It was all going swimmingly. The LA Chargers could not have asked for a better start against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4 as two quick turnovers allowed the Bolts to jump out to an early 10-0 lead.
Unfortunately, this hot start would not be indicative of the final outcome of the game. The Chargers could not capitalize on countless other opportunities, allowing the Chiefs to hang around in the game. And as everyone in the NFL knows, you cannot allow the Chiefs to hang around.
The fact of the matter is the Chargers were shorthanded because of injuries and it didn't help Justin Herbert was playing on a compromised right ankle. Los Angeles stuck around and made it a close game because the team is so well coached, but it was always going to be a massive uphill battle.
As is the case with every Chargers game, there was both good and bad.
Chargers' winners and losers from Week 4 loss to Chiefs:
Winner: Ladd McConkey
It looked like Ladd McConkey was going to have a huge day for the Chargers early on. It was still a career day for McConkey, who is continuing to establish himself as a reliable target in the Chargers' passing attack.
McConkey's touchdown connection with Herbert was reminiscent of Herbert and Keenan Allen. McConkey used his shiftiness and sure hands to allow Herbert to throw him open in the back of the endzone. It was a true beauty.
The rookie out of Georgia finished with five catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. McConkey is only going to get more productive as he builds a rapport with Herbert (and gets more reliable weapons around him). Chargers fans can be optimistic about McConkey's future.
Loser: Trey Pipkins and the B-team offensive line
Trey Pipkins gets singled out here just because he has been a source of frustration for years. All in all, this battered Chargers offensive line did nothing to help Herbert and the passing game nor allow the running game to get into any kind of rhythm.
With Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt out there the Chargers can bandage some of the holes on the offensive line. Without the two Pro Bowl-caliber tackles it is clear how bad of a spot the Chargers are in when it comes to the offensive line.
Zion Johnson has been downright disappointing for a first-round pick who Chargers fans cheered for when he was drafted in 2022 and Bradley Bozeman has played like a veteran who was released from his previous team because he wasn't worth the money (which is exactly what he is). Throw in a mediocre Pipkins and it is beyond clear the Chargers don't have much offensive line help inside the tackles.
Winner: Jesse Minter
The Chargers may have lost but it was not because of the defensive side of the ball. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter turned in one of the best defensive game plans against the Chiefs that Chargers fans have seen in recent years.
If Brandon Staley had still been calling this defense, with all the injuries on offense, this would have been a blowout that was over by halftime. The entire reason why the Chargers were even playing meaningful football was because of the defense.
It was not perfect as Kristian Fulton was absolutely burnt on a one-on-one deep ball by Xavier Worthy, but Chargers fans should still be very happy with a game in which the Chiefs scored only 17 points. This is what Chargers fans have been asking for, after all.
Loser: Greg Roman
On the flip side... offensive coordinator Greg Roman was not great in this game. Granted, Roman was playing from behind with a tattered offensive line and a banged-up quarterback. That being said, he did nothing to elevate what the Chargers did offensively.
The first drive of the game, which is often completely scripted from practice, was fantastic. However, when the going got tough Roman did not get going as his lack of offensive creativity was on full display.
Herbert is a cyborg both in the fact he has a rocket arm and in the fact that he sometimes trusts his playbook and coordinator too much. What Herbert needs is an offensive coordinator who can establish the run while also leaning into Herbert's strengths as a freakish quarterback. Roman has not been that thus far.
Loser: Gus Bradley
It's simple — it's time for Kimani Vidal to get more run as the Chargers' RB2. Gus Edwards has been bad all season and despite that fact, the Chargers have thrown him out there to be a complementary back behind J.K. Dobbins.
Edwards carried the ball six times for 19 yards and offered next to nothing to the offense. He is not explosive, is not even that great of a short-yardage back, and at this point, it taking up a roster spot.
Vidal has fresher legs, has more upside as a pass-catching back and could provide a spark that might play well off of Dobbins in the run game. With 32 rushes for 94 yards this season, Edwards is looking exactly like the running backs Chargers fans were sick of seeing the last several years.