GLENDALE, Ariz. — What we learned from the Chargers’ 17-15 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night was something we should have realized beyond a reasonable doubt way back in the spring, when they made a couple of cost-cutting moves that are proving to be very costly as the season rolls on.
What we heard after the Chargers dropped to 3-3 was more chatter about executing more efficiently in the red zone and converting third downs and capitalizing on chances without addressing the most significant problem with their revamped roster under new coach Jim Harbaugh.
What comes next is a short week to prepare for their next game, a home date with the New Orleans Saints, another team no one in the known football universe is considering a Super Bowl contender. The injury-plagued Saints are 2-5 after a 33-10 loss to the Denver Broncos, a team the Chargers beat last week, 23-16.
Here are the biggest takeaways from a grisly “Monday Night Football” showing:
PLAYMAKERS NEEDED
Joshua Palmer made remarkable catches along the sidelines against the Cardinals. Ladd McConkey ran precise routes and made key receptions. Simi Fehoko did the same. As did Will Dissly. As did Jalen Reagor. As did Stone Smart. As did running backs J.K. Dobbins and Kimani Vidal.
Justin Herbert made accurate throws to them, but there was one thing missing.
Well, two things in addition to a lack of touchdowns.
Herbert no longer has targets like Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, two players who Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz jettisoned in order to get under the salary cap back in March. Allen is a likely Hall of Fame receiver once his playing days are done and Williams could be headed there some day, too.
Simply put, the Chargers lack the caliber of playmakers at the wide receiver position that they can pair with Herbert, who is doing the best he can with the players at his disposal. Nothing against Palmer, McConkey and the others who suited up Monday night, but they’re not as skilled or experienced as Allen and Williams.
Hortiz would be wise to pursue additions to the wide receiver corps before the NFL’s trade deadline on Nov. 5. Reports around the league have suggested that the Chargers actually are interested in re-acquiring Williams, whose days with his new team, the New York Jets, could be numbered
Adding someone like Williams would instantly lift Herbert’s effectiveness, particularly when it comes to making plays in tight quarters and in all-important red zone situations. Without him and Allen on the roster, the Chargers aren’t as dangerous at the position and Herbert suffers for their absence.
It also hasn’t helped that veteran receiver DJ Chark, a top offseason acquisition, hasn’t played this season because of injuries. Chark only resumed practicing with his Chargers teammates in the past few days, and even then it’s only been in a limited fashion.
Compounding matters Monday, Derius Davis and Quentin Johnston were out with injuries, too.
“I think we’ll always be listening and looking,” Hortiz said earlier this month. “Again, it’s the right opportunity that makes sense for our roster and for the future and for our right now and for the future. You’ve got to evaluate all opportunities for a short-term and immediate impact and then the long-term impact.”
RED ZONE WORRIES
Herbert bemoaned the Chargers’ lack of success inside the Cardinals’ 20-yard line Monday. Cameron Dicker supplied all of the Chargers’ points with five field goals, including a career-best and franchise record-tying 59-yard kick that gave them a 3-0 lead in the second quarter.
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“I thought we did a lot of good things, but we have to score points in the red zone,” Herbert said. “That’s the biggest takeaway from (Monday’s) game. We have an amazing kicker, but we have to do a better job for our defense and for our special teams. We have to score points in the red zone.”
One problem, though.
The Chargers didn’t drive inside the Cardinals’ 20 until the closing seconds of the third quarter when a drive stalled at the 10 and Dicker was summoned to kick a 28-yard field goal that put them ahead 9-7 with 40 seconds remaining in the period. Late in the game, they got to the Cardinals’ 22-yard line.
Dicker then kicked a 40-yard field goal to put the Chargers ahead 15-14.
WHAT COMES NEXT
After playing four of their first six games on the road, the Chargers (3-3) return to SoFi Stadium on Sunday to play host to the struggling Saints (2-5). It would appear to be a get-well game for the Chargers, but appearances can be deceiving, as we’ve seen repeatedly over the first six games.