FOXBORO — Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh stated he has no regrets squandering his crew’s finest probability of getting a landing in Sunday night time’s 16-3 loss to the Patriots.
As a substitute of settling for a area aim, Harbaugh determined to maintain quarterback Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles offense on the sector on a fourth-and-goal from two yards out with 5:17 left within the first quarter.
The choice backfired as Herbert failed to attach on a brief cross to veteran huge receiver Keenan Allen.
“Wanting again on it, should you don’t get it, it could have been three extra factors the place we acquired zero,” Harbaugh instructed reporters postgame. “If we had gotten it, we simply wanted one landing on the finish of the sport, I might have been kicking myself had I not finished it and gone for it.”
The sequence got here after Chargers defensive lineman Teair Tart tipped a cross from Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, falling into the arms of linebacker Daiyan Henley.
Deciding to go for it proved to be a uncommon transfer by the often conservative Harbaugh.
The Chargers second-year head coach had solely gone for it on fourth down contained in the opposing 10-yard line as soon as within the common season, coming in Week 7 whereas down 23-3 towards the Colts.
When requested if there was one thing particular in regards to the Patriots protection that prompted the choice, Harbaugh responded, “That’s how analytics work, to go for it in that scenario. It’s not the proper resolution since you didn’t rating the landing, however in the identical scenario, you’ve acquired to take a shot.”
The Patriots capitalized on the failed conversion and landing try immediately.
On the primary play of the following drive, Maye discovered working again Rhamondre Stevenson for a 48-yard achieve to place New England at midfield. 13 performs later, kicker Andy Borregales put the Patriots forward, 3-0, on a 23-yard area aim with 6:40 left within the first half.
Herbert, who was held to simply 159 passing yards, stated he didn’t see something completely different from the Patriots protection than what he noticed on movie forward of the wild-card matchup. The Chargers went 1-for-10 on third downs.
“It’s on us to go on the market and execute,” Herbert stated. “We all the time say that now we have rating level within the crimson zone, convert on third down and restrict turnovers, we didn’t do any of these right this moment.”
Harbaugh added, “I can stand right here and say that the Patriots performed very nicely, and so they did an incredible job, and I wish to congratulate them.”
