Chargers-Cardinals Live Game Recap: Justin Herbert, Bolts ready for 1st primetime game - Bolts From The Blue

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Chargers offense can’t find end zone while the defense couldn’t tackle. It ended in a walk-off field goal for the Cardinals.

For the first five games of the season, it wouldn’t have taken a longtime Chargers fan to understand and feel the difference with this team. They’re playing tough and fundamentally-sound defense coupled with a ball-control offense to help shrink the clock.

But Monday night against the Cardinals? Well, pick any year from the past four. This performance was like any other frustrating loss with fingers that could be pointed towards anyone not named Justin Herbert.

The defense could not tackle Cardinals running back James Connor. As a team, Arizona rushed for 181 yards against one of the best run defenses in the NFL. On the flip side, the Chargers could not run the ball against the 30th-ranked unit on the ground.

Herbert was forced to throw the ball 39 times. He shattered his previous season high in passing yards by going for 349. The rushing attack averaged 2.7 yards per carry and totaled 59 yards on 22 attempts.

This was the old Chargers for the most part, just with a better defense that limited points more than previous seasons. Still, when it mattered most and the Chargers held a 15-14 lead with 1:54 left on the clock, the defensive could not get a stop. A non-existent unnecessary roughness penalty followed by a play where Connor ran through half the defense all the way into field goal range for the game-winner is how this one ended.

We’ve all seen this one numerous times but it never, ever gets easier.

There’s a lot to fix. The Chargers will regroup and get ready for a home date with the Saints this Sunday.

For a complete quarter-by-quarter recap of today’s game, check it out below.

The Chargers won the toss and chose to defer. The defense was up first.

On the opening drive, Khalil Mack got the disruption going early as he got his hand on multiple Kyler Murray passes. The second one he deflected right into the arms of defensive tackle Teair Tart who began to return the interception but Arizona running back James Connor punched it out before the Cardinals jumped on it again to take the ball right back.

Luckily, the Chargers forced a three-and-out from there thanks to Khalil Mack’s instant pressure on third down which forced a throwaway by Murray.

The Chargers started steady with taking small chunks out of the field with some strong running by J.K. Dobbins and some easy pitch-and-catch passes to tight end Will Dissly. Around the midfield logo, Herbert faked a handoff before launching a pass up the left sideline to a wide open Jalen Reagor. The newly-signed Bolt took two steps before a Cardinals defender punched the ball out of his hands before bouncing into the arms of another Cardinal.

Though they’ve had just one offensive possession, the Chargers have already lost two fumbles.

The Chargers were driving at the end of the first and pushed the ball a little past midfield before the offense stuttered. Cameron Dicker was trusted to attempt a massive 59-yard kick and he was absolutely money to give Los Angeles a 3-0 lead.

Arizona responded with a very impressive drive that was spearheaded by Connor and the ground game. After getting to the five-yard line, Murray dropped back and fired a quick throw to wideout Greg Dortch on speed out. He beat slot corner Ja’Sir Taylor to give the Cardinals a 7-3 lead.

The Chargers began their final drive of the second quarter at their 10-yard line for the third time in the first half. Herbert linked up with Joshua Palmer for two big-time plays that helped them move the ball with only one timeout remaining. Chargers got themselves well into field goal range but a sack of Herbert under 30 seconds forced them to pivot from a potential field goal to simply draining clock before Dicker came on to minimize the Arizona lead to 7-6 as time expired.

The Chargers had a promising drive to begin the second half but a holding call on Rashawn Slater began a swift halt to their efforts. The penalty was followed by a drop by Ladd McConkey and another sack on Herbert which pushed them out of field goal range. Fortunately, JK Scott was able to pin Arizona at their own seven-yard line.

Arizona was moving the ball well once again behind Connor. When faced with a third-and-short, the Cardinals tried to run a quarterback sneak. When the first one did not work, they tried again on fourth down. The Chargers defense held firm and forced a turnover on downs.

After getting inside the Cardinals 15-yard line, the Chargers offense stalled and sputtered with Herbert getting sacked for the third time. They settled for another field goal which gave them the lead at 9-7.

On the second play of the quarter, Murray dropped back, escaped the pocket to the left, and then proceeded to run untouched up the left sideline for a 44-yard touchdown to take the lead right back from the Chargers 14-9.

Needing a response, the Bolts moved 41 yards in six plays but fell short of the sticks at the Arizona. Dicker was good from 47 yards out to make it 14-12 with a little over 12 minutes remaining in regulation.

Chargers got the ball back with 10:06 on the clock at their own one-yard line. Herbert guided them to a 15-play, 77-yard drive that took off over eight minutes off the lock. At the end of it, Dicker converted his fifth field goal to give the Chargers a 15-14 lead.

With a little less than two minutes remaining, the Cardinals got to work.

On a pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. near the right sideline, the rookie failed to haul in the reception but the Cardinals were bailed out with an unnecessary roughness penalty against Cam Hart whose helmet skimmed Harrison’s on contact. The penalty gave Arizona 15 yards and a fresh set of downs.

Then, Connor took a short pass from Murray 33 yards en route to making numerous Chargers defenders miss. From there, they only needed to kneel the ball before kicking the game-winning field goal.

Chargers fell on the road 17-15.