MNF Recap: Chargers give up game late in NOLA

The Los Angeles Chargers have a knack for playing and more importantly losing one-score games. On Monday, history repeated itself as the Chargers blew a seventeen point lead in their 30-27 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints.

The loss ruined Los Angeles rookie quarterback Justin Herbert’s stellar Monday Night Football debut. According to ESPN, Herbert became the first rookie quarterback to throw four touchdowns in the history of Monday Night Football.

In his first start as the Chargers’ starting quarterback, Herbert showcased why he was worthy of being drafted No. 6 overall. With 3:40 remaining in the fourth quarter, the rookie put his team ahead 27-20 by connecting with receiver Mike Williams for a 64 yard touchdown pass.

However, he left too much time on the clock for veteran Saints quarterback, Drew Brees.

Before we delve into Brees’ comeback, it is important to note that the seasoned quarterback previously held a 1-48 record when trailing by 17 or more points, per ESPN.

The Saints offense played sloppy in the first half— constantly clumping passes and unable to get big plays against the Charger defense.

“The bottom line is we were not playing Saints football in the first half. There were too many mistakes that get you beat,” Brees told ESPN.

Michael Thomas’ absence was strongly felt in this game as Brees’ options were often exhausted in situations where he would normally look for Thomas. Thomas was suspended because of an altercation with a teammate, per ESPN.

"We had an incident, and Sean addressed it ... and we're gonna be all good," Brees told ESPN, “Mike is a big part of this team, and he’s gonna be a big part of this teams moving forward.”

With Thomas out of the lineup, Brees turned to Emmanuel Sanders in crunch situations. Sanders ended the night with a career-high 12 catches for 122 yards, per ESPN.

Yes, the Saints came out with a win, but they showed vulnerability in their defense and offense. The Chargers were able to poke holes in their secondary with the passing game and Brees isn’t as crisp with his passes as he used to be. If New Orleans wishes to compete for an NFC Championship this season, they need to limit their dropped passes on offense and eliminate mental errors in their secondary.

Needless to say, a win is a win and as Brees told ESPN, “At the end of the day, these are growing experiences. These are learning experiences.”