2. Red-zone efficiency
The LA Chargers only scored 20 points in this game despite the offense humming throughout. While someone may look at the 20 points and think that it was a slow day for the offense, that was not the case at all.
The Chargers could have scored more points if they were more effective in the red zone. Let's also not forget the fact that the team properly drained the clock at the end of the game and then kneeled within the 10-yard-line to end the game. That is another 3-7 points that they just gave away (for the right reason, of course).
The Chargers made it to the red zone six times in this game and only scored two touchdowns. On a decent day, they should be scoring touchdowns in 50% of their red-zone trips, in an even better day they would be scoring in 4-6 of the trips.
Washington does deserve credit for clamping up in the red zone but with a few small changes, this 20-16 game could have been a 30-16 game.
First, if the referees do not make the absolutely horrible fumble call on Justin Herbert on what was obviously an incomplete pass the team would have had three more points at the very least or seven more points if they scored a touchdown.
Then if the Chargers would have scored a touchdown instead of kicking a field goal on another red-zone trip it would have been 27 points. The team had first and goal from the six and Herbert had Jalen Guyton open in the middle for a touchdown and hung onto the ball a split second too long, resulting in an incomplete pass.
One small change from the Chargers (Herbert throwing it a half-second earlier) and the referees not butchering the call and it is 30-16. But still, at the end of the day, the team has to take responsibility and improve in the red zone.