ClutchPoints
It’s getting harder and harder to defend the Los Angeles Chargers. Week 5 against the Washington Commanders was another painful chapter in their frustrating story. The Chargers looked sharp early. They controlled both sides of the ball and appeared poised to end their East Coast skid. After halftime, though, the energy evaporated. Their execution vanished, and the same mistakes that have haunted this team for seasons resurfaced in full force.
Now sitting at 2-3 after a 27-10 loss to the Commanders, the Chargers find themselves on fraud watch. It’s not because they lack talent. It’s mainly because their inability to finish games and play disciplined football continues to undo every positive step forward. What started as a promising Sunday in Washington ended as another reminder that this team still doesn’t know how to win when it matters.
The Chargers began the game looking every bit like a playoff contender. Justin Herbert and the offense jumped out to a 10-0 lead. They drove deep into Washington territory midway through the second quarter. Of course, momentum can turn quickly, and it did when wide receiver Quentin Johnston fumbled near the red zone. That killed a promising drive and swung the door wide open for the Commanders.
Washington took full advantage. On the ensuing drive, the Commanders faced third-and-16 but still managed to convert. That set the stage for a touchdown drive, followed by a disastrous special-teams penalty that gifted Washington three more points before halftime. A roughing-the-kicker call on Marlowe Wax also extended a stalled drive that should’ve ended in a punt. Instead, the Commanders tied the game at 10 heading into the break.
From there, the Chargers completely unraveled. The Commanders opened the third quarter with another touchdown. Los Angeles responded with a flurry of penalties that turned promising plays into wasted downs. A 23-yard completion was negated by holding. A 31-yard strike was wiped out by an illegal formation. Suddenly, the Chargers were backed up to their own 5-yard line, facing second-and-33. The drive ended, predictably, in a punt, which Washington turned that into another field goal.
By the time the Bolts’ offense got rolling again, the game was out of reach. Even a bold fourth-down attempt late in the third quarter summed up the day. The Chargers got close, but they were just not good enough.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss how the Los Angeles Chargers are officially on fraud watch after loss to Commanders.
How you lose says everything about your team. This one left scars. The Chargers weren’t simply outplayed. They beat themselves with turnovers, penalties, and a lack of composure.
“It’s a stomach-ache, belly-ache, hangover-type loss,” Keenan Allen admitted postgame. “No matter what you say, you can’t get rid of the pain and the hurt.”
Those words tell the story. Los Angeles scored on its first two drives and then went silent. They tallied zero points over the...
