with 11:39 remaining in the first quarter.