Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh falls on the sword for critical game management errors

The LA Chargers' 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs included some key coaching sequences that proved costly in the end. First, Jim Harbaugh challenged a catch by Chiefs' wideout Justin Watson in the third quarter that cost the Chargers a timeout after a failed review.

It was an interesting decision at the time and Harbaugh explained his thought process after the game.

"I saw it on the replay board and was looking at it," Harbaugh said. "Thought the ball had touched the ground, the hand came off and it touched the ground. I thought it was a big enough play to challenge and get ourselves organized on defense. We had some headset issues and I didn't know if it was really being understood, that next call. I decided to regroup and take a chance on it being an incompletion."

How much the headset issue actually affected the Chargers vs. it being a potential excuse for a poor challenge is something we'll probably never know. Every broadcast angle seemed to be definitive in addition to angles within the stadium.

Jim Harbaugh would later waste another Chargers timeout

After the Chargers were driving later in the quarter, Harbaugh opted to take a timeout after Josh Palmer caught a pass on third down with a questionable considering he was briefly untouched and falling down.

By electing to take the timeout, LA's head coach essentially threw out a chance to get some yardage back. Harbaugh explained that call as well:

"Wish I would've challenged that one. I really do," Harbaugh admitted. "I think I could've been better there. I thought he got touched down before the line to gain. I thought replay assist would get that spot right. And then my decision was to go for it or kick a field goal.

We were behind the clock on getting organized for that fourth down call. Or take the timeout and go for it. Then I started seeing some replays that he did get a little closer. Maybe it was possible that he got the first down. I wish I would've thought of just throwing the challenge flag and it would've been the same result as saving the timeout. I wish that would've come into my head."

At the very least, Harbaugh hopes to learn and improve from the situation, even as a veteran head coach who has seen it all.

"In hindsight, if that thing was even close to being a first down and replay assist didn't get it right, then yes I wish I would've just challenged it in lieu of taking the timeout. Stuff I can do better at."

A rough gameplan from offensive coordinator Greg Roman in addition to the attrition on both sides of the ball just isn't a circumstance where the Chargers can survive Harbaugh making some adverse decisions.

The Chargers' bye week comes at a decent time for the coaching staff to regroup before the team makes its first trip to Denver in Week 6.