The Chargers were a win away from a postseason berth on Sunday, but they couldn’t manage to get it against a Chiefs team that gave them plenty of opportunities to grab hold of the game.
Philip Rivers was sacked seven times and threw two interceptions, Nick Novak missed a field goal and the defense couldn’t force a Kansas City offense quarterbacked by Chase Daniel into a turnover. After the 19-7 loss, Chargers coach Mike McCoy lamented those missed opportunities to grab a game that was there for the taking.
“That’s the most disappointing thing,” McCoy said, via U-T San Diego. “With everything that was at stake and for us to play the way we did ... We couldn’t make the one play to get it going.”
It was hard not to see the impact of injuries on the Chargers Sunday. The seven sacks and inability to pick up a yard on a key fourth down play came behind an offensive line that was on its fifth center while also starting a rookie at right guard. The top two running backs and top wide receiver were also on the shelf, leaving Rivers and company with “not exactly the offense we expected to have.”
That didn’t stop them from being in position to win in Kansas City, but it may have stopped them from being able to execute and they’ll have a long time to ponder better ways to get the job done in 2015.