The Chargers are 1-2 and already trail Kansas City by two games in the AFC West, not that anyone around this team is thinking about playoff possibilities at the moment.
The more immediate concern is tightening up all the mistakes that are suddenly gumming up the operation. Penalties, turnovers and dropped passes have turned what was expected to be a dynamic offense into a sputtering unit.
“Plenty of penalties, plenty of turnovers and, I know those are all ‘what ifs,’ but the teams that turn it over and have penalties are the teams that lose,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. “Those are teams that you look at out there and go, ‘Why aren’t they very good?’ ”
Rivers had a fumble in Sunday’s loss to the Texans that not only cost the Chargers a scoring chance but also set up what became a touchdown drive for Houston.
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Chargers wide receiver Travis Benjamin drops a pass in front of Houston Texans free safety Tashaun Gipson late in the game. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Houston Texans tight end Jordan Akins leaps into the stands after scoring on a 53-yard reception against the Chargers in the fourth quarter. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen celebrates as he scores on a 12-yard touchdown pass against the Houston Texans in the second quarter. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is upended by Houston Texans cornerback Bradley Roby after scrambling for eight yards in the final minutes of the game. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Houston Texans defensive end Charles Omenihu, left, grabs the face mask of Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers during the second half. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is sacked by Houston Texans defensive ends J.J. Watt, left, and D.J. Reader during the second half. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen stays inbounds for a seven-yard touchdown reception in front of Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph in the first quarter. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers looks to pass against the Houston Texans during the first half. (Getty Images)
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Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins tries to run past Chargers linebacker Thomas Davis, left, and defensive tackle Justin Jones during the first half. (Getty Images)
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Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson shouts instructions to wide receiver Kenny Stills during the second quarter. (Getty Images)
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Chargers running back Austin Ekeler finds an opening in the Houston Texans’ defense on a carry in the second half. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers tries to evade a sack by Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus before he ends up fumbling the ball away during a play in the second half. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Chargers running back Justin Jackson carries the ball against the Houston Texans. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers walks off the field in the final moments of the Chargers’ 27-20 loss to the Houston Texans. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
He threw an interception last weekend against Detroit on the final offensive play for the Chargers, robbing them of a opportunity to attempt a game-tying field goal.
The good news? The NFL has five teams that are 0-3 and three of those teams now come along in order on the Chargers’ schedule.
After a visit to winless Miami, they will host winless Denver and then winless Pittsburgh.
“We’re still a good football team,” linebacker Thomas Davis said. “We’re much better than our record indicates. But, at the end of the day, you are what your record says you are. So, we’ve got to come in tomorrow, we’ve got to watch the film and we’ve got to correct these mistakes. We can’t allow it to keep happening.”
